Meet professional NASCAR driver Deborah Renshaw heading up the advisory panel of automotive expert women for Ask Patty. The Ask Patty advisory panel of automotive women experts will respond to questions on car purchases, service and other automotive related topics. Ask Patty is what women have been waiting for, a safe place to get advice before they visit their local car dealership.
The Calgary Woman's Show is a consumer trade show dedicated to the female consumer. Now in their 26th year, the longest-running woman's show in Canada, the exhibition promises to be THE event of 2008 and one not to be missed. In addition to T&T Honda, there will be exhibitors from a variety of industries, with such highlights as six fashion shows featuring local boutiques, celebrity appearances from the cast of the Young and the Restless, and the vocal stylings of local singer/songwriter Alanna Clarke accompanied by guitarist Brady Side.
Recent statistics show that women control 85% of consumer spending in Canada. The Calgary Woman's Show is an exceptional marketing opportunity that targets this very powerful demographic. Since its start in 1983, it is the best-attended event for women in Western Canada. The exhibition provides women with a fun environment to explore new ideas and products in a warm, friendly and casual atmosphere.
Last week, we invited our readers to share about their favorite auto shop or dealership, asking you to tell us if it offers some special service or feature that makes it especially compelling for you to take your car there.
Well, here are a few suggestions we received: Beshoff MotorCars in San Jose, California is just about to host its own Ladies Night event. On Wednesday, April 23rd, between 6.30pm and 9pm, Beshoff will host a celebration for its female friends, neighbors, and colleagues with complimentary appetizers, wine, and music in their spectacular showroom. Guests can even drop a business card into our raffle for a chance to win a free Mercedes-Benz (junior model). WOW! If you're in the area and want to attend, give a call to Darlis Callaway, Marketing Manager, at 408/239-2458 to RSVP.
Cerini Harley-Davidson/Buell in Pennsylvania recognizes female riders at the annual Ladies Night event each December. That night the ladies enter a showroom stripped of bikes that have been replaced by tables, chairs, and decorations. The women are entertained with skits by Cerini's male employees, games, food, and shopping. The event has become so successful that lady customers now begin asking the dealership about sign-ups as early as October. Cerinis also hosts an "Annual Hotties on Harleys Ride," a women-exclusive ride that was open to all makes of bike. Guests at this event enjoy and the crowning of a Chromecoming Queen, King, and Baby.
Nobody relishes the idea of spending hours at the mechanic, in a dirty waiting room sipping stale coffee, and reading last-week’s crumpled newspaper.
Many auto shops and dealerships recognize this, and have taken steps to make their waiting area much more pleasant to their patrons, offering such niceties as designer coffees, comfortable couches, and satellite-equipped HDTV televisions. Some dealerships have even gone so far as to add wireless internet access (http://www.socalmom.net/travelblog/2008/03/good-feng-shui.html) for those who bring their own laptops, or computer terminals for those who are compelled to check their email while their car receives its maintenance and repairs.
by Ask Patty Staff Wouldn't it be great if you could walk into a dealership as a woman and have a pleasurable buying experience? We certainly think so! And because it's so important to Ask Patty, we make sure there are dealerships all across the country that are certified as "female friendly"! These Certified Female Friendly dealerships have undergone special training to create a safe and comfortable environment where women feel welcome. Ask Patty trained and certified dealers are also held to a high level of customer satisfaction to help make a woman's experience of purchasing and maintaining her vehicle a pleasant one. You can use the AskPatty dealer search on to easily find one in your area. Let's meet some of our newly certified dealers around the country!
by Ask Patty Staff Wouldn't it be great if you could walk into a dealership as a woman and have a pleasurable buying experience? We certainly think so! And because it's so important to Ask Patty, we make sure there are dealerships all across the country that are certified as "female friendly"! These Certified Female Friendly dealerships have undergone special training to create a safe and comfortable environment where women feel welcome. Ask Patty trained and certified dealers are also held to a high level of customer satisfaction to help make a woman's experience of purchasing and maintaining her vehicle a pleasant one. You can use the AskPatty dealer search on to easily find one in your area. Let's meet some of our newly certified dealers around the country!
A
Female Friendly Dealer has made a major commitment to providing an
enjoyable buying experience for female customers by participating in
the Ask Patty Training Program.
The Female Friendly Dealer Experience: 1.
An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer provides women with an automotive
retail experience based on relationship building, trust, respect and
improved communications.
2. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer
aims to surpass women's expectations with the highest level of customer
service to win their lifetime loyalty.
3. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer provides women with an automotive retail experience that is safe and comfortable.
4. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer surpasses the highest levels of customer satisfaction for women.
5.
An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer is committed to providing the
highest quality repair and maintenance service while striving to repair
the vehicle right the first time. How do I find a Female Friendly Dealer? You
can search on Ask Patty for a Female Friendly Dealer. Simply go to our
Female Friendly Dealer search tool on the left side of the screen and
choose a brand, a mile range for the search, type in your zip code and
hit search. If you aren’t sure what brand you want or just want to see
your brand options, choose All Brands in the drop down menu. In the
search results you will see a list of the nearest Female Friendly
Dealers. You can learn about each one by clicking on the home icon and
you can contact them directly with the email and phone options provided
in the search results.
We encourage you to check out our dealer search area and find a Female Friendly Dealer near you!
Did you ever go to a car dealer to buy a car... and they talked to your male partner? or they talked down to you? Did you ever feel like you got "taken" just because you were a woman?
Well, WomenCorp is here with the answers! Join us for a very special teleseminar with Jody DeVere on Tuesday, October 2, at 12pm ET, 11am CT, 10am MT, 9am PT at Womencorp.org.
Jody DeVere, President of www.AskPatty.com is THE expert on women and cars. She will answer your questions about women-friendly cars, what to look for, how to get a great deal, and even how to get car reviews that are from a woman's point of view.
Victory is proud to be the first and only dealership in Alabama to be a certified AskPatty.com Female Friendly Dealer. We look forward to meeting the savvy female customers who make use of that wonderful resource. Because there are a lot of dealerships competing for your business, you might be interested in how Victory is different from the competition.
Victory Pontiac-GMC has been in the business of selling quality new and pre-owned vehicles for over 30 years. Previously located in Montevallo, AL, the business was purchased by Clayton-Bailey Automotive in 2002 and a new state-of-the-art facility was built in Calera. Located just off of I-65, Victory is easily accessible from the entire greater Birmingham area, as well as Clanton, Prattville, and Montgomery.
Day-to-day operations of Victory are overseen by Warren Bailey, president. Mr. Bailey began his career as a CPA and then moved on to a career with what used to be Parisian Department stores, serving in positions such as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Victory is a family business. Mr. Bailey’s two children work in the business and there are several other families that have multiple members working at our dealership. Because of our emphasis of family, it makes us different in a lot of ways from our attitude to our approach to doing business. Just like any family, we enjoy being together and sharing holidays and special occasions. We genuinely care about each other and that spills over into genuinely caring about customers. We invite you to be a part of our family.
At this new Female Friendly Dealer, Victory, you will always be treated with respect and like the valuable individual that you are. We look forward to meeting you soon and to helping you determine your ideal vehicle. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns or to schedule an appointment to see what we have on our lot.
Visit Victory Pontiac GMC at www.askpatty.net/victorygm or give them a call at 888-281-5622 or victorypontiac @ askpatty.net.
What is a Female Friendly Dealer? A Female Friendly Dealer has made a major commitment to providing an enjoyable buying experience for female customers by participating in the Ask Patty Training Program.
The Female Friendly Dealer Experience: 1. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer provides women with an automotive retail experience based on relationship building, trust, respect and improved communications.
2. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer aims to surpass women's expectations with the highest level of customer service to win their lifetime loyalty.
3. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer provides women with an automotive retail experience that is safe and comfortable.
4. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer surpasses the highest levels of customer satisfaction for women.
5. An Ask Patty Female Friendly Dealer is committed to providing the highest quality repair and maintenance service while striving to repair the vehicle right the first time. How do I find a Female Friendly Dealer? You can search on Ask Patty for a Female Friendly Dealer. Simply go to our Female Friendly Dealer search tool on the left side of the screen and choose a brand, a mile range for the search, type in your zip code and hit search. If you aren’t sure what brand you want or just want to see your brand options, choose All Brands in the drop down menu. In the search results you will see a list of the nearest Female Friendly Dealers. You can learn about each one by clicking on the home icon and you can contact them directly with the email and phone options provided in the search results.
We encourage you to check out your area and find a Female Friendly Dealer near you!
Ask Patty’s Female Friendly dealerships are getting a lot of press these days! And rightly so. They are the front runners in the automotive industry in catering to women and treating them with respect. Recently the Charleston Regional Business Journal wrote an article about our certified Female Friendly dealers, Palmetto Ford and Palmetto Jaguar.
From the article: Mike Wise knows how to treat a lady. That’s a good thing, because soon he will have to pass a test to prove it.
Wise is a sales consultant at Palmetto Jaguar, one of the first Charleston area automobile dealerships to become associated with AskPatty.com, a Sarasota, Fla.-based Web site that serves as an automotive advice site for women. In September, AskPatty launched a dealer certification program designed to train sales and service staff at auto dealerships to be more female friendly.
“The auto industry has been traditionally male-dominated, but it is waking up to realize the buying power of women,” said Breanne Boyle, marketing manager of AskPatty.com Inc.
AskPatty’s year-long training process includes a textbook and a 134-question test. It costs dealerships $225 per person for the 12-month training period plus $795 a month for dealership certification. Dealerships that become certified are co-branded with AskPatty and get a link on the AskPatty.com site, where browsers can search for a female-friendly certified dealership in their area.
Burnam Eubank, general manager of Palmetto Jaguar, learned about the AskPatty certification program through her father, Manly Eubank, who established the first Eubank family automobile dealership in Charleston in 1969. Read full article here.
Jay Wolfe Toyota of West County, family owned and operated since the
1960's, will embrace the Ask Patty concept. Jay Wolfe Toyota of West
County owes this distinction to their high level of customer service
and outstanding reputation of total customer satisfaction. Jay Wolfe
Toyota of West County's partnership with Ask Patty represents an
increased commitment to the female car buyer to provide a safe and
comfortable buying experience.
The Wolfe Automotive Group is under the common control of members of
the Wolfe family. The late Jay Wolfe, who began his automotive career
in 1954 by opening four used car lots, founded the company. In the
1960's Jay operated a Rambler-Nash dealership as well as a recreational
vehicle and motor home dealership. Mr. Wolfe acquired a Pontiac-GMC
franchise located in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1971.
Mr. Wolfe's son, Jeff, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
company and works along-side his sister, Cindy Tucci, the
Vice-Chairman, to continue and grow the company in their father's
vision. The result of the Wolfe's aggressive growth strategy is an
automotive retailing mega dealer rated as one of the top 50 largest
dealer groups in the country according to both Automotive News and
Ward's Dealer Business. Our eBusiness team is ranked in the Top Fifteen
of all dealer groups in the nation, selling more than 3,000 new and
used vehicles in 2005 alone.
"Even with all this growth over the years, our philosophy remains the
same is it was nearly 50 years ago: Everyday in Everyway ... Nice
People," stated Steve Maher, General Manager, Jay Wolfe's Toyota of
West County.
Have you ever walked into a dealership and felt like you wanted to stay there and hang out for a while? Yeah, I know... you're thinking "hang out in a dealership? Are you insane?" You'll sing a different tune when you see the Mike Sullivan LAcarGuy Lexus Santa Monica store. It is honestly beautiful.
The store recently went through a full redesign and even features a grand piano and elegant chandeliers. Placed in and around comfy leather couches and chairs are new Lexus vehicles. And it's funny because you almost don't notice them.
Check out the video:
LAcarGuy's Los Angeles area dealerships are all Female Friendly certified and this Lexus store is just one of them. When Ask Patty staff visited a few weeks ago we were in awe of the spa-like surroundings of the place. When you drive in, you pass through beautiful wooden gates, and onto a cobble stone drive where your car is valeted for service or just to parking.
When you step inside you are greeted by trickling fountains, a large fireplace, and a zen-like atmosphere. This is truly the future of car dealerships. If every dealership was like this, we'd never leave! Are you other dealers listening? Take LAcarGuy's Lexus Santa Monicaas a prime example.
To reach a Lexus Santa Monica Female Friendly sales rep, check out their site or call 888-239-8535.
Ricart Ford began as a dream in 1953, with a handful of Fords pretty much in front of the Ricart house in Canal Winchester, Ohio. Paul F. Ricart Sr. got the ball rolling, sealing deals with a handshake and personally standing behind every car sold, a tradition that continues at Ricart today.
Over the years, the Ricart Family grew, and grew up, with Fred and Rhett following their father into the family business, and guiding Ricart Automotive as it grew to be the highest volume Ford store in the nation and a recognized name across the land, without losing the hometown values and outlook which Paul Sr. instilled in his children and in the store he founded.
Along the way, Ricart Automotive has been an annual recipient of the “Consumer’s Choice Award” and “Blue Oval Certification” for excellence in customer satisfaction, and has won numerous other industry awards. Ricart Automotive has sold hundreds of thousands of vehicles over the years, and now with eight manufacturers and a complete commercial division, is poised to continue providing the same family attention and service folks have grown to expect for over fifty years.
Fred Ricart’s decision to partner with Ask Patty reflects the kind of forward thinking needed to deliver consistent outstanding results in customer satisfaction and sales growth to this important consumer segment.
In a show of extra support, Lori Tabar, who has been a part of the Ricart Administrative Team for over twenty years, has become a member of the Ask Patty Advisory Panel of Expert women. In her automotive advisory role, Tabar will respond to questions from consumer women on automotive related topics via the website.
We want to introduce you to one of our newest Female Friendly dealers:
Borcherding Buick Pontiac GMC! After having built a reputation in the Tri State Area for over 35 years as Cincinnati’s premiere Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Explorer Van and Certified Used Car Center, even more promise lies ahead for Borcherding’s full service dealership.
In a recent survey of Borcherding’s customers, the dealership learned that the number one reason for doing business with Borcherding was the fact they were Trustworthy and their Reputation for service was top-notch. In other words Borcherding lives up to their promises. This has been an evolution in a constantly changing, dynamic business environment. This has taken years to earn and they understand it only takes seconds to lose.
Borcherding Buick Pontiac GMC is conveniently located in the Kings Auto Mall off Interstate 71. They recently renovated their entire dealership and made a commitment to continuous improvements. The new redesign includes a customer café, daily newspapers and complimentary refreshments, internet connection, private work areas and a massage chairs.
For those customers who have different service requirements, Borcherding offers their courtesy shuttle and loaner vehicles. They have an on-site collision center with Enterprise replacement cars as well.
Kim Borcherding, President of Borcherding Buick Pontiac GMC, is also one of Ask Patty's Automotive Expert Women! In her sixth year as President, Kim Borcherding, is the third generation leader. Kim says, "We continue to out perform our same make competitors because of the great value we add to our products with exceptional customer service given by one of the most professional and dedicated teams of leaders in the marketplace."
Kim is active in charities that serve health needs that have impacted her life. Kim serves on several automobile industry boards. Most importantly, she has a daughter that shows her to view the world with faith and through the eyes of a child.
The Ask Patty Program
Our dealership has made a major commitment to providing an enjoyable buying experience for female customers
by participating in the Ask Patty Training Program. We have successfully completed the program and are
proud to be a Female Friendly Certified Dealer.
The Ask Patty Promise
1. Ask Patty Female Friendly Certified dealers provide women consumers with an automotive retail
experience based on relationship building, trust, respect and improved communications.
2. Ask Patty Female Friendly Certified dealers aim to surpass women consumer's expectations
with the highest level of customer service to win their lifetime loyalty.
3. Ask Patty Female Friendly Certified dealers provide women consumers with an automotive
retail experience that is safe and comfortable.
4. Ask Patty Female Friendly Certified dealers surpass the highest levels of customer satisfaction
for women consumers.
5. Ask Patty Female Friendly Certified dealers are committed to providing the highest quality repair
and maintenance service while striving to repair the vehicle right the first time.
Cantin Chevrolet Cadillac, family owned and operated since 1929, is our newest Female Friendly Dealership! Cantin Chevrolet Cadillac has been providing the highest level of sales and service quality for over seventy-eight years. As a family-owned business, now in its third generation Cantin Chevrolet Cadillac continues the commitment to complete customer satisfaction.
General Manager Tom Cantin’s decision to partner with Ask Patty reflects the kind of forward thinking needed to deliver consistent outstanding results in customer satisfaction and sales growth to this important consumer segment.
Women represent over half of all vehicles sold annually in the United States with revenues topping $80 billion every year. Until Ask Patty, there hasn’t really been a website exclusively devoted to their needs and concerns.
Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota in Lynchburg, Virginia, has recently become Female Friendly certified! Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota’s partnership with Ask Patty represents an increased commitment to the female car buyer to provide a safe and comfortable buying experience.
Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota offers many extras while shopping, or servicing your vehicle! From the first time you visit the showroom and enjoy the comfort of indoor shopping, to the moment you drive home in your new Toyota, you can expect more from Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota. Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota earned Toyota’s prestigious Presidents Award for excellent Customer Service in 2006.
Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota’s showroom is made up of two floors filled with up to 100 new vehicles, all clean and ready for immediate delivery. They offer the perfect retreat to escape the outdoor elements and shop in comfort. If you are considering a new car, contact their Ask Patty representative Carolyn Hearl!
You can even enjoy a delicious home cooked meal in their on-site Café Avalon while visiting our Dealership. The Café Avalon is a special treat for service customers as you get a complimentary meal any time while the customer’s vehicle is being serviced. It has been said that the Café Avalon has the best burger in Virginia! Berglund Toyota also offer a complimentary massage on Thursday’s, or have daily access to the Internet in the Internet Lounge for their customers.
You can also relax in the large Service Lounge and enjoy large leather couches, flat screen TVs, and complimentary coffee.
“Berglund Toyota realizes that many women do not like dealing with automotive sales people because of the way they have been treated in the past by car dealerships,” stated Stephen Plunkett, General Manager, of Berglund Oak Ridge Toyota. “For that reason we at Berglund Toyota are certifying our dealership as an AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly Dealership! We are extremely pleased to know that now our female customers can come to Berglund Toyota and work exclusively with our female sales people who are Ask Patty Certified, and in the process feel comfortable dealing with us.”
This site, its contents and all related content, formats and documents are copyrighted property of AskPatty.com, Inc and are not to be reproduced or republished without the written consent of AskPatty.com, Inc.
Back to home
Previous Page
T&T Honda, the first Certified Female Friendly dealership in Canada, is a proud fifth-year sponsor of the 2008 Calgary Woman's Show - A Fair to Remember. Certified Female Friendly sales staff will be on hand to showcase several of Honda's world-class vehicle models. 
Recent Comments