By Denise Rondini
Diamond International of Memphis, Tenn., an International commercial truck dealership, celebrated the expansion of its facilities on Brooks Road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a grand opening luncheon.
To support business growth, Diamond International purchased a five-acre property in February next door to its existing facility from a former car dealership and began extensive renovations on the sites’ two buildings in April. By purchasing the adjacent property, Diamond has doubled its size. The dealership now has three large buildings on a 10-acre parcel.
In phase one, the interior of the car dealership’s sales building was gutted and renovated. The new customer showroom allows room for plenty of new and used trucks. The adjacent office areas are modern workspaces for employees and their customers. The renovated main building also includes an employee break room and a training room with the latest audio-visual equipment to keep Diamond International’s staff and customers updated on all the latest truck advances.
Also in phase one, the former car dealership’s drive-through service bays and parts facility located behind the showroom were renovated. A special new truck delivery bay was added that is separated from the rest of the service bays. It features a refinished floor, fresh paint and a seating area behind glass that allows the new truck to be “revealed” to the customer.
When phase two of the renovation wraps up in January 2010, the dealership’s parts and service areas will double in size, which eliminates the need to place excess parts in an off-site storage facility.
“With this additional $6 million investment in Memphis, we have created a top-notch work environment for our employees, an improved image in the community, and a more efficient and enjoyable experience for our customers,” says Dick Sweebe, Diamond Companies president and chief executive officer. “I’m pleased that we are completing a renovation that feels brand new – and we are delivering a higher standard of value to our customers in Memphis.”
