Business View Magazine | August 2022

139 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8 AUST IN SUBARU line – sometimes it just seems more effective and easier to source used vehicles. “At the height of the shortage, we were looking in our service bays for vehicles we could sell,” Hudson admits, “and even buying them from the side of the road. We were even searching through Craigslist. Being customer and relationship-focused, we were trying to use all avenues to fulfill the need.” The focus on staff helps create a team that goes the extra mile. During COVID, Austin Subaru made the decision not to let anyone go. They also worked to make a workplace atmosphere attention in different places and so that’s what we did. It made such a difference that we’ve carried it on right through to today.” Another shift that began during the pandemic – one that remains to be seen how much impact it will have on the industry – is digital retailing. Rather than face to face, a large percentage of Austin Subaru’s transactions were done by phone and online, which in turn meant new software and training. The ratio of new car to used car sales also changed. Where it used to be about .7 used car sales for every new car sale, now it is more one to one. Part of this can be attributed to the shortage of new automobiles coming off the