A legend in car sales is about to call it a day after more than 33 years in the business at Dubbo.
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‘Tommy Toyota’ Sullivan dealt in a way that saw customers become friends and his good reputation extended across Australia.
On Tuesday colleagues and loyal clients gathered at Dubbo City Toyota to farewell the man regarded as the “epitome” of the business.
Mr Sullivan began his career in 1983, when the dealership was Sainsbury Toyota.
He came from a rural community and serving people on the land was always a particular interest.
“I’ve spent a lot of time out on properties selling cars instead of being here in the office,” he said.
It’s no wonder one particular model holds a special place in his heart.
“My favourite vehicle has always been, it’s the first one I sold, the Toyota Landcruiser,” he said.
Dealer principal David Hayes said Mr Sullivan was a “stalwart” of the dealership, and the epitome of what they stood for with “his honesty and respect and being upfront with people”.
An announcement about Mr Sullivan’s impending retirement on social media prompted warm wishes for a happy retirement.
Mr Sullivan has worked with the one business that started as Sainsbury Toyota and then became Dubbo City Toyota.
He said he had worked for four different dealer-principals in that time.
“The Sainsbury boys, then a great mate of mine, Mark Betar, then Craig Black from Queensland bought this business, I worked under him, then David Hayes took over the helm and I’ve been with David ever since,” he said.
A Q and A with Tom Sullivan
Faye Wheeler: How did you come to be a car salesman?
Tom Sullivan: I had a mate who was in the industry with his brother, Col Sainsbury, and he asked me to go and help him for a couple of days, deliver some cars to Canberra and Deniliquin.
That was for a couple of days, that continued for a couple of months.
Then things went from there and he eventually asked me if I’d like to have a go selling cars.
FW: Why have you stayed with the career for so long?
TS: Mostly I would say the customers I have serviced, by a long way.
And the team, we’ve always had a good team at Dubbo City Toyota, and Gilgandra [Toyota].
I would definitely say it’s the long-term and the loyalty of a lot of customers that I still sell motor cars to today.
FW: Do you have any plans for your retirement?
TS: I haven’t got any plans at the moment.
I’m just about to turn 70 years of age.
I hope my health hangs out and I’m here for a while yet.
I’m a Toyota man through and through and if I sold any other new car I’d be a hypocrite.
So that’s me, that’s why they call me Toyota Tom.
FW: You’ve sold cars here at Dubbo to a big area, how does that come about?
TS: From loyalty and what we might call referrals among some of my loyal customers.
I think you’ll find I sold vehicles to Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW, Victoria over that period of time.
It all comes back to the respect I’ve earnt out of my loyal customers, who can pass my name on to other people.
‘Go and see Tommy Toyota, he’ll look after you’.
A minute with Dubbo City Toyota dealer principal David Hayes
Faye Wheeler: What does Tom mean to this dealership?
David Hayes: Tom’s been one of the stalwarts of our dealership for a long time.
Thirty-plus years is obviously a long time in the industry.
He’s the epitome of what we stand for in the business.
His honesty and respect and being upfront with people.
Tom’s a leader in that, always has been and always will be.
FW: Has he been an example to his younger colleagues?
DH: Tommy’s a really hard worker, he works long hours, he’s deals up front and honestly with people.
A lot of young guys have been through under Tommy over the years, and even current guys look up to Tommy as well, so he’s been a leader and a mentor for a long time, not just recently.