Car dealership accelerates expansion plans following funding from Santander UK
The Car Sales Company Bury is expanding with the addition of a new showroom, which opened this week, and is hiring 20 additional staff.
The business is among the UK’s largest independent ‘car supermarkets’, dealing in used cars, buying and selling from its original premises in Bury, Greater Manchester – and now from its new showroom, also in the city – as well as online through its ecommerce website. Santander UK has supported the business’ acquisition of the new showroom with a funding package of more than £1.7m. The funding also supports refinancing of its existing premises in Bury.
The new premises has become the family-run business’ main car showroom for customers, while its existing property will be primarily used for preparing vehicles and servicing online customers. Most of the 20 additional staff The Car Sales Company Bury is hiring will be based in the new car showroom. Its latest hires bring its total number of staff to 60.
Over the past three years, The Car Sales Company Bury’s annual turnover has grown by 150% to £25m, and it anticipates that its latest expansion will help double its turnover in the next year. Its online sales have increased significantly during the pandemic, growing from 5% of its sales prior to the pandemic to 40% currently.
The company was established in 2010 by Faisal Abbas, who started out as a sole trader with just ten cars. He still runs the company, as managing director. His wife, brothers and extended family all have key roles in the business.
Faisal Abbas, managing firector, The Car Sales Company Bury, said: “Acquiring our new showroom and being able to take on more employees puts our business in a position to grow our turnover strongly in the coming months. Santander UK’s funding has been a huge support to us, putting us on track to achieve our business aspirations over the coming year and beyond.”
Luke Rowbotham, relationship director at Santander UK, said: “We are delighted to be supporting The Car Sales Company Bury to purchase its additional showroom and bring new jobs into the local area. This is a family business that started out small and is rapidly growing into an exciting company competing nationally, as well as being a great local employer.”
