Each week on “Biz Buzz,” our host David Sillick talks to experts in the business world. Today, he sits down with Phil Porter from Subaru of Jacksonville, a privately owned automotive dealership in Jacksonville that is celebrating 20 years in business. They’ve grown from 9 employees to 71 and sales of $9 million to over $71 million.
To learn more check out https://www.subaruofjacksonville.com.
Company: Subaru of Jacksonville
Website Address: subaruofjacksonville.com
Interviewee: Phil Porter
How did you get started in your business?
I got started way back in the early 80s with Jim Moran’s Pontiac store in Hollywood, Florida and ultimately went to work for his warranty company out of Deerfield Beach. That took me to dealerships all over the South and gave me some exposure to a lot of different operations. That was really the framework for setting up a business the way I wanted to and Subaru Ajax has been around 20 years now.
What are your keys to success?
Making sure everybody in my company operates with customers the way I would. My mantra is you are a customer in my building. I can’t replace you if you’re after a car, I can replace that car but I can’t replace the customer.
Is there a passion project or a way that you give back to the community?
You know there’s a lot we’re passionate about. We’re passionate about breast cancer. We’re passionate about Habitat for Humanity. We are big sponsors of Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital on our webpage.