Used-car dealership deserves a star
Aaron Flores and his A-Star Motors hasn’t been around all that long, but he’s already making a mark in the industry. He was recently honored with the New Mexico Independent Auto Dealers Association dealer of the year.
“It’s a great honor, obviously, to be recognized,” Flores said. “Especially since it comes from the dealers.”
He was one of three finalists from around the state and his selection was overwhelming, said Marc Powell, the association’s executive director.
“I think it’s worth noting one of the reasons he has so much respect is not only has he grown his business quickly, his service to the auto dealer community is fantastic,” he said. “He sits on the board of the independent dealers association, serves as the treasurer, giving up his time for that. There’s guys who have been doing this for years and haven’t done anything like that. And he’s giving back to the greater community, as well.”
Flores got his start shortly after graduating from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management.
“I thought about corporate and I knew quickly that was not the route that I wanted to take,” he said. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I had already been buying and selling cars under other people’s licenses because I had friends in the industry.
“I decided to go on board with one of them full time when I graduated. I did my business and built my network. And then the time came when it was time to do it on my own. March 2012 was when I applied for my business license.”
He started with a micro lot that held less than 10 cars, and a promise to himself to build things the right way.
“Once I started, I started really small,” Flores said. “Just start small, learn the business, take care of customers, do everything right. In my last year of college, they taught us a quote, I don’t know who said it, but it’s always been the way I run my business: ‘If you start right, it’s easy stay to right. If you start wrong, it’s hard to get right.’ As a tiny, tiny business, I kind of adopted that.”
And it’s worked marvelously, so much so that two years ago he moved to a significantly larger lot that can hold more than 80 vehicles. He’s also started to specialize, selling lifted pickup trucks.
What’s more, he’s greatly increased his community involvement, with a particular favorite when he coaxed other association members to contribute to a winter coat drive for elementary students.
“They were thick coats for a very povertystricken school,” Flores said. “Then we went out there and handed them out. It was cool, instead of just writing a check, we were seeing these kids and how happy they got and knowing they really needed that.”