Economy Auto Sales of Knox received the prestigious Joe Krier Quality Dealer of the Year award for 2012 from the Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association, and owner George Mammarella said he was proud to receive it. The award was presented to Mammarella in September at Ironwood Golf Club in Fishers at the association’s 25th Anniversary Golf Tournament and Awards Day.
The Quality Dealer of the Year is chosen based on several attributes: the dealership must not only be consumer-oriented, but also have a record of good business decisions based on honesty and integrity. On top of that, the dealership must represent themselves as a civic leader within the community, and Economy Auto Sales not only meets those requirements, but embodies them.
Mammarella said he truly believes in helping the community, because without the community’s support, he would not be where he is today.
“You have to be a good corporate citizen, and I really believe in giving back to the community, because the community has given us so much. I wouldn’t have the business I have without the community’s support, and the business has done very well,” said Mammarella. “It’s weathered the ups and downs in the economy very well the way a lot of many businesses haven’t, and that’s been due to support of the community. So you have to give back; it’s not a one-way street. I’m a firm believer in the fact that you reap what you sow. You give back to the community, you get back from the community.”
Economy Auto Sales has been voted the #1 Area Used Car Dealer for seven years in a row, and Mammarella said he’s proud to say he has many second- and third-generation customers, with more than one-third of their customers being referred to the business. Mammarella said he believes customers are “priority one,” and the business goes the extra mile when it comes to taking care of the community.
“Another thing they look for is community involvement,” said Mammarella. “Like just today, we had Joan Haugh from the food bank came down, we gave her a $1000 check plus a big bin of food we gathered up. We do it twice a year usually, we do a fundraiser for the food bank. We’re involved with the youth club. It’s being involved with the community, not just donating stuff, which we donate to a lot of different good organizations in the community, but we also get involved and help them out.”
Mammarella said this would not have been possible without such a great staff, and receiving an award like this really helps them to feel appreciated.
Economy Auto Sales of Knox will represent Indiana at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas in June 2013, where they will compete with Quality Dealers from other states in the National Quality Dealer Award Program.
