Wicklows one-stop shop for commercial vehicle sales and servicing

14/12/2016

Such is the Connolly family business’s reputation for excellence that they are called upon to do a considerable amount of fleet work.)

Located in the heart of the Garden County, beside The Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, Connolly Commercial Calary Ltd. is a veritable one-stop shop for all 4x4, light commercial vehicle and car sales and servicing needs. We headed to scenic Wicklow to find out more about this exceptional family operation from founder Charlie Connolly.

As well as offering a wide range of high-quality, pre-owned 4x4s, light commercial vehicles and cars, the level of customer service provided by Connolly Commercial Calary Ltd. is quite simply second to none. This is why the business is in high demand not just in County Wicklow but also further afield, with customers regularly calling from every nook and cranny of the island.

Covering everything from sales and servicing to testing and repairs and with an emergency aftersales service provided, Charlie Connolly’s popular family-run business has gone from strength to strength since its inception at the dawn of the new millennium.

“I set the business up in 2002,” he reflects. “I am a mechanic by trade and had worked for myself for a good few years prior to that. In ’02, I decided to set up in new premises here beside the family home.”

The business developed steadily and organically down through the years to the stage where gainful employment is now provided for a team of five, four of whom are members of the immediate Connolly family. “There’s myself, my wife Geraldine, who looks after the office, our son Philip, who is also a qualified mechanic, and our nephew Michael Ellis, who is serving his time here. Our other mechanic is Gearoid O’Toole, who also served his time with us and stayed here.”

Connolly Commercials Calary sources and sells a great selection of 4x4s, vans and cars. Since the get go, Charlie has decided to maintain his independent status, rather than going down the main dealer route. This allows him to offer customers the best deals possible in an impartial and unbiased manner, with something in stock to suit every need.

“We do quite a bit of farm machinery repairs as well as 4x4, light truck and van repairs and servicing,” the personable Wicklow man continues. “We also provide a service whereby we prep commercial vehicles for the DOE test – we bring them to Wicklow VTN for that.

“We mostly sell second-hand vehicles. I purchase them from the trade and only take in very high-quality stuff. We sell them on with a good warranty and provide a strong aftersales service, so it works out well for everybody.”

The steady flow of repeat customers making their way to Connolly Commercials Calary on a regular basis would certainly testify to this! “We have a very loyal customer base,” Charlie confirms. “I suppose if you look after people they will stick with you. We benefit from a lot of local trade but also attract customers from all over the country.”

Such is the Connolly family business’s reputation for excellence that they are called upon to do a considerable amount of fleet work. This includes servicing and maintaining fleets of vans and small trucks.

Even through the economic downturn, business remained relatively brisk, no doubt in response to the unrivalled level of service provided. “There’s always work here,” Charlie states. “We provide quality work and there was always something happening around here during the bad times. We look after our customers well and our rates haven’t gone up in years, so we give good value as well.

“We’ve also continued investing in the business and have updated and improved all out systems and appliances. We have the latest diagnostic equipment and tools, a modern workshop and fully-qualified, experienced mechanics who keep abreast of changes in the industry. We’re in a good position.”

Looking to the future, Charlie says the plan for Connolly Commercials Calary Ltd. is more of the same – to continue putting the customer first by providing excellent products and services. Consolidation rather than expansion will be the name of the game moving forward:

“It’s a nice size the way it is,” he concludes. “It’s easily managed and I think it’s big enough. You wouldn’t want to get too big. Providing a personal touch is very important. I’ll keep the sleeves rolled up and continue to give a strong service.

“I’ll maintain my independence and stay the way I am. I’ve always been busy here. People were holding onto their older vans because they couldn’t afford to change them, so that has resulted in a lot of activity in the workshop. We only sell good brands here, so we tend to have a nice attractive selection of vehicles here for when people are ready to invest in something.

“Generally, if somebody buys a vehicle from us, they come back here to get it serviced because our rates are keen and we do a good job. Indeed, even if they don’t buy here, they still come to have it serviced because we are much more competitive than main dealers and can do the same job. We can carry out all mechanical and electrical work, while the bodywork is referred to Crimmins Garage in Enniskerry, who provide an excellent service. We only deal with the best and we like to think we do good by all of our customers.”

There’s absolutely no doubt about that; the growing popularity of Connolly Commercials Calary Ltd. across the Garden County and beyond over the past 13 years speaks for itself!

Connolly Commercials Calary Ltd
Upper Calary,
Bray, County Wicklow.
Tel: 087 2421234 / 01 2810247 (afterhours)
Fax: 01 2811832
Email: connollycommercials@hotmail.com

Taken from Irish Trucker & Light Commercials magazine, Vol 19 No 4, May 2016