Page 33 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2017

“The opportunities along the Gulf Coast are endless and that’s something our family recognized years ago.”
Galleria BMW
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Teddy Lewis
Galleria BMW is the first ground- up facility for BMW North America in more than 30 years. The dealership is equipped with the latest technology for diagnostics and customer convenience. “It’s not just the showroom appearance with teakwood walls in the Client Advisor stations or the four customer lounge areas with 60- inch televisions and free wi-fi, or the Isetta Bar fully stocked with refreshments and snacks, or even the beautiful BMW Boutique and the overall attention to detail in every aspect of the dealership,” Internet Manager Sarah Cranfield said. “Mostly, it’s the atmosphere and ambiance that our team members create from the first contact with the dealership through every step of the customer experience.”
That ambiance and atmosphere are felt throughout the facility. “I want to be our customers favorite place to do business - regardless of why they visit. That’s what we strive for every day,” Bo Mandal said.
The main issues were instrumental in the decision BMW made to locate to the area, the Mandals point out. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has been experiencing substantial overall growth since Katrina. The Region now ranks higher in population and per capita income growth than nine
other cities where BMW currently does business. The Galleria Mall opening is slated to be the second largest mall opening in the country and Biloxi is now becoming the second largest gaming center in the United States behind Las Vegas.
“The Mississippi Coast has 15 million visitors each year and a properly placed BMW dealership will be a showcase for BMW and the community for years to come,” Bobby Mandal said.
Bo Mandal added, “John and I have worked closely to make sure we have selected top tier people throughout the organization to help us create the future of BMW on the Gulf Coast.”
The organization’s makeup is an almost 50/50 male-to-female balance. “In the time I’ve been with the Mandal organization, I can confidently say that Bobby and Bo look for talent; they don’t separate that into male or female, young or old, or sometimes even automotive experience,” said Sherrod Auxt, Sales Manager. “They look for people who have unique personalities to deliver a high hospitality experience.”
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September 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 33
Galleria BMW
1-10 at I-110
11282 Mandal Pky, D’Iberville, MS 228.232.0333 www.galleriabmw.com