Business Focus: Wiesner Huntsville

Photos by Libby Rogers

Mr. John Wiesner opened his car lot in Conroe in April of 1972. After years of running and growing that location, he opened the branch in Huntsville in May of 1994. That’s nearly twenty-three years of selling, building, and giving back to the Huntsville community. Ever since its opening, Wiesner has been expanding more than just the square footage to their lots, showroom, and service center—the people at Wiesner work to expand their family of customers.

Generations are a big thing around this place. They don’t want to just sell you a car. They want to be the one to sell everyone in your family a car. To do that successfully, they have to build relationships with the customers that last. Clint McLaren said, “We are unique in the car industry, as far as longevity,” That is one thing Mr. Wiesner worked to instill in every employee. In an effort to encourage his staff to stay for generations of customers, he gave out rings. At the five year mark, each employee was given a gold ring for their service, and at ten years they received their diamonds. Executive Assistant Anne Smith shared, “Twenty-three of the seventy-eight employees here have been working here for ten years or longer,” and have their diamond rings. What this means for the customer is that when you decide to look for a new car, there is well over 230 years of experience waiting to assist you, and if you have purchased a car from Wiesner before, there’s a good chance your favorite salesman is still around to help. Along with the rings, Wiesner makes a point to promote from within. McLaren started out on the sales floor and has moved up. Since first coming to Huntsville when it opened in 1994, he is now the General Manager. Even though he has moved up the chain, he still takes care of his customers from his salesman days, sending out hundreds of hand-signed birthday cards a month to everyone he ever sold a car to. It’s about connecting with people. Lifelong customers of Wiesner in Huntsville can be seen having their morning coffee in the lobby with their favorite employees any day of the week. Along with establishing customer relationships that last, the Wiesner families take part in several get-togethers throughout the year to foster relationships with each other to build a tight community between the employees—a community that can be felt by walking around the showroom floor.

The service department is another way they serve their customers. It’s open Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. You can wait in the lounge area while your car is being serviced. Equipped with several couches, comfortable chairs, coffee, sodas, a television, and free wifi, the lounge is tucked away from the rest of the showroom. If you need service on your car, but don’t want to wait in the lounge area, you can get a complimentary ride to pick up some food or even do some shopping. Once your car is ready, they will bring you back to the service department to pick it up. Your car doesn’t have to be purchased from Wiesner to take part in their customer-driven service department; it is open to all vehicles.

Wiesner in Huntsville does a lot to give back to the community, and not just in Huntsville. Every year, they participate in the fair auctions in Walker, Montgomery, and Madison counties. Clint is the treasurer of the Walker County Fair Association. He also cooks dinner for the players of the Huntsville High School football team before a few home games each year. Wiesner of Huntsville helps in some capacity – food, transportation, funding, etc–with Wounded Warriors, Diva Night, the cake auction, the HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas annual Veteran’s Day banquet, gathering toys for SAAFE House to give to children for Christmas, the annual cook-off, CCA banquet, Ducks Unlimited, and also the Huntsville Leadership Institute through the Chamber of Commerce. The Huntsville Leadership Institute (HLI) is a community leadership training program that runs from September to May, where one employee from each business learns how the others work to serve the community. Those in the HLI learn how the TDCJ, SHSU, the hospital district, and other industries work and how they build the community so that they can understand how to implement joint-effort projects and use each other to further commerce in the region. Relationship is how Wiesner does business.

Wiesner in Huntsville is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. They carry new Buick, GMC, Chevy, and Cadillac. Selling Cadillac in Huntsville, “gives you the luxury of the brand without paying for the real estate,” plus, you get to become part of the Wiesner family. They also have a wide selection of pre-owned vehicles that are available for viewing on the lot or online. This month they will be showcasing the new line of trucks gearing up for Rodeo Houston, so there is no better time to buy! If you are considering a trade-in, you can give them a call or drive by the dealership to get some options in the works. Their sales staff is eager to make new customers feel like friends, and old ones like family. Each of them is equipped with the freedom to follow up with customers and make the car buying process a unique one – such as #TheEvanArnoldExperience with salesman Evan Arnold. The “Experience” includes a patient, knowledgeable process to find the perfect match for you and a follow up call and email to see how the new car is working out, a goody bag with an ever changing array of things from t-shirts and koozies, to key chains and air fresheners, and birthday cards. That is just from one employee, and everyone you deal with along the way is just as friendly and helpful. Swing by anytime and let their knowledge and hospitality speak for itself.

To find out more, call 936-755-4582. For questions about the service center you can call 936-755-4583. You can also get information, and check out their current inventory, on their website anytime at www.wiesnerchevy.com.