John Giuffre Hyundai: A Driving Force

Feb. 9, 2013 - PRLog -- As seen on an article by Industry Magazine:

John Giuffre (http://www.giuffrehyundai.com/) started working in the auto industry when he was just a kid. Taking odd jobs at his brother’s Brooklyn shop after school, he swept floors and washed cars until he was a teen. By the time he reached high school, he earned his certification as a mechanic. And then, at the very tender age of 23, he opened up his own dealership.

“I grew up in the car industry,” the dealer said recently from Giuffre Auto Group, his eponymous dealership and auto shop on 89th Street in Bay Ridge. “My father had a big truck showroom in Europe, and when I came to this country, I was 10-years-old. For years, I would go to my brother’s shop and clean up. Then I became a mechanic and worked for GM/Chrysler. I opened a foreign car dealership on Bay Parkway and 59th when I was 23-years-old.”

Operating under the name Grand Prix Foreign Cars, Giuffre’s first shop was, in essence, his very first success. When property became available in a different section of Bay Ridge, he made a move.

“We’ve been in our current location for about 20 years,” Giuffre said. “After living and working here for so long, I knew this place would be a good fit for both me and my customers.”

At his current location, Giuffre originally sold luxury used cars—Mercedes, Jaguars and Lincolns, but the business gradually changed and the family added more brands and new cars to its lineup. Today, the dealership features a range of models from a variety of brands: Chrysler, Dodge Jeep, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Fiat are all under the dealership’s banner.

“We’ve grown immensely over the years,” Giuffre said. “But our business philosophy is still the same: We try to bring honesty and satisfaction to everyone who walks through that door. We treat customers with respect and value everyone’s business, whether he or she is spend- ing $5,000 or $50,000.”

That’s been his company’s mission for the past 20 years, Giuffre explained…a value he’s instilled into his children who have been working at the family business for decades.

“When I opened this location, that’s when my entire family really got involved,” Giuffre explained. For him, crafting a “family-owned” business model meant putting every member into the mix: the staff includes his daughters, Maria, Elena and Daniela, daughter-in-law Daniela, son Ignazio Giuffre (Vice President), Peter Bellina (Vice President), John Celardo (Vice President), and Chris Erato (Vice President).

“This business is the definition of ‘family-owned,’” noted Erato, who became involved with the company as a service technician right out of high school. He currently serves as vice president of the auto group. “And Mr. Giuffre’s extended family includes his customers.”

That philosophy, combined with Giuffre’s commitment to community, might be a reason why much of his business comes exclusively through referrals.

“It’s a testament to our commitment to service that so many of our customers are repeat buyers,” Erato said.

In the future, Giuffre hopes to add yet more brands to his lineup, and the dealer added that he plans to continue offering his trademark services: with any car purchase, new or pre-owned, customers receive New York State inspections for life and three years of free maintenance.

“As a business person, it’s my responsibility and my company’s mission to offer a reliable product and good service to my customers,” Giuffre concluded. “That’s what I built the business on, and that’s what we’ll continue to represent.”

For more information on how the Giuffre Hyundai, visit www.giuffrehyundai.com or call 718-921-5500.

The Giuffre Hyundai  has been serving shoppers with exceptional service in New York for years. Not only is it Giuffre Hyundai’s commitment to serve customers, but it strives for 100 percent satisfaction for every shopper, every time. With large inventories, service, financing and parts, Giuffre Hyundai is ready to serve every customer that visits its dealership.

Giuffre Auto Group is conveniently located at 8825 5th in Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209.