Ask anyone in Cork to name twp or three car dealers and the likelihood is that Grandons of Glanmire will be one that springs to mind.

The Glanmire based dealership has been part of the motoring life of Cork for many years since it was established back in 1975 by Maria and Martin Grandon.

Grandon's success, at least in part, has been due to the company's willingness to move with the times. Never ones to baulk at innovation Grandons have managed to maintain their position at the top table of Cork dealerships in good times and bad.

In 2008, the industry faces many challenges, not least the faltering economy and the as yet unknown impact of the new tax regime for cars that comes into effect on July 1.

The man that will steer Grandons through these challenging times is David Waller, a native of Whitburn in England's northeast he brings a wealth of industry experience to the role and a track record of innovation that will sit well with Grandon's philosophy.

With 20 years experience in the business, David knows a thing or two about selling cars. He was the originator of the now hugely popular car supermarket format which has been copied exhaustively since. His work as a consultant to motor manufacturers has given him a real insight into industry trends and he certainly doesn't envisage Grandons treading water under his stewardship.

"My job is obviously to increase sales and that's what I aim to do," he says. One area in particular he will target is the used car offering available from Grandons.

"Currently most of our used cars are examples of our used car marques (Fiat, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo). I want to increase the volumes we have on offer and also bring the widest possible range of cars to customers".

He has some innovative plans about how to do this, and insists that Grandons prices will be unbeatable. "We will be importing cars from the UK which will prove a big advantage over many competitors. I'm confident that you wont be able to beat us on price".

David's extensive contacts and experience in the business mean that his confidence is probably well placed. He wants to extend the hours that customers can visit the showrooms and also provide a covered environment for visitors too. With a banking background he also feels that the finance offering from Grandons will be special.

"We have the best finance offers you can find anywhere. We deal with a number of companies which means that customers get the widest possible choice and hopefully the best deal for them".

He also plans to shake up Grandon's financial offering in the future with innovative ideas like two for one deals giving you a replacement car for the same price you purchased the original from Grandons.

With big plans and challenging times ahead, David Waller will be busy but having just moved to Ireland he doesn't intend to spend all his time at the office.

If you are into music remember his name because you may well find him gigging at a venue near you. A passionate guitarist, he has played with the likes of Dave Stewart and Lindisfarne and is looking forward to enjoying Cork's vibrant music scene. The proud owner of guitars previously owned by both Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton David is clearly serious about his music too. For this new Cork resident it seems that it's all about cars and guitars.

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