Rebecca Frizelle

BURGEONING Jaguar Land Rover sales have been the catalyst for a $14 million dealership in Brisbane as part of an expanding James Frizelle Automotive Group.

Officially opened last week with a guest list of 430 people, the dealership on Pacific Highway in Springwood is adjacent to the group’s Audi showrooms which opened in February.

Co-dealer principal Rebecca Frizelle said the combined capital of both dealerships was around $30 million.

“Our investment in both centres is continuing but the final total will be around $30 million,” she said.

“We will also be employing about 70 people at both outlets with potential to grow a significant economic footprint in the local area.”

The Frizelle group chose Springwood for its new dealerships because of its site location and the catchment area.

JLR Springwood

“Springwood’s location on the Pacific Highway was a major attraction to us when we were searching for the next location for a Frizelle’s dealership,” said Mrs Frizelle, whose husband Brett co-manages the outlets.

“Around 200,000 vehicles use the road each day, making it a great shop window for our vehicles. The Springwood dealerships cover Logan, as well as Brisbane’s southside and Redlands, and these areas are all growing in population.

“We expect that growth to continue for many years to come and it makes sound business sense for us to be part of that growth story.”

Mrs Frizelle said the area had not previously been serviced by its own Jaguar Land Rover franchise “so we were taking a leap in the dark – albeit a calculated leap”.

“I’m delighted to say that sales so far have certainly exceeded our expectations. Land Rover especially has been popular,” she said.

“With the current appetite for luxury brands and SUVs that’s not surprising, but it’s welcome nonetheless.” The James Frizelle Automotive Group established its Audi showroom in
Springwood early last year.

“Our sales performance has been excellent. The Christmas-New Year period was especially good and that was certainly bolstered by the opening of the new dealership,” Mrs Frizelle said.

The group has no immediate plans to open other franchises but Mrs Frizelle said: “We are always interested in new opportunities if they are a good fit for Frizelle’s. Watch this space.”

Mrs Frizelle, who also chairs the NRL Gold Coast Titans board, said the investment in the showroom was vital to business success.

“We are seeing an increase in online sales, but a showroom is still the place where the overwhelming majority of our cars are sold,” she said.

“We’re incredibly proud of the centres we have built at Springwood. They are perfectly designed to showcase our cars to potential buyers both inside and outside the showroom.

“With so many drivers using the Pacific Highway, an impressive showroom is a wonderful advertisement for our brands. And when the dealerships are lit up at night, they are spectacular.

“The sleek beauty of these brands is a huge part of their appeal and the showrooms show the cars at their very best.”

Mrs Frizelle said there was also a deliberate move in recent years to make its dealerships appealing to women.

“Our showrooms are light, spacious and stylish, making them more attractive to women,” she said.

“And about one quarter of our sales team across Frizelle’s is now made up of women to reflect the growth in the number of female buyers in recent years.”

By Neil Dowling

Audi Springwood