"I really wanted to do something for customers locally," said Dustin Mattocks, owner of Village Auto on Rocky Grove Avenue.
Thinking about advertising differently - with a more grass roots goal - got him thinking about ways to be a part of and give back to the community. Using social media and cutting spending back on bigger advertising venues, he has changed the way he does business and it affords him the luxery of giving more back to the community.
About a year ago he and his wife, Becky, along with his staff came up with the idea to take care of the car payments for one year for one of their customers. After realizing some folks might only pay $250 and month versus another who might pay $500, they decided to change the idea to a flat sum that can be used anyway the customer wanted. When COVID-19 hit this seemed like a better idea to them anyway.
The amount they decided on was $6,000
So anyone who purchased a vehicle from Village Auto in 2020 was put into a drawing. They had a fistful of names. One of which was Amy Proper.
"I've never won anything in my life, but I'll do it," said Proper back when she purchased her car earlier in the year.
On Tuesday Mattocks drew Proper's name from the box during a Facebook live stream. He tried to call her but didn't get an answer because Proper was at work. But word got to her through her family.
"I saw the text and went 'nut-uhh!" Proper said. "I basically forgot about it. I'm grateful and blessed."
She says she is still processing it and didn't know what she would do with the money. She said "God first, going to give some to the church." She also admitted some bills will likely be paid.
And that is why Mattocks wanted to give sixty crisp $100 bills instead of just taking over car payments for a year.
"I'm overjoyed, I couldn't wait to do this, " Mattocks said after the drawing Tuesday afternoon live on Facebook. He said with COVID and the shutdown earlier in the year he wasn't sure he'd be able to do this, but he said he was blessed that things worked out.
"We have all battled a little depression this year," Mattocks said pointing to a sweatshirt he borrowed from his son. On it read "Happiness Project" and he wanted to wear that for the live stream.
"I think it is just awesome they are able to show such appreciation to the community this way," Proper said about Village Auto.
The dealership also collected names of everyone who referred someone who purchased a car in 2020. They also drew a name Tuesday to give that person, Mark Newhard, another thousand dollars.
Mattocks admitted he wouldn't have been able to do this in his first ten years of business, but by being in the community for so many years and having so many loyal customers he simply says, "I'm glad I can and want to do it now."
Thinking about advertising differently - with a more grass roots goal - got him thinking about ways to be a part of and give back to the community. Using social media and cutting spending back on bigger advertising venues, he has changed the way he does business and it affords him the luxery of giving more back to the community.
About a year ago he and his wife, Becky, along with his staff came up with the idea to take care of the car payments for one year for one of their customers. After realizing some folks might only pay $250 and month versus another who might pay $500, they decided to change the idea to a flat sum that can be used anyway the customer wanted. When COVID-19 hit this seemed like a better idea to them anyway.
The amount they decided on was $6,000
So anyone who purchased a vehicle from Village Auto in 2020 was put into a drawing. They had a fistful of names. One of which was Amy Proper.
"I've never won anything in my life, but I'll do it," said Proper back when she purchased her car earlier in the year.
On Tuesday Mattocks drew Proper's name from the box during a Facebook live stream. He tried to call her but didn't get an answer because Proper was at work. But word got to her through her family.
"I saw the text and went 'nut-uhh!" Proper said. "I basically forgot about it. I'm grateful and blessed."
She says she is still processing it and didn't know what she would do with the money. She said "God first, going to give some to the church." She also admitted some bills will likely be paid.
And that is why Mattocks wanted to give sixty crisp $100 bills instead of just taking over car payments for a year.
"I'm overjoyed, I couldn't wait to do this, " Mattocks said after the drawing Tuesday afternoon live on Facebook. He said with COVID and the shutdown earlier in the year he wasn't sure he'd be able to do this, but he said he was blessed that things worked out.
"We have all battled a little depression this year," Mattocks said pointing to a sweatshirt he borrowed from his son. On it read "Happiness Project" and he wanted to wear that for the live stream.
"I think it is just awesome they are able to show such appreciation to the community this way," Proper said about Village Auto.
The dealership also collected names of everyone who referred someone who purchased a car in 2020. They also drew a name Tuesday to give that person, Mark Newhard, another thousand dollars.
Mattocks admitted he wouldn't have been able to do this in his first ten years of business, but by being in the community for so many years and having so many loyal customers he simply says, "I'm glad I can and want to do it now."
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