Business View Magazine l October 2022

171 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 10 KUNES AUTO GROUP new challenges that nobody could have predicted, of course. Whereas dealerships like Kunes Auto Group would have become accustomed to seeing lots full of vehicles and prospective customers, the COVID-19 pandemic changed all that. Then supply chain issues came along to cause further disruption. “Obviously, everyone is feeling the tightening of inventory,” Kunes says. “Fortunately, we were very proactive, purchasing a lot of new vehicles and used cars to ensure we always had pretty full lots. It’s a new era of selling and most manufacturers have experienced this change. But this has actually led to higher profits in some cases, with manufacturers finding that if they don’t build so many products, they don’t have to rebate them to get them sold.” The automotive industry is certainly experiencing an interesting period, but it is one that many consumers are already coming to grips with. Kunes Auto Group has taken a lot more new car orders lately, especially on specialty items. The company wants to provide the best customer service possible, while also making the best business decision. As such, it’s always a balancing act. As a family-owned business, Kunes Auto Group takes community involvement extremely seriously but covering such a wide territory can make this challenging. Kunes notes, “We are a Christian organization and from the very beginning of his business, my father has always followed a tithing model, where the first 10% of all profits go to charitable organizations. In addition, we have our own foundation – the Kunes Family Foundation.” An example of the kind of community engagement prioritized by Kunes Auto Group is its “Trade In Hunger” event, launched earlier this year. Across four states, the company packaged over 570 meal kits at each of its dealership to benefit local pantries and six regional food