My Story

by Hamiltons owner, David Stewart

My love of cars started back in 1975 when I fell in love with a neighbour’s Regency Red Jaguar XJ6 Series One which I could see from my bedroom window. From then on it was only ever cars for me.

In November 1983 I was asked by my Deputy Headmaster, Mr Harry Giles (who had previously threatened me with suspension for selling second-hand records to my schoolmates) what was my preference for the Trident Work Experience. I replied that I had no idea. He then asked what my interests were and I told him cars. He quickly replied “I can see you as a car salesman”.

With that, he arranged a placement at Marshalls’ Car Sales on Oundle Road Peterborough, a Rolls Royce and Jaguar dealership. After the first day I knew this was the job for me and, on leaving school, I wrote to eight of the local car dealerships asking if they had any openings.  Unfortunately none of them could offer me a full-time job as a trainee salesman.

Fortunately however, Peterborough Motors, the Ford agent, were running a YTS (Youth Training Scheme) workshop for school leavers and offered me a place. The training included mechanics, paint spraying, parts sales and new and used car sales. All twelve people on the twelve month course were expected to spend time in a workshop with our trainer Aubrey Pollard, learning basic mechanics, car maintenance, welding and fabrication etc. We would then have four weeks working with our chosen department before returning to the workshop and so on. Of course my choice was the Car Sales department.

I made my first sale after a very short while, quite by accident! All of the sales staff were busy when a customer walked on to the forecourt and, rather than let them walk away, I decided that I would keep them talking until one of the sales team was free. Before anyone became available, I had sold the car (Beige Escort 1.3L TAV 700X). After that I was outselling some of the sales team who had been with the company for a number of years. This made me a bit unpopular with them. Thankfully my mentors, Graham Peaks and David Wicks (the New and Used car sales controllers), got me through this very demanding period. They taught me everything from prospecting, qualifying, presenting, demonstrating, explaining features and benefits. The most important thing they taught me was how to appraise and spot an unoriginal vehicle. I think we all know that an original and “unmolested” car with a good service history is a much better prospect for both seller and buyer. Having nice stock means that even the poorest of sales persons should not have a problem selling, as good stock almost sells itself.

My salesmanship soon made the news as the YTS was a government initiative, which was sometimes denigrated. My picture with the story appeared in the local Evening Telegraph and the nationals also picked up the story. I was also asked to appear on Breakfast Television, which I declined.

Six months into the YTS placement my Sales Manager, Tony Parsonage, called me into the office. He had heard that other dealerships in the area were becoming interested in me, having read my story. He sat me down and offered me a full time job (and I couldn’t even drive). After five years and with up to thirteen other sales staff to compete with, I was always in the top three every month.

Finally in October 1989 I decided it was time to go it alone.

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View before and after pictures of Hamiltons