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Herb Chambers News – Rhode Island Cadillac Dealership

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:07:04 +0000

Herb Chambers Cadillac moving to Warwick

by Russell J. Moore – Courtesy of: Warwick Beacon

Warwick will soon be home to the only Cadillac dealership in the state when Herb Chambers Cadillac, formerly located in Providence, moves into what was the Saturn dealership on 1511 Bald Hill Road.

Earlier this year, General Motors announced it would eliminate the Saturn brand of cars by 2011. Saturn, which had never been profitable in its 20-year history, was eliminated as part of GM’s restructuring plan submitted to Congress and President Obama after having received bailout funds.

Herb Chambers, which owns the dealership, was considering building a state-of-the-art two-story dealership in West Warwick, just a mile or so up the street. Herb Chambers, however, was convinced by Mayor Scott Avedisian and Warwick attorney Joe Shekarchi (who does legal work for the company) to remain in the city. That means the city will retain the tax revenue that otherwise would have been lost had the dealership opted to move.

Contacted yesterday, Chambers said he was happy to retain a presence in Warwick.

“General Motors has been pressuring me to move (Cadillac) there for a long time. Finally, we’re able to do it,” said Chambers.

Chambers pointed out that while the dealership will sell Cadillac exclusively, people who own Saturns will still be able to have their cars serviced at that dealership.

“We will continue to service Saturns forever, basically until there aren’t any more of them on the road,” said Chambers.

Chambers said the consolidation of two dealerships (Saturn and Cadillac) into one would result in some job losses, but he hopes that increased Cadillac sales will result in future job gains.

“We expect an increase in Cadillac sales because of our new location. Hopefully we’ll be able to add more employees in the near future,” said Chambers.

Chambers said Warwick is a great place to do business.

“There is so much retail in Warwick. That strip on Route 2 has to be one of the busiest in New England,” said Chambers.

Avedisian said that the addition of Herb Chambers Cadillac represents a much-needed end-of-the-year boost in economic development.

“Herb Chambers Cadillac is a wonderful addition to the city. We had many discussions about getting them here, as they are a well-known and respected entity in Rhode Island. We are pleased they will call Warwick home,” said Avedisian.

“This is a great end-of-the-year economic boost for the city.”

Councilman Steve Merolla (Ward-9), contacted on Friday, said he too welcomes the dealership into the city.

Herb Chambers – Hollywood Comes to Sharon!

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:14:33 +0000

Herb Chambers Lexus Goes Hollywood!

A True Movie Experience

Kevin James and Friends

You may have heard that Massachusetts is rapidly becoming the home of Hollywood East…lately there’s hardly a time that movie crews aren’t scouting the towns and cities of our fair state for movie shoot locations. In fact, one day recently Herb Chambers Lexus received a call from a “big time movie location scout” who was looking to shoot a movie scene in “the finest automobile showroom in the world”!

Guess what? They chose our spectacular new Herb Chambers Lexus showroom on the famous “Automile” in Sharon, MA! When this facility was finished I knew it was a bit “over the top” as they say…but nothing was too good for our loyal Lexus customers and guests– the true fans of this magnificent luxury vehicle brand. To get back to my story, it turned out that they wanted to shoot a few scenes for the upcoming 2010 movie: The Zookeeper starring Kevin James (the star of King of Queens & Paul Blart: Mall Cop) in our new showroom! Well, what could I say but “yes, when would you like to start?”

No sooner did I give them the “green light” but it seems all of Hollywood arrived! Set guys, lighting guys, camera crews, loads of “assistants”, tractor trailers trucks, miles of cable, electricians, carpenters and more …it was truly transformational… and transform they did! You see this movie plot called for several scenes in a truly ultra high-end exotic vehicle showroom, (This place even had a bar!) the ultimate “Auto Toy Store” if you will. Sprinkled among the set, were several carefully positioned rare and classic cars…Rolls Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, a McLaren, Bentley’s, Maybach, a Porsche or two… and more. A car guy’s heaven!

The shooting and festivities went on for a few days…our Herb Chambers Lexus General Manager, Giovanni Tosti, and yours-truly even managed to be “extras” in a scene or two! I can only hope that we both don’t end up “edited” on the cutting room floor… no matter, we’ll look forward to seeing this hit when The Zookeeper premiers next year! And remember, at Herb Chambers… when it comes to your dream vehicle… We’ve Got It!

Sincerely,

Before

After

Herb Chambers News – Boston Business Journal Talks to Herb

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:11:56 +0000

Driven to succeed: Herb Chambers

Courtesy of: Boston Business Journal

Herb Chambers’ name is synonymous with his car dealership empire — as well as his ubiquitous commercial jingle.

But Chambers, who never attended college, actually got his start selling copy machines, not cars, before he made the transition to dealerships in 1985.

“I’ve always loved cars ever since I was a child,” he said.

Despite the brutal automotive sales market, Chambers, who operates 45 dealerships across New England, has had a decent year by most accounts. October sales were up over last year, and year over year, sales volume will be comparable, although profitability is expected to improve because of cost controls, he said. In 2009, he opened four new dealerships.

He recently sat down with Boston Business Journal reporter Lisa van der Pool to discuss business.

How is business going, post Cash-for-Clunkers?

Cash-for-Clunkers gave the industry a huge spike, but in lower-cost cars. The problem was that we weren’t prepared for Cash-for-Clunkers. The result was that we exhausted our inventory very quickly. And we had very few cars — at some dealerships we had no cars — left. At the same time nobody told the factories there was going to be a Cash-for-Clunkers program. So what happened with the economy, and car sales being down earlier in the year, is that the factories cut way back on production, because there was a glut of cars out there. Then all of a sudden, Cash-for-Clunkers comes along and exhausts the supply of cars. We delivered close to 1,200 cars.

What do you think of the government’s bailout of the automobile industry?

It’s too soon to judge. The domestic auto companies are in a mess. The executives are being changed almost daily. The

canceling of dealers is very troubling. They’ve had family businesses that will not be in existence any more. We are fortunate because we have been able to keep all of our dealerships — except Pontiac and Saturn.

Has advertising been a key part of your business strategy from the beginning?

We spend an awful lot of money advertising. The good news is that with the technology today we can monitor calls coming into dealerships, and people coming to our Web site. Because today about 80 percent of people, before they buy a car, they go online.

Are fuel-efficient cars here to stay?

Absolutely, positively. Everybody’s talking about bluetech diesels and hybrids. The name of the game is you’ve got to deliver great mileage. Everybody’s going to be in the hybrid business. I think it’s a great thing because we’re going to use up less oil.

What kind of car do you drive?

I change cars a lot because I love them. And I can. The people at all my dealerships hate to see me coming because they always know I’m going to take one of the nice cars. Right now, I’m driving a Bentley Coupe.

Three greatest passions?

My family, my business and automobiles. Because I love automobiles, I collect them.

How many cars do you have?

I used to have 25, now I have about 15 or 20 now. I have older cars, some from the ’50s. Part of the problem with collecting old cars is that they’re great to look at, but they drive terribly. But I like to drive, so I’ve been selling off some of the old cars that I have and replacing them with some exciting automobiles. For example I have a Mercedes-Benz SLR convertible, which is a car we sell. They ended the production on the car so I think it will be a very good investment. I have a new Lamborghini, which I think is a very exciting car to drive.

Trait that gives you a competitive edge?

Enthusiasm.

Herb Chambers

Herb Chambers Lamborghini

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:27:51 +0000

Chambers throws it into high gear

Car czar opens New England’s only Lamborghini dealership

By Jerry Kronenberg | http://www.bostonherald.com

Photo by Ted Fitzgerald

Boston car baron Herb Chambers is putting the pedal to the metal on business expansion, cutting a deal to open the only U.S. Lamborghini dealership this side of New York City.

“With the economy turning around, we feel this is a great opportunity to take on Lamborghinis as one of our brands,” said Chambers, who won permission this week to add a Lamborghini franchise to his current Wayland Rolls Royce/Bentley site.

Chambers hopes to have three or four Lamborghinis at the dealership by next week, with prices starting at about $200,000. He even bid on the only $1.6 million Reventon Spyder that the Italian carmaker plans to export to America.

Chambers said car aficionados laud Lamborghinis as “ultra-high-performance cars that are very fast, handle beautifully and have very edgy designs.”

But given the brand’s limited supply and high price, the car czar expects to only sell 50 or so new and used Lamborghinis a year. That’s a fraction of the roughly 37,000 cars that Chambers’ 45 dealerships collectively sell.

Still, Chambers said he wanted to add the Lamborghini brand because “we like to have something for everybody. I also have a passion for cars and think a Lamborghini dealership is a very, very cool thing to have.”

Chambers has been expanding briskly this year despite the slow economy.

He opened a new $12 million BMW site in Sudbury last week and cut the ribbon Thursday on a $6 million expansion to his Lynnfield Mercedes/Smart dealership.

“The recession has been tough, but I believe it’s behind us,” the auto entrepreneur said.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1211800

REVVED UP---Herb Chambers with the very first Lamborghini delivered to his new dealership in Wayland. The Lamborghini franchise joins Bentley and Rolls Royce brands at his dealership on Route 20 in Wayland.

Herb Chambers Opens Lamborghini Dealership

One day after celebrating the grand opening of a newly expanded Mercedes-Benz and Smart Center dealership in Lynnfield, New England’s largest automotive dealer Herb Chambers, headquartered in Somerville , announced the opening of a Lamborghini franchise in Wayland.

Chambers is the only franchise dealer of the luxury high performance Lamborghini vehicle in New England.

Herb Chambers Lamborghini of Boston, which opened for business on Friday, is located in Wayland on Boston Post Road (Route 20).

The dealership is on the same site of Chambers’ Bentley Boston and Rolls Royce Motorcars of New England dealerships.

Herb Chambers – McLaren F1

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:49:16 +0000

Roaring through Mass. in the McLaren F1

by Clifford Atiyeh

I was about 12 years old when I saw my first McLaren F1. Saw, not as millions of others did from the cover of a Road & Track issue, but saw, as in hearing my father say, “Hey, what’s that coming behind us?”, turning around, and watching the blessed Messiah of all exotic cars pass our Mercury Sable and literally part the interstate traffic.We were mere miles from our home in Connecticut, and I was freaking out for another 20. No, Mom, that is not a kit car! It’s the fastest production car on earth.At that time, I knew I had seen one of just seven McLarens in the entire United States, and I knew I would never see one again. I found out later that a company in Danbury, about 35 minutes away, was importing all the F1s from the factory in Woking, England, proof that Connecticut was the center of the universe.

In 2005, I witnessed the second coming of the F1 at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, which was holding an exhibition of Ralph Lauren’s cars. I hardly moved from the velvet rope, despite Lauren’s impressive collection. Two sightings in one lifetime? This had to be the last time I would see an F1.

McLaren made roughly 100 road and race versions between 1993 and 1998, and it’s impossible to cite the exact number in the US today. Some people say there are more than 20; Chambers thinks there’s about a dozen. (And he should know. Jay Leno bought one after taking a ride with him.) Facebook groups and message boards claiming to document each McLaren try their hardest, but the owners of these cars rarely come up in the news unless one catches on fire or gets sold at auction for more than $4 million.

: Herb Chambers Car Collection – McLaren F1

Last month, Chambers decided to drop his McLaren at his new BMW showroom in Sudbury, just 20 miles west of Boston. So I asked what anyone would in this rare moment, short of begging: can I please, please, please go for a ride? Chambers obliged, and on a sunny November I found myself holed into the F1’s left side, yanking the butterfly door shut, and trying to resist a hyper fit of feet stomping and flailing arms.

To be assaulted by such a high power-to-weight ratio, deafened by a 627 horsepower V-12, and stared at by every driver on the road is the car enthusiast’s reason for living. What, I wondered, would I do now for the rest of my life? The afterlife won’t be able to match being inside a McLaren at full-bore, running and running while the planet stands still.

For Herb and all the well-heeled car lovers with McLarens, here’s hoping, then, for a long life.

Herb Chambers – Top Places to Work

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:47:39 +0000

Boston Globe | LEADERS – Herb Chambers

TOP PLACES TO WORK

Herb Chambers – The value of confidence

Workers want a leader they can believe in

By Elizabeth Cooney, Globe Correspondent

HERB CHAMBERS WAS in the middle of expanding his car sales business when the recession hit, but he kept right on going with plans to open new dealerships and expand others. Now Chambers is hiring, and employees are glad they’re at a company that’s growing while their industry is gasping.

When the climate is gloomy, employees want company leaders to offer confidence, communication, and a sense that a bright future is being built.

Workers at these companies believe their professional fate is in good hands:

Herb Chambers Cos.: Twenty-five years ago, it wasn’t the norm for an auto dealer’s service department to wash the cars before returning them to customers, but Herb Chambers did it. “My feeling was a clean car always ran better than dirty one did,’’ said Chambers, head of his namesake business.

This year, going against the grain meant completing $50 million in new facilities. It’s that kind of thinking that has allowed Chambers auto dealerships to grow while other dealers are struggling or even closing down.

That sits well with employees, especially in the high-pressure world of auto sales. “I think it gives our people a great deal of confidence,’’ Chambers said. “They feel good about our company. They believe they are in the right place.’’

One after another, Chambers employees surveyed for Top Places cited the boss himself and the company’s growth as reasons for their satisfaction.

Not that Chambers has escaped the recession entirely. Sales are down 19 percent this year compared to last year, when the expansion was planned. But national numbers are down even more: from 30 to 34 percent.

“We never had a doubt about the future,’’ said Michael Hannafin, service director at Flagship Motorcars, a newly refurbished Chambers dealership in Lynnfield. “He’s a guy who believes in what he is doing. That trickles down.’’

Hannafin said Chambers recently pulled aside a manager who had reorganized a parts department, saying he wanted the rest of the company to copy the system. “You can’t measure what that does for an employee,’’ Hannafin said. “That guy was on cloud nine and the rest of his team was motivated, because he was singled out in a positive way by the CEO of the company.’’

Herb Chambers – Drowsy Driving Dangers

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:43:54 +0000

Somerville-based Herb Chambers helps spread awareness of drowsy driving dangers

Wicked Local Somerville

Somerville MA:

In an effort to keep Massachusetts’ roadways safer, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation are spreading the word about the National Sleep Foundation’s “Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.”

The far-reaching public awareness campaign, designed to educate drivers about the dangers of driving while drowsy, runs from November 2 to November 8, 2009. As we prepare to “fall back,” reverting to standard daylight savings time on November 1, drivers need to be even more alert as the change in sleeping patterns and roadway visibility could further impair driving skills.

The advice is basic: drive alert, arrive alive. Yet, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Sleep in America poll, 60 percent of adult drivers – about 168 million people – say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the past year, and more than one-third (103 million people) have actually fallen asleep at the wheel.

“At the Highway Division, our number one priority is safety,” said Luisa Paiewonsky, Administrator of the Highway Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. “Drowsy drivers are less alert, and more prone to accidents. It’s critical that we continue to educate drivers about the very real dangers of drowsy driving.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there are an estimated 100,000 police-reported crashes as the direct result of driver fatigue each year, resulting in more than 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.

“Most of our residents are aware of the hazards of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, but many are unaware of the dangerous effects of sleepiness behind the wheel. Like alcohol and drugs, sleep loss or fatigue impairs driving skills,” said Sheila Burgess, Director of Highway Safety for the EOPSS. “We all need to be aware that lack of sleep can have serious consequences on our lives and on the roadways.”

Sleep-related crashes are most common among teens, with more than 50 percent admitting to driving while sleepy or fatigued in the past year, as well as males under 26, shift workers and people with long work hours, commercial drivers, people with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders, and business travelers.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends drivers get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to maintain proper alertness during the day and urges drivers to pull off the road if they show signs of drowsiness or fatigue while driving. Before driving, every driver should consider whether they are:

Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples risk)

Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt

Driving long distances without proper rest breaks

Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep

Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)

Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40%)

Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work

Drinking even small amounts of alcohol

Driving alone or on a long, rural, or dark road

For more information please visit www.mass.gov/highwaysafety or www.drowsydriving.org.

Herb Chambers – Cars & Coffee BMW Sudbury

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:32:12 +0000

Herb Chambers and BMW of Sudbury are pleased to announce, “Herb Chambers Cars and Coffee” Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

This event is for motoring enthusiasts looking for a place to take their ride, share stories and admire each other’s pride and joy.

Visit: herbchamberscarsandcoffee.com

Herb Chambers Cars and Coffee is completely free and will be held at the all new Herb Chambers BMW of Sudbury, 128 Boston Post Road (Route 20) in Sudbury, Massachusetts.

The dealership is located just six miles from exit 26 off Rte 128/95.

All enthusiasts including antique, classic, exotic, hotrods, motorcycles and motorsports are invited to attend and there will be plenty of free parking for your vehicle.

Free Tee Shirts for the first 200 attendees!

On display! McLaren F-1

We hope to see you there!

John Covell

Director of Training and Marketing

john@herbchambers.com

Herb Chambers’ McLaren F1 and coffee

(Bill Polo/Globe File Photo, 2001)

Very few people have seen a McLaren F1 up close outside a magazine.

Even those of us who caught Ralph Lauren’s silver example at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts auto exhibition four years ago couldn’t see the gold leaf under the engine lid, or contemplate what a resting 250-mph speedometer would look like slammed to the max.

Thanks to mega dealer Herb Chambers, who has a 1995 F1 in his exotic and classic car collection, car enthusiasts can see this supercar very close, and sip some hot brew while they’re at it.

As a marketing effort to introduce his 46th dealership in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area, BMW of Sudbury, Herb Chambers is launching the first of what he hopes will be a monthly gathering of “cars and coffee.” It’s an early morning, no-reservation auto event for cars and motorcycles of any kind (no model discrimination, but preferably not your 1991 Tercel).

Join Herb and whomever shows up (there should be enough, given the McLaren alone) from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Bimmer parking lot on 128 Boston Post Rd. Even though the Bugatti Veyron demolished his F1’s once-record 240 mph top speed, there’s nothing like a little McLaren in the morning.

Herb Chambers – Hollywood Comes to Somerville

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:09:49 +0000

~Photo by William Tauro

Herb Chambers helicopter landing pad to the stars!

By William Tauro

A helicopter takes off from on top of the Herb Chambers Auto dealership that’s located on McGrath Highway.

According to sources movie film actress Cameron Diaz is today’s passenger being transported to her movie set that’s being filmed locally.

Sources also tell us that movie star Tom Cruise was yesterday’s helicopter passenger for the day!

Herb Chambers New Dealership – BMW Sudbury Grand Opening

blogs.global@yahoo.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:29:31 +0000

Herb Chambers to open new BMW dealership in Sudbury

Chambers Continues to Storm Forward With Expansion Plans

SUDBURY – Less than a year ago, Herb Chambers gathered with community and industry leaders as well as employees and friends to officially break ground on a new BMW dealership in Sudbury.

At the time, the economy had started its downward spiral, and many people questioned Chambers’ reasoning. Since then, there have been lots of happenings in the industry with General Motors entering and reemerging from bankruptcy, Chrysler closing thousands of dealerships, and even the government stepping in to help boost sales with the Cash for Clunkers program. But that groundbreaking in Sudbury was Chambers’ fifth of the year, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“We took a long term view when moving forward with our development plans, because our company is here for the long haul and expect to continue to grow our business,” said Herb Chambers. “We want to make sure that we differentiate ourselves from the competition by offering customers the most convenient and comfortable experience in our dealerships.”

On Thursday Sept. 17, Herb Chambers, New England’s largest automotive dealer, is opening the doors to the just completed Herb Chambers BMW of Sudbury (Foreign Motors West BMW). The 70,000 plus square-foot dealership is the third largest dealership of Chambers’ 45 locations, and features the latest in amenities designed to pamper customers.

The six-acre property, conveniently located at 128 Boston Post Road, Rt. 20, Sudbury, MA, 01776, offers customers a three lane drive in service reception area with valet attendants, a television lounge featuring plasma TV’s and a fireplace, children’s play area, sales lounges, a coffee bar and café, a seasonal outdoor patio, business center, and plenty of parking.

In June of 2007 Chambers purchased Foreign Motors West. The acquisition included Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Bentley, and Land Rover brands. At the time of the purchase, Chambers pledged to invest in growing the dealerships and committed to building a larger BMW facility at a new home in Sudbury. The dealership will replace Foreign Motors West BMW located on Route 27 in Natick, which will remain the home of Mercedes Benz of Natick where Chambers has plans for future renovations.

“This is very important for us, and we are very excited about expanding our presence in Sudbury with the addition of this luxury brand,” said Herb Chambers. Chambers also has a Land Rover Sudbury dealership located on Boston Post Road (Route 20).

The new dealership also features a 15-car two story showroom, a 6-car exterior display area featuring a sun-shaded canopy, 40 service bays, 6 reconditioning bays, and an automatic car wash. Because of the vast array of luxury brands, Chambers welcomes trade-ins. Creative financing is available and a huge selection of fine pre-owned vehicles.

The dealership was designed by Regent Associates Inc. of Westborough and constructed by Advantage Construction of Quincy.

In February Chambers opened brand new Porsche and Audi dealerships in Burlington, in March he opened a new truck service and collision center in Braintree, in April he opened a new Infiniti dealership on Route 9 in Westborough, and next month he will complete an expansion of his Mercedes Benz and Smart Center dealerships at Flagship Motorcars of Lynnfield.

“Our continued growth has been a result of the support of our expanding customer base, the dedication of our employees, and the cooperation by town officials in the communities that we operate in,” said Herb Chambers. “We are excited to continue to grow both our company and our customer base moving forward.”

About Herb Chambers Companies

Herb Chambers purchased his first car dealership in 1985 and has grown his company into the largest automobile dealership group in New England. Today, the Herb Chambers Companies are comprised of 45 automotive dealerships throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For a complete list of dealership locations visit w ww.herbchambers.com.