Sue said it was very traumatic, especially for their children, who were aged 7, 8 and 10 at the time.
“But you know, life does stuff like that. You just have to deal with it. You can’t change it.”
The family had moved from Cambridge to Rotorua to take over the Nissan franchise about a year-and-a-half earlier.
Grant was already involved in the motor industry while Sue had worked as a nurse in Hamilton.
“We took over an empty building … and we picked up the Nissan franchise and just built it up.”
Sue looked after the accounts and promotions when Grant was alive.
After his death, “I just couldn’t bear the thought of losing the business at the same time”.
”I basically had to step up and be the DP [dealer principal] and I did find that hard … ”
She credited those in the industry who always offered her advice when she needed it, especially in the early days of taking over the business.
In 2003, Sue took over the Suzuki franchise and operated the Suzuki and Nissan franchises at the Fairy Springs Rd site.
She lost the Nissan franchise in 2017 after a head office decision.
“But Suzuki has carried on and done really, really well for us.”
Through the changes, she never took Grant’s name off the business – the signage remains.
Now, after almost 32 years of operating at the site, Sue has sold the Suzuki franchise to experienced new owners.
Sue Johnstone, of Grant Johnstone Suzuki Rotorua, has sold the franchise on Fairy Springs Rd, but says the new owners will stay at the site. Photo / Megan Wilson
She said they planned to continue at the site, “so Suzuki will stay here”.
Sue’s last day will be September 30. She said the business would close for building refurbishment and to install new signage, with reopening expected on November 1.
Sue employed eight people, two of whom would retire once the business changed hands.
She hoped some might get an offer from the new Suzuki dealer, while others had found other jobs.
The highlights and the challenges
Sue said highlights of the past 30 years included maintaining a successful business and “looking after the Rotorua people”.
“I am quite fastidious about making sure that the customer is pointed in the right direction, that they do buy what’s going to suit their needs, and what they can afford.”
She said Suzuki products were reliable, well-priced and had loyal customers.
“So that’s given me a lot of satisfaction.”
On the other hand, Sue said being a woman in a male-dominated industry was “still a challenge”.
“We’re still very much a minority. You do have to dig your toes in.”
Many woman buyers, however, wanted to deal with a woman salesperson.
“They feel a lot more comfortable with us, and they will buy from us because … they aren’t given information they can’t understand … ”
Sue Johnstone’s final day is on September 30. Photo / Megan Wilson
After 30 years, Sue said it was ironic that, “I’m finally going to find another interest because it has been pretty consuming”.
“It’s an industry that you really have to keep your finger on the pulse all the time otherwise things move, price changes very quickly and you have to be very aware of where the market’s heading. Just like right now, the market’s heading into EVs … ”
The business had looked after her and her children, “and that’s probably the reason why I’ve stayed in it”.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to have a lot of breaks, but that doesn’t matter because I’ve enjoyed it and it’s given me the lifestyle that I wanted.”
Sue decided to sell after she was approached. This prompted her to start thinking about spending time with her family and doing hobbies.
She said she was not retiring.
“I’ve probably got lots of other activities I can get my teeth into, but nothing specific at this stage.”
She would spend time with family in Wānaka before making other plans.
Sue informed customers of the sale via email on Monday.
“I do want to thank them for their loyal support over the last 32 years.
“Customers have given us a lot of joy, and it’s been great for us as a dealership to see them find the car that is going to work for them.”
Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.