For independent auto dealers, growth often comes down to two things: finding the right inventory and having the financial flexibility to act when opportunities arise.
For Joe Rauseo of Luck of the Irish Auto, AFC and OPENLANE have helped make both easier.
By using OPENLANE to source vehicles and AFC to finance inventory, Rauseo has made his buying process easier while creating more room to grow his dealership.
How OPENLANE and AFC Work Together
OPENLANE gives independent dealers access to wholesale vehicle inventory through its online marketplace, while AFC provides inventory financing solutions designed for automotive dealers.
Rauseo says he did not initially realize the two companies were connected.
“Starting off on OPENLANE, I did not know that AFC and OPENLANE were sister companies,” he said. “The benefits between the two are great.”
For Luck of the Irish Auto, that relationship helps connect multiple parts of the inventory acquisition process.
Rauseo can purchase vehicles through OPENLANE, arrange transportation using OPENLANE services and select AFC as a financing option during checkout.
Together, those services can simplify the process from sourcing a vehicle to financing it and getting it on its way to the dealership.
Connected Support for Independent Auto Dealers
For Rauseo, one of the biggest benefits of using both OPENLANE and AFC is communication.
“The benefit is the communication for me,” he said. “Having that open line of communication between both parties, my reps talk to each other when I need them to.”
For independent dealerships, where owners and small teams often handle multiple parts of the business themselves, that type of coordination can be especially valuable.
Instead of managing every conversation separately, Rauseo can rely on established relationships between his OPENLANE and AFC representatives to help keep things moving.
The coordination helps reduce the amount of back-and-forth Rauseo has to manage himself.
How Dealer Floorplan Financing Can Support Growth
Paying cash for inventory can tie up money that could be used elsewhere in your dealership. Dealer floorplan financing gives independent dealers another option.
Instead of tying up available cash in every vehicle purchase, dealers can use inventory financing to acquire vehicles while keeping capital available for other business needs.
For Rauseo, AFC’s floorplan financing has helped Luck of the Irish Auto move beyond what he believes would have been possible using cash alone.
“If I were just paying with cash, I would have been stagnant and kind of just sitting in one spot,” he said.
“With AFC, I’ve been able to make a lot of things grow, business-wise.”
That growth includes moving into a new two-bay garage that he is building from the ground up.
For Luck of the Irish Auto, financing has provided room to invest not only in vehicles but in the dealership itself.
Buying Vehicles on OPENLANE and Financing with AFC
For Rauseo, using OPENLANE and AFC helps bring different parts of the buying process together. He can purchase a vehicle on OPENLANE, arrange transportation and select AFC as his financing option.
He describes the process simply: “Make the purchase on OPENLANE, get it transported here through OPENLANE services, then I select AFC because they’re just seamless.”
More Than a Financing Relationship
For Rauseo, the value of AFC goes beyond access to dealer inventory financing.
He also points to the relationship and support he receives as an important part of the experience.
“They care about the dealer as opposed to just creating another customer,” he said.
That experience has led him to recommend AFC to other dealers who are exploring floorplan financing.
“I have a couple friends who are looking for those options,” Rauseo said. “And I highly recommend AFC because they’re just seamless.”
For independent dealers evaluating financing providers, that combination of flexibility, communication and support can play an important role in choosing the right provider.
Helping Luck of the Irish Auto Pursue the Next Opportunity
Independent dealerships need the ability to move quickly.
For Joe Rauseo and Luck of the Irish Auto, OPENLANE and AFC have helped create a buying and financing process that supports that flexibility.
As Rauseo put it, “I wouldn’t have those opportunities without OPENLANE and AFC, for sure.”
As Luck of the Irish Auto continues to grow, that connected approach gives Rauseo more flexibility to pursue inventory opportunities while continuing to invest in what comes next for the dealership.
Learn more about Luck of the Irish Auto, here.
* Disclaimer: Dealers should consult their own advisors to make independent business decisions regarding floorplan financing. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or positions of AFC. AFC does not verify the accuracy of the information provided by the interviewee in this article and is not responsible for any errors or omissions. “AFC” refers to Automotive Finance Corporation, Automotive Finance Canada Inc., and AFC Cal, LLC in their respective jurisdictions.
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