Pub. 2 2020 Issue 3

1. What are the biggest challenges your businesses have faced inwake of the COVID-19 pandemic? Like many businesses during this time, AutoServ has also faced many hurdles in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. I think the biggest challenge we have faced as a company during this time is the uncertainty of it all. COVID-19 is unprecedented. No one knows for certain what the future holds. With that uncertainty comes many challenges and anxieties we not only face as a company, but also indi- vidually. I would say it was extremely challenging for us to make the layoffs and furloughs that were necessary to keep the business afloat. You never want to let an employee down, especially during uncertain times like this. Although it was extremely challenging to make those tough decisions, we can only hope for a safer and more successful future ahead of us. 2. Howhave you overcome these challenges? I think we have overcome many of these challenges by being there for one another during this time. Everyone is digesting this pandemic differently. When we are faced with adversity, the only thing we can do is keep moving forward and look out for one another. At the end of the day, not all businesses are going to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If we are not there for each other now, we won’t see that light either. 3. To think outside of the box to continue to operate as usual; what are some changes you’ve implemented? Like all businesses, we have implemented many changes during this time. I would say the most significant changes we have made have been regarding our work force. Because we have temporarily reduced our staff and busi- ness hours, we have needed our employees to step up to the plate, often doing so in positions they are not totally comfortable with. Although these position shifts and mod- ifications have been difficult, I am so proud of the work my team has done. People are working longer and harder than ever before and they are the real reason we are going to get through this. 4. Being named an essential business comes with great responsibility. What protocols have you put in place to remain a COVID-Safe business? When people think about automotive dealerships, they don’t always consider the various ways in which we truly are essential. While we are in no way the heroes caring for COVID-19 patients, we want to make sure that those heroes get to where they need to be, when they need to be there. Without vehicles and vehicle servicing, those on the front line are the ones impacted. Essential businesses like ours need to be there during this time, allowing the real heroes to do their jobs. 5. Do you offer pickup and delivery for sales, service, or both? Along with the sanitation measures we have taken within the dealership; we have also seen the necessity for pickup and delivery services for both sales and service. If an indi- vidual needs their car serviced during this time, we offer pickup and delivery services, always ensuring we sanitize their interior vehicle upon delivery. We understand the pre- cautions many are taking and encourage them to contact us if they need anything. 6. If you could give one piece of advice for automotive businesses facing similar challenges, what would it be? The one piece of advice that I would give other automo- tive businesses would be to keep pushing. This pan- demic has been a challenge for all of us. In order to make it to the other side of this, we are going to have to work harder than we have ever worked before. We are going to have to be there for one another, constantly checking in on each other and offering a helping hand when needed. You never know the challenges others are facing during this time, so it’s important to be there for one another day in and day out. Pick up the slack when needed and keep pushing forward. COVID-19 Q&A for Drive: NH DENNIS GAUDET AUTOSERV DEALERSHIPS CEO 25 N E W H A M P S H I R E