5 minute read
Porsche London
Expanded space
New and improved location for Porsche dealership
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
ABOVE AND INSET New Porsche showroom on Warncliffe Road South.
Location, location, location is often touted as a key to business success, and that’s just what Porsche of London is experiencing at its new Wharncliffe Road South showroom.
It is an ideal site on a stretch of road that is home to a number of automobile dealerships, says general manager Steve Rempel. “This is where a lot of people come to shop for a car so it’s nice to be in this neck of the woods. When you have people who are looking at different product choices being here puts more consideration in our favour.”
With easy accessibility from Highways 401 and 402, it is convenient for out-of-town shoppers, a plus given the next closest Porsche dealership is in Oakville. The move has aided the dealership in pursuing its investment in electric car charging, along with its launch of the all-electric Taycan.
There are numerous additional benefits to the new store that, at 27,000 square feet, is double the size of the previous location and sits on a parcel of land just over two acres, accommodating annual sales of some 450 to 500 vehicles.
The larger interior features a state-ofthe-art fitting room, where customers can view choices for leather, colour, trim and other options to customize their purchase. The former location had a similar area but, says Rempel, “it was nothing like this new and vibrant space. For someone looking for something special, who wants to put time and thought into how they want their dream car built, it’s the perfect place to do it.”
The space also allows the dealership’s “classic ambassador” to share his particular expertise. Sales professional Jarod Arand is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Porsche products from years past, including the 1970s to the ‘90s.
After moving into the new space just before Christmas, only to be immediately thrown into pandemic lockdown mode, Porsche of London is anxious to work with buyers now gearing up for the summer season. n
OUTDOORS Enjoying the great
COBBLE DESIGN PUTS IT WITHIN REACH
Atrend by homeowners to enhance their outdoor spaces is reflected in Cobble Design’s successful 30-plus-year journey from paving installer to full-scale landscape design contractor.
The Huron County paving stone business was established in 1988 by brothers Cam and Brian Steckle, undertaking projects such as interlocking brick driveways. But the brothers soon found themselves being asked to expand their services to include landscaping elements. In response, they brought a part-time landscape designer onboard. This position quickly escalated to full-time status as demand for the services increased.
By the early 2000s, the scope of alfresco living was expanding as clients sought to create backyard oases with outdoor kitchens, dining and lounging areas, often including fire pits and even full-size fireplaces. So, a master stone mason joined the team, and a full masonry division was created within the company.
“A lot has changed in 30-some years,” says Cam Steckle. “In the last 10 years, outdoor living has been trending more.” He says it makes the work both more interesting and more challenging. “Jobs have become very complex. There are many, many different elements, a lot of research into products and a lot of design work. The scope is all encompassing.” Ponds and water features, outdoor spas with hot tubs or pools and nightscape lighting features are other elements high on the open-air lifestyle wish list.
One of the trends along the lake is installing tram systems for the many homes and cottages that sit high on hilltops, overlooking the lake. The tram works with a carriage and pulley system to transport residents to the beach below. Cobble Designs now boasts its own lakeside tram division.
“It provides the best of both worlds,” Steckle says of the system. “At the
With much of their work focused on properties near Lake Huron, Cobble Design aids homeowners in taking best advantage of their outdoor living spaces, by creating patios that offer entertaining zones with water features, kitchens and living areas.
Also popular for lakeside homes is one of their specialties: creating tram systems to convey homeowners and their guests from the bluff to the beach below.
elevation you get a great view, and you don’t have to do stairs to have accessibility to the beach.”
Whatever the project, maintaining a quality standard is of paramount importance, Steckle says, attributing that to the steady growth the company has experienced over the years.
Being a family-run business is an advantage, he believes. With members of the younger generation beginning to take roles in the company he says there is a family member doing onsite supervision for most jobs.
He adds that the company’s talented design team can put a high-quality plan in place prior to implementation so that the client knows, going in, what to expect. “These projects are quite involved and quite extensive, so people want to know what they’re getting,” Steckle says. “We try to make things as painless as possible when it comes to schedules, to get in and get out and get the job done on time and on budget and to provide a quality job that will last a lifetime. That’s what people want.”
Success in achieving that is evidenced by hearing from customers that the result is even better than they expected. “That’s the ultimate goal for us, and we’ve actually heard it said many times over the years,” Steckle says. “When people get more than they thought they were getting, that’s a good day.”
To back up that philosophy the company offers a five-year warranty on all its structural work, which Steckle maintains is very good by industry standards that often require only two years.
Cobble Design generally services an area within a 45-minute radius from its headquarters, midway between Zurich and Bayfield, taking them from north of Goderich to south of Grand Bend. Steckle says there is also a fair bit of work in London, often for clients with cottages in their region. They will venture further afield, he adds, citing a project they are now doing on Manitoulin Island. “Wherever we can be competitive and wherever people want us, we’ll go.” n
