Best of Waupaca winners announced in this week’s County Post
In the summer of 1975, Tim Neuville headed from Chicago to Waupaca to sell cars for a few months.
He had just graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance.
Neuville was working at the Board of Trade and living in a Chicago suburb when his uncle, Lou Neuville, called and asked, “Why don’t you sell cars for me?”
His uncle had recently purchased a dealership in Waupaca, and Neuville agreed to work for him.
Neuville intended to return to the Windy City that fall for grad school, planning to eventually work as a stock broker or banker.
That plan quickly changed.
He sold his first car on his first day of work.
In addition to making money, Neuville was living on the Chain O’ Lakes with his uncle.
“I remember it was a beautiful summer,” he said.
For Neuville, that summer was his first in Waupaca. He liked it here.
After his uncle asked him to think about staying and running the dealership, Neuville decided to do so.
A few months later, Neuville talked his father, Morris, into buying the dealership with him.
March 4 marks the 40th anniversary of when they bought it.
“We had 11 people working here then,” Neuville said. “It’s a little different now than it was then.”
Today, there are about 66 full-time and 20 part-time employees between the two stores.
In the fall of 2007, Neuville bought Waupaca Motor Sales and Stiebs Jeeps and reorganized the business.
Neuville Chevy Buick GMC is on Fulton Street, and Neuville Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep RAM is on Royalton Street.
Readers voted Neuville’s Best Auto Service Shop, Best New Car Dealership, Best Oil Lube and Best Used Car Dealership in the 2015 Best of Waupaca Area contest.
Neuville appreciates his customers.
“GM in general and Chevrolet in particular have been very strong lately,” Neuville said of new car sales. “Chevrolet is one of the fastest growing segments. They’re building the right products.”
Neuville’s has always been a strong used car dealership, outpacing dealers in the Stevens Point area annually.
The business is also known for its customer service.
“Most of the people working here have been here a long time,” Neuville said. “Many of our service and parts people have been here over 30 years. Our service and parts manager has been here 40 years.”
He also said they believe in training their technicians in the newest aspects of the automotive business. The GM store has 10 technicians.
Last year, Neuville’s recognized the need to get people in quickly for smaller maintenance jobs.
“Right now, we’re doing over 5,000 lube oil filters per year at the store here (Neuville Chevy Buick GMC),” he said.
Those who work at Neuville’s recognize people have many choices in today’s world.
As a result, they always strive to do things the right way.
“What everything comes down to is people. Do you have good people who are friendly and enjoy their work,” Neuville said.