Sue said it was very traumatic, especially for their children, who were aged 7, 8 and 10 at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you know, life does stuff like that. You just have to deal with it. You can\u2019t change it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family had moved from Cambridge to Rotorua to take over the Nissan franchise about a year-and-a-half earlier.<\/p>\n
Grant was already involved in the motor industry while Sue had worked as a nurse in Hamilton.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe took over an empty building \u2026 and we picked up the Nissan franchise and just built it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sue looked after the accounts and promotions when Grant was alive.<\/p>\n
After his death, \u201cI just couldn\u2019t bear the thought of losing the business at the same time\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201dI basically had to step up and be the DP [dealer principal] and I did find that hard \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In 2003, Sue took over the Suzuki franchise and operated the Suzuki and Nissan franchises at the Fairy Springs Rd site.<\/p>\n
She lost the Nissan franchise in 2017 after a head office decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Suzuki has carried on and done really, really well for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the changes, she never took Grant\u2019s name off the business – the signage remains. <\/p>\n
Now, after almost 32 years of operating at the site, Sue has sold the Suzuki franchise to experienced new owners.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
She said they planned to continue at the site, \u201cso Suzuki will stay here\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sue\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
Sue employed eight people, two of whom would retire once the business changed hands.<\/p>\n
She hoped some might get an offer from the new Suzuki dealer, while others had found other jobs. <\/p>\n
The highlights and the challenges<\/p>\n
Sue said highlights of the past 30 years included maintaining a successful business and \u201clooking after the Rotorua people\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am quite fastidious about making sure that the customer is pointed in the right direction, that they do buy what\u2019s going to suit their needs, and what they can afford.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said Suzuki products were reliable, well-priced and had loyal customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s given me a lot of satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Sue said being a woman in a male-dominated industry was \u201cstill a challenge\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still very much a minority. You do have to dig your toes in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many woman buyers, however, wanted to deal with a woman salesperson. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey feel a lot more comfortable with us, and they will buy from us because \u2026 they aren\u2019t given information they can\u2019t understand \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n
Sue Johnstone’s final day is on September 30. Photo \/ Megan Wilson<\/p>\n
After 30 years, Sue said it was ironic that, \u201cI\u2019m finally going to find another interest because it has been pretty consuming\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s heading. Just like right now, the market\u2019s heading into EVs \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n
The business had looked after her and her children, \u201cand that\u2019s probably the reason why I\u2019ve stayed in it\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, I haven\u2019t been able to have a lot of breaks, but that doesn\u2019t matter because I\u2019ve enjoyed it and it\u2019s given me the lifestyle that I wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sue decided to sell after she was approached. This prompted her to start thinking about spending time with her family and doing hobbies.<\/p>\n
She said she was not retiring.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve probably got lots of other activities I can get my teeth into, but nothing specific at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
She would spend time with family in W\u0101naka before making other plans.<\/p>\n
Sue informed customers of the sale via email on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do want to thank them for their loyal support over the last 32 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cCustomers have given us a lot of joy, and it\u2019s been great for us as a dealership to see them find the car that is going to work for them.\u201d<\/p>\n