Feature photo: Left, Bob Russell, owner and Brett Russell, vice president
Whether one is looking for the latest Corvette or a dependable Honda Civic, top-notch service awaits customers at Russell Chevrolet & Honda in North Little Rock. Vice President Brett Russell was named Arkansas Dealer of the Year in 2016, and the dealership has earned Chevrolet’s Mark of Excellence Award several times, not to mention being named for numerous “Best Of” honors by readers of Arkansas Money & Politics.
In my opinion, it’s pretty easy to get into the car business, but whether or not it’s in your wheelhouse, it takes a little bit of time and effort of working with people that know how to sell a car to pick up the good habits, forget the bad habits and make a living of it,” Russell told AMP last year. “It’s not for everybody, but those that it’s a good fit for, they do a remarkable job of selling and making a living at it.”
Now in its third generation, Russell Chevrolet & Honda started in 1963, when founder John Russell, Brett’s grandfather, bought Critz Chevrolet in North Little Rock, where he worked as a sales manager. The business passed to sons Bob and Rick after John’s retirement, and Brett is now joined as the third generation at the business by Rick’s sons, Jarrod and Rory.
We try not to overwork our employees,” Brett Russell said. “We give them family time. We like the fact that our employees don’t feel overstressed, and they aren’t missing out on family engagements or family events, and we just want to impress that back onto all of them that we’re a family, and we want you to be involved in yours, as well.”
During the 1970s, a gas crisis brought an influx of imports to the market, including Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Honda. The Russells owned a Mazda franchise in addition to the Chevy dealership before eventually getting into Hondas. Russell said the brand is a “mirror” to Chevrolet.
We have one domestic and one import, and they both complement each other pretty well,” he said.
The dealership takes a low-pressure approach to sales, Russell said, adding that he and his team see themselves as advisors who can talk customers through the process of buying a car and all aspects of car ownership. That dedication to service helps set Russell Chevrolet & Honda apart in a competitive market.
It’s really competitive in this business,” Russell said. “People have got a lot of options out there. It seems to me that 20 or 30 years ago, people were very loyal to a brand. Now you don’t see that much anymore, so they’ll have a Chevy today, and then tomorrow, they’ll switch over and drive a Honda or Toyota or Tesla.”
Russell works to be involved in the community by partnering with schools and other organizations, as well as participating in local chambers of commerce. He recently served on the board of commissions for the North Little Rock Housing Authority, and he has been chairman of the board of the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association.
6100 Landers Road, North Little Rock
Chevrolet sales: 501-819-4875
Honda sales: 501-430-4993
Year founded: 1963
Years in Business: 62
Number of Employees: 126
Years in LREA: 45
Now in its third generation of family leadership, Russell Chevrolet & Honda in North Little Rock has seen a lot of change, but its commitment to customer service remains the same.
