A CAMBRIDGESHIRE car salesman has retired today after 30 years selling Nissans.
John Day, 65, called time on his career after selling thousands of cars at Nissan outlets across East Anglia.
The sales executive has spent the last 10 years working at the award-winning JS Holmes Nissan in Wisbech St Mary.
But his career with the Japanese brand dates back to 1985 – the year Datsun became Nissan and the carmaker opened its hugely successful plant in Sunderland.
Thinking back over his long and memorable career, John fondly recalls the first Nissan he ever sold – a red Nissan Cherry. And, three decades later, as he sold his last car – a Nissan Qashqai – he admits his style hasn’t changed.
John, who lives in Fakenham, said: “My approach has always been the same – I’ve never pressured anyone to buy a car, they choose to buy from me. You sell yourself first and then the rest follows.
“Taking that approach often means people cease to be customers and become friends. I’ve made many friends through car sales down the years and I have lots of people who come back to me whenever they’re looking for a new car.”
But while John’s sales approach may not have changed down the years, the Nissan brand certainly has.
“Things were different back then,” he recalled. “The early Nissans had absolutely everything on them but no-one wanted to buy a British-built car.
“But the success of the Sunderland plant changed all of that and Nissan has really grown as a car maker.
“Today we have a product that’s so reliable it practically sells itself.”
Now though, he’s looking ahead to a happy retirement spent with his wife Jane.
Martin Holmes, Dealer Principal at JS Holmes Nissan, said: “John’s been a big part of this dealership’s success for so long and things certainly won’t be the same without him.
“Everyone at the dealership and his hundreds of loyal customers will really miss him.
“But we wish both him and Jane all the best for a long and happy retirement.”
