Business Focus • 2015
Dealership welcomes family addition
Hilltop Motors, located on U.S. Route 1 between Caribou and Presque Isle, has been in business for nearly eight years now and the dealership’s philosophy has never wavered.
“We haven’t lost sight of what we started out pledging to do, which is to offer a better than average product that is 100 percent ready to go and the cleanest you’ll find anywhere, making for an outstanding value; a comfortable purchase experience with an ease of doing business; and taking the very best care of our customers, both before and after the sale,” owner Scott Pike said.
“We want to create relationships that last well into the future,” he added.
Hilltop Motors this past year has been very excited to add Zach Pike, son of Scott and Charlene Pike, to the staff.
Scott said it is extremely gratifying to have a son who growing up around the business has totally embraced it as Zach has. “He truly can’t imagine doing anything else with his career path,” his father said.
Zach, in his time since high school graduation, has gone out and obtained invaluable experience having worked for several large dealerships, all in the Portland area. “This proved to be an excellent foundation and an exceptional training ground,” Pike added.
As for Hilltop Motors’ overall business outlook, the future looks bright.
“It was a difficult first two or three years with recessionary conditions at that time and the economy struggling,” he said. “That has slowly improved and the last four years have been much more profitable. We have built up a good clientele base and have had many repeat customers.”
As a small dealership, Pike has also found it crucial “to develop a good referral business and achieve good word of mouth.”
Pike said diligence in obtaining inventory has been very important.
“We’ve nurtured relationships with some new car dealerships and many times will acquire vehicles that they might take in on a trade and not have an inventory need for, consequently wholesaling them to us,” he said. “We still do attend auctions, both physically and online, work with wholesale networks and even occasionally buy off the street directly from individuals.”
Always looking to improve the business, Pike said Hilltop Motors has obtained additional lending sources for customer convenience and last year completed a lot expansion with more paved area. This year Hilltop will make building upgrades as well as develop a potential sideline business.
Hilltop Motors is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit them on the web at www.hilltopmotorsinc.com or call 493-4455.
