Jerry's puts emphasis on car knowledge
Jerry's Auto Supply manager Carl Chilson looks to assistant manager Luis Jimenez and counter person Janet Lattin in the new store Wednesday afternoon. Chilson said that Jerry's focuses on having expert services behind the counter.
Auto supply store bringing in healthy competition
New experts are waiting to take on Moses Lake customers' car questions.
Jerry's Auto Supply recently opened at 39 N. Elder Ave.
Manager Carl Chilson said that the new Moses Lake store joins others in Leavenworth, Cashmere, Chelan and the main store in Wenatchee.
"We started really looking at the (Moses Lake) area in October," he said.
Chilson said that there was "definitely" a need for Jerry's Auto Supply in Moses Lake.
"We go to market a whole lot different than the competition," he said. "We really dedicate a lot of time for countermen that really know what they're doing, what cars are all about, mechanical expertise. We're definitely price conscious, but we don't go to market as being the cheapest guy on the block. We sell service, and we sell quality. We don't go for the cheapest brand out there."
The store employs six people, Chilson said.
"The longevity of the counter people that we do have working for us is very unique compared to the industry," he said. "We stress with all of our countermen how important it is to meet the customer's expectations and exceed."
Chilson feels Jerry's Auto Supply differs in that it genuinely promotes that goal of meeting consumer expectations, while the competition might not put nearly enough emphasis on that area on a daily basis, he said.
"It's one thing to start a business and the first week, that's how you go about your business, but how about six years from now?" he asked. "Do you still do that same thing? In Wenatchee, I worked there for eight years, and I can see that's a constant striving goal for the company; it's not a flash-in-the-pan thing."
Chilson said that the company has been around since 1963 and has been growing constantly, in spite of the market pressure. It bodes well for the future of the business, he said.
"As far as the store goes, this is as far as it's planned on for this moment," Chilson said. "This is actually a pretty good-sized store for the size of the area. We have the same amount of inventory that our Wenatchee store has, which is a huge inventory, in parts-store lingo anyway."
The building is 65,000 square feet, Chilson said.
Among the items in stock are things like radiators, which averages parts stores don't usually carry, Chilson said.
"We went out and saw those little markets that can really help our customers, for not having to wait or not having to go down the street and get it from the dealer or from a specialty shop," he said.
Reaction from the community has been positive.
"I think it's been very good, very supportive over all," Chilson said. "Competition's always a good thing. As long as it's not the big box store trying to squeeze the little guys out, I think competition on a fair level or on an even playing field is always good."