Communication was the path to success
Mark Holmes didn’t set out in life to sell cars. But when one of his brothers for whom he worked at an employee leasing company decided to move the business to Phoenix, Holmes decided he didn’t want to go.
So a sister who worked in the business office of a local car dealership suggested he come down and sell a few vehicles.
“I didn’t actually want to be in the business,” Holmes said with a chuckle. “But I sold shoes at Foot Action when I was going to college so I thought I might as well as try it.”
Buoyed by that experience, as well as having learned how to talk with people in his brother’s business, made Holmes an almost instant success.
“I had the sales experience and with my brother’s business, I learned how to talk with business owners. As a young kid, that gave me confidence. I did really well.”
It was all a matter of communication, Holmes said.
“I really could to talk to people and that’s the key,” he said. “It’s kind of what you have to be able to do. You can’t be a quiet salesman.”
In addition, he learned from the folks with whom he worked.
“When I first started there were a lot of talented people I worked with and they helped me,” Holmes said, adding they taught him to build relationships with his customers.
That’s something he’s carried through to this day.
“There are people I’ve sold 20 or more cars to over the years,” he said. “They still find me today.”
About three years ago after more than 20 at his previous location, Holmes moved across the river, taking a job as the general sales manager at Melloy Dodge on Albuquerque’s West Side.
“It was just an upgrade in my job,” he said. “I did a lot more than I used to do. I run all of sales. I run the new car department. The used car department. Our fleet and commercial sales. I run the advertising. There’s all kinds of hats I wear now. It’s a new challenge. I’d done that job. I just wanted a new challenge. I’m happy I did come because it’s been very fulfilling to me here.”