Indeed, Flood runs his dealerships like an extended family, with a number of employees putting in 30-plus years of service, including 76-year-old Reno Silvestri, who has worked for Flood for 35 years. While his son Ricky, 32, is in the auto business elsewhere and daughter Jamie, 27, is a teacher in Westerly, Flood has numerous other family members throughout his organization, including his brother David, who is parts manager. "It's got every bell and whistle," he said. "All the ins and outs." Was that a twinkle in Flood's eye as Marissa ran through facts and figures like a true sales wonk?įlood said he is excited about the new super-luxury Lincoln Black Label franchise, which offers upscale, customized vehicle interiors and membership perks. "Personal attention, the kind that makes owners feel like members in our exclusive Black Label in-dealer design studio," according to Ford in a lush, online description.įlood said he was particularly taken with the 2017 Black Label Lincoln Continental, which is returning to the Lincoln lineup after a 15-year absence. "Tires, brakes, rotors, calipers, we do anything," she added. Marissa said nearly 60 percent of the cars serviced at Quick Lane, which is a Ford subsidiary although not badged with the Ford logo, are not Ford cars. "Whatever you've got in your garage," she said, noting such high-end vehicles as a Bentley and a Maserati being serviced there recently. "She puts in 33 hours a week," said Flood, adding that she travels down from Durham, New Hampshire, every weekend, going back up on Sundays. Now Mike, a graduate of Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, is a sales manager, and Marissa, a junior at the University of New Hampshire, is a service adviser at Quick Lane. And it seems his dedication has been inherited, as his son Mike Jr., 23, and daughter Marissa, 20, are both putting in the hours.īoth said they started working odd jobs in the summer when they were about 12, Mike turning wrenches, Marissa filing and answering phones. Even now, he said, he is keen to get out there and sell.
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"Quick Lane has been a great success," he said, adding that it was well situated across the road from the dealership for providing possible future customers.įlood, who started working for the late Paul Bailey at age 14 as a lot boy, has built his business empire on acumen and 12-hour days - plus the love of selling.
In addition to the dealerships, Flood operates Flood Collision Center at his East Greenwich facility and owns Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center across the road. "You know what team I'm in?" he said, laughing. "Keeps it factory fresh."Īnd when it comes to snow clearing after a big storm, it's all hands on deck. "We paint inside and outside every year, whether it needs it or not," he said. He said he keeps his facilities spic and span, with the East Greenwich dealership extensively landscaped by a crew of relations, including his uncle Jimmy, who spends the winters in Florida. There is too much competition," he said. "Customer service is everything. He noted pent-up demand, as the average car is now about 10 years old. "Every car is a great car today.
Our numbers are back up again, and customer satisfaction is through the roof." "We're selling around 500 vehicles a month, 6,000 a year.
However, he said overall sales at his four dealerships - Flood Ford of East Greenwich, Flood Mazda in Wakefield, Flood Ford in Narragansett, and Flood Ford Lincoln in Narragansett - are up 4 to 5 percent. "People are holding back on buying they're wondering what's going on." "The election is affecting the market," Flood said. Power and LMC Automotive see the seasonally adjusted annualized rate for September at 17.7 million vehicles, down from 18 million in September 2013. For example, auto industry consultants J.D. EAST GREENWICH - Mike Flood is not concerned about auto sales slipping nationally.įor a start, sales are still seen to be at near-record levels and are expected to slip rather than fall.
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