WINNERS! The proud management team from Bowater Toyota holding just some of the trophies from the annual 2014 Toyota Dealer Awards. From left: Nigel Last-Harris (Sales), Aaron McLean (Sales), Alistair Mapperley (Finance), Bowater Toyota CEO Tony Bowater, Sandie Horne (Admin), Kieron Reilly (Parts), Chris Westley (Service). Click the image to enlarge
"This is a reflection on the whole team across the region, and testament of what great teamwork can achieve"
Bowater Toyota's CEO Tony Bowater and his wife Janine headed to Toyota New Zealand's home base in Palmerston North for the glittering, star studded black tie annual Toyota Dealer Awards on Friday 13th February. Tony was quietly optimistic of returning to Nelson with some awards in tow, and by quietly optimistic we mean very understated and totally downplaying the chances of such a clean sweep even though they were to find out that Bowater Toyota were finalists in 6 of the 8 categories they could be elegible for.
What actually happened at the awards was something quite unexpected, but delightful and very humbling never the less. Bowater Toyota dominated the awards, bringing home 3 trophies including the prestigious and coveted Yokoi Cup for Dealer of the Year. This is awarded for overall excellence in dealership operations, market leadership and dealership facilities, and is the first time since the award was rolled out in 1985 that the Bowater Toyota name has graced the side of this very important recognition.
From Left: Alistair Davis (Toyota NZ Managing Director & CEO), Tony Bowater (Bowater Toyota CEO), Janine Bowater, S. Teramoto (Toyota NZ Senior Executive Director). Click image to enlarge.
Also won on the night were two more major awards - the New Car Sales Excellence Cup, as well as the Parts & Accessories Excellence Cup, trophies that Bowater Toyota also won the previous year (2013). To top it off the night didn't end there, with additional recognition, with Bowater Toyota receiving the Platinum Award for achieving a level of excellence that significantly exceeds that of similar sized dealerships in all areas of operation, as well as the Triple Crown Certificate; recognition that the dealership came in on top of sales for passenger, commercial and Total New vehicle sales in the region.