Angels add the feminine touch to a male dominated industry

Angels add the feminine touch to a male dominated industry

3rd September 2015

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AN all-girl sales team dubbed ‘Alasdair’s Angels’ is wooing customers at a North East family car dealership.

Megan Brown, Hollie Bagshaw and Joanne Hope have been taken on by Sherwoods managing director Alasdair MacConachie, recognising the importance of the feminine touch to a male dominated industry.

Industry research shows that women influence 85 per cent of car sales, whether they are buying themselves or advising male partners, and that many female customers prefer to deal with a woman.

All existing Sherwoods customers themselves, the muscle of the Angels trio is being provided by weight-lifter Hollie Bagshaw, 21, of Northallerton.

“My mum and dad have always been customers at Sherwoods’ Northallerton branch and I had bought a Corsa and an Adam from there. When I went to buy a second Adam I ended up being offered a job,’ said Hollie, who can deadlift almost 19 stone.

Megan Brown, 23, of Newton Aycliffe, was studying health and social care at Darlington College with a view to becoming a midwife. But she too visited Sherwoods with a view to buying a car and came away with a job offer.

“I’m glad I switched and love working for Sherwoods, which is a lovely family firm with great customers,” she said. “We are called the Angels, among other things, and do tend to dominate the boys.”

Joanne Hope, 27, of Howden-le-Wear, added: “I came in to buy a Corsa and ended up being interviewed for a job. I love it. We girls do tend to stick together and I think all our customers find us approachable, knowledgeable and fun to deal with.”

Mr MacConachie said: “Our industry is modernising after decades of being dominated by men. We certainly recognise the value of our team of Angels who are doing a great job looking after our customers many of whom return to Sherwoods for their cars time after time.”

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