Business View Magazine l November 2022

221 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 11 EAST WEST L INCOLN have worked hard to be a reliable pillar of the local community and we truly value that.” East West Lincoln is a free-standing Lincoln dealership offering CARSTAR collision repair service on-site, as well as a vehicle rental offering. “The Lincoln brand is at the heart of our business,” Trasatti Jr. says. “The CARSTAR collision repair service is an additional solution but one that is still hugely important. It sets us up as a one-stop-shop whenever a vehicle has been involved in an accident.” One unexpected blow that all dealerships faced recently was the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in many car lots displaying far fewer vehicles due to associated supply chain disruption – something that has been noticed at East West Lincoln. “Our inventory level is very tight, similar to other dealerships and automotive manufacturers,” Trasatti Jr. admits. “We are well aware of current chip shortages and those have certainly resulted in inventory constraints, as well as the removal of certain options and features within our inventory. It must be said, however, that Lincoln Motor Company has done a very good job of managing this disruption. We are all in it together.” Fortunately, East West Lincoln was not directed to close operations during the height of the crisis, with the dealership classed as an essential transportation service. “Even considering the dangers posed by COVID-19, that doesn’t mean that people don’t need to get their cars fixed or travel to get food and medicines,” Trasatti Jr. explains. “Our way of life in America is, to an extent, centered around mobility – and the vehicle is a huge part of that.” During the pandemic, East West Lincoln did notice several changes to its operations, of course. Social distancing was enforced, safety precautions were ramped up, and some interactions took place digitally. Obviously, repairs cannot be carried out remotely, so East West Lincoln remained open throughout the pandemic. But business was dramatically impacted.