2022 is drawing to a close and here at Peter Hanley Motors, we look back with gratitude and appreciation on the year gone by. It This year we were blessed to welcome the amazing Miss Anna Hanley to our wee family. At 10 months old, she is an absolute joy and the house is never quiet thanks to herself and her four-year-old sister, Maria! But quiet houses are probably overrated. My Dad, Peter recovered from his health issues of the previous year, and like many Irish families we have a new appreciation for the time spent together in these post-pandemic days.
Thankfully, it has been a good year for us at the garage and dealership too. The year began with a plethora of industry messages of doom and gloom as the shortages of cars and chips loomed over the car business. But we have weathered many a storm in the thirty plus years of business and we rolled the sleeves up to face the challenges. We made a few tweaks to our business model and used the relationships we have fostered over the years. This meant that our stock level of vehicles never dropped below its usual amount of at least 150 cars on the lot at any given time. We are very appreciative of the business partners we enjoy, both north and south and despite the challenging start to 2022, it was a busy, prosperous and productive year. The quantity of cars that we sell remained consistent, but the quality of the cars themselves went up considerably. There was an increase in the sale of PHEV and Hybrid cars as the mind set of Irish drivers moves away from conventional fuel systems, both for financial and environmental reasons. As always, we welcomed back return customers and saw many old friends drive away in new or newer cars. First time drivers continued to seek advice in getting on the road, with insurance sorted and in a reliable car. For many young people starting college, the option of a good car and a long commute was preferrable to trying to get accommodation near their universities. There is always a bit of kick in seeing a young driver heading off in their newly purchased car. We all remember that rush of our first set of wheels!
In 2022, following years of working closely with financial institutions and building up good relationships, we were able to offer buyers more competitive finance, with a choice of rates, lower rates and attractive packages. We also introduced new technology in the form of a clever digital motor dealer management system. Pinewood allows us to be more streamlined, virtually paperless and to conduct the motor trading process of buying and selling vehicles completely online in an easy and smooth way. Of course, the technology took a bit of mastering and a lot of frustration as we struggled to grasp something out of our usual comfort zone. But we persevered and it is paying off. Customers are now used to seeing us walking the forecourt with tablet or laptop in hand and all of the details on each vehicle at our fingertips. The system gives us a complete car sale process online, including automatic service reminders. Increasing efficiency and saving time too. Now that we have the hang of it!
There is much to look forward to in 2023. There are plans for expansion and we have just received planning permission for three new phases of construction to improve the facilities at Ballymahon. The road facing showroom will benefit from a sparkling new facelift and we are building a four bay valeting area to make it easier to keep your cars in tip top condition. A new custom-built parts store will be added to the property also. Our staff continue to be our best asset and we are proud to employ a team of over 30 people. Their combined skills, enthusiasm and optimism are what makes Peter Hanley Motors thrive. Of course, we all work very hard and the satisfied customer is always our goal and priority.
So, at the end of another twelve happy months, I would like to wish you all, customers, suppliers, friends and neighbours, a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year from us all here at Peter Hanley Motors.
David Hanley
Peter Hanley Motors is a registered
member of The Society of the Irish
Motor Industry
