2000 Dealer
of the Year
Galey’s
Marine
Bakersfield, California
Galey’s
Marine was an obvious—and long overdue—choice for this
year’s Dealer of the Year. Founded in 1937 by Otto Galey, it
is the oldest dealership under the same ownership in California.
His son, Don, who bought the business in 1956, is a charter member
of the Marine Retailers Association of America, and served as chairman
in the late 1970s. He, in turn, is grooming his son, Mark, to be
“the future of Galey’s Marine.”
After
50 years in one location, Don Galey built an ambitious, state-of-the-art
facility that opened in 1999. The five-acre marine retail complex
has prime exposure on a freeway that carries 57,000 cars each day.
What Don calls “Otto Galey’s dream” boasts a 29,000-square-foot
showroom, 7,000 square feet for accessories, and 5,000 square feet
for service, where “we process between 10-14 boats per day.”
“We needed a facility that would carry us through the next
25-plus years,” says Galey. “It also needed to be eye-appealing
and comfortable for the customers and employees alike. The task
seemed like an impossible challenge, but one that management and
employees accepted with pleasure. And we feel it was a complete
success.”
MRAA President Phil Keeter agrees: “This new facility is being
used by many manufacturers as a model for a marine dealership, and
is being viewed by dealers from all over the United States. It is
the observation of many seasoned marine industry participants that
the ‘new’ Galey’s will serve the consumer in California
for another 50 years.”
Although Bakersfield is far from the Pacific Ocean, there are several
small lakes nearby, so Galey’s carries a large selection of
trailerable models, including Bayliner, Lowe, Javelin, Mastercraft,
and Maxum. Outboard engines include Evinrude, Honda, Johnson, and
Mercury, and they offer Escort, Sport Boat, Trail-Rite, and Yacht
Club trailers. In addition to new boats, engines, and trailers,
Galey’s carries a wide variety of “Pre-Loved” boats,
most of which are brought in as trades.
Galey’s extensive accessories department includes skis and
wakeboards from Connelly, CWB, HO Sports, and Hyperlite; with accessories,
electronics, and hardware from Hummingbird, Lowrance, McGuire Products,
Scotty, Wise, Fulton, Greenfield, Atwood, and Perko.
Galey’s commitment to quality service and products has earned
recognition from the Duane Spader 20 Group as one of the highest
percentage profit dealerships in the country. Don Galey is particularly
proud of his dealership for earning the Bayliner Five-Star Dealer
of the Year Award.
Galey’s has donated products to raffles, fundraisers, and education,
including two water ski boats for a boating safety class at a local
high school, and old boats to be used as sandboxes at local pre-schools.
Don Galey is a speaker for “Work Fair Days” at high schools
and colleges.
He is past president of Ducks Unlimited of Greater Bakersfield,
past chairman of the Kern Wildlife Association, and a past board
member of the Kern County Fish and Game Service.
Since 1962, the Galey’s Marine Supply Jingle has been heard
throughout central and southern California:…”There’s
nothing Galey’s hasn’t got/From a little putt-putt/To
a great big yacht!/Your dreamboat is so easy to buy/At Galey’s
Marine Supply!”
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What
industry colleagues say about Don Galey
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“He
has a desire to see others succeed”
Transamerica has done business with Galey’s Marine
since the 1970s, and from a business perspective, Don Galey
is one of the finest operators I have seen in the business.
His
vision for the industry is beyond that of most dealerships,
and his willingness to share his best practices with others
makes him unique. He has a desire to see others succeed,
which is remarkable in today’s competitive marketplace.
His openness to innovation is what keeps his perspective
fresh, and his passion for the industry is what keeps him
young at heart. His desire to see the business prosper,
along with the fact he is grooming his son to become the
third generation of Galeys in the marine business, is a
testament to his devotion to the industry.
As
I visit dealerships throughout the country, I often find
myself bench-marking them against Galey’s. Although
I know at times that is unfair, I cannot help but think
how much better off dealers would be if they adopted the
essence for professionalism that Don has, and his attitude
toward the customer. All you have to do is call or walk
into Galey’s and you realize that you are in a professional
environment; one that respects the values of their customers.
I am also fortunate to be able to consider Don as a personal
friend.
—Richard M. Strickler, Vice President and General Manager
Transamerica Distribution Finance
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
“He leads by example”
My experiences with Don Galey stretch back 45 years to the
mid-1950s…Don was always on the positive side—moving
forward, ever forward—never sideways or backward. He
leads by example and has many followers.
His accomplishments in the industry have never ceased. He
always approached the next “hill to climb” as
an exciting challenge. He has never once failed to share
his experience or rewards with anyone who asked, be they
big or small. This was particularly true of the years he
served as MRAA chairman, struggling to give the dealer a
voice in the industry so often lacking, a voice so sorely
needed by all.
He has also poured his profits back into his marine business
to develop one of the finest boat stores in the world. I
can think of no dealership as deserving as Galey’s
Marine to receive the Dealer of the Year 2000 award.
—Jerry Martin, Chairman
Jerry Martin Associates
Gurnee, Illinois
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