CCBR Business Review

4 Cherie Reid – The journey from cars to weddings and functions AT FACE VALUE, the motorcar and hos- pitality industries are poles apart. However Cherie Reid sees many parallels. As the new owner of Kantara House and co-founder and former Director of Central Coast Motor Group, Cherie says success in both indus- tries is dependent on two factors – presen- tation and customer service. Cherie has lev- eraged many of the key points of difference she and husband Ashley delivered to the market through their dealerships at Gosford and Wyong to revive Kantara House, build the stunning Charlotte Chapel, and create a ‘one stop shop’ for weddings, functions, conferences and memorials. This story takes us back to the Reid’s journey to fulfil their vision of delivering the highest possible standard in the Australian motor vehicle industry before revealing how Cherie moved on after her husband’s death in 2013 to continue his legacy with an equally ambitious project of her own. Born and raised at Avoca Beach, Cherie married Ashley in 1978. During his time as an apprentice carpenter, Ashley realised that the building game was not for him and successfully applied for a job selling cars at Regal Motors in Gosford. Little did he know that this new role was the beginning of a career that would see him become one of Australia’s most respected motorcar dealers. The couple started the first of about thirty Central Coast businesses in 1980, a small car dealership in Gosford. Once successful they sold that business and established Ashley Call us today on 1300 542 542 or visit officepace.com.au Planning a new office or a refit? OfficePace takes care of workplace furniture for commercial and corporate spaces in the Central Coast area. Office design and space planning Installation and ongoing care Office furniture sourcing and solutions Mariners Centre of Excellence Level 3, Suite 312, 1 Bryant Drive, Tuggerah NSW 2259 CO V E R S T O R Y Reid Motor Mart at North Gosford. Selling that business in 1983, the Reids purchased McCleans Caravans in Wyong. Going against the advice of others, the couple successfully introduced the concept of selling motorcars alongside mobile homes, rebranding the business to McCleans Motor Village to reflect the new diversity. This venture also saw the Reids make their first move into new cars with the purchase of the Daihatsu franchise. Three years later, the couple sold McCleans and bought Roberts Auto Centre, a multi- dealership family business with franchises for Mazda, Subaru, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. This move established the Reids as significant players for the sale of new cars on the Central Coast. As the years unfolded the Reids built stand-alone showrooms for each individual franchise. Their vision was to deliver the highest possible standard unmatched by any other and to cater to all sectors of the market, from the budget conscious to the high-end luxury buyer. In 1998 the Reids further raised the bar by building a new Mercedes-Benz service centre with an onsite restaurant based on a model they had seen in Germany. Ashley and Cherie complemented one another in business – Ashley would handle the sales while Cherie controlled the administrative func- tions. Both also took a personal interest in every one of the more than 140 staff mem- bers who worked for them at Central Coast Motor Group. In 2003, the Reids sold two thirds of the company, selling the remain- ing third in 2006, leaving behind a legacy as one of the Central Coast’s most successful and respected businesses. They retained the real estate and Cherie continues to lease it to the current owners. Following the sale of Central Coast Motor Group, the Reids undertook various residential development projects before Ashley passed away after a short illness in April 2013, leaving behind Cherie, daughter Karina and son Danny. Needing a project to “sink her teeth into” after the loss of her husband, Cherie bought Kantara House in 2014. Built in the 1960s, Kantara House was once regarded as the place to get married on the Central Coast. However the course of time and various owners had taken its toll and the property was in a state of disrepair. Initially thinking the property would only require some renovation, Cherie quickly discovered the extent of the work required. “That was the start of a very challenging two years,” said Cherie. By Phaedra Pym Their vision was to deliver the highest possible standard unmatched by any other and to cater to all sectors of the market, from the budget conscious to the high-end luxury buyer. CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW FEBRUARY 2018