Founding Editor Gerry Malloy shares the publication’s original mandate
“I’m going to start a new magazine that is geared specifically for auto dealers in Canada. Do you want to edit it?” Those may not be the exact words Niel Hiscox used when he first approached me 20 years ago, but that was the essence of the offer. I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
As a former engineer turned writer who had grown up in and around dealerships and garages, the opportunity felt like a natural fit. I had worked with Niel for several years as a contributor to other magazines he published, so I knew his commitment to producing a high-quality product. The endorsement of CADA reinforced that confidence.
None of us underestimated the challenge. The half-life of new magazines was short, and there were already titles on the market that overlapped, although none matched the focus we intended to adopt.
That focus was clear from day one: the dealer. Not the product, not the OEM, not the consumer, but the dealer. A central premise was to treat the dealership as the retail business it is, and to provide information that supported every part of the operation, from the front of the store to the back, in all its forms.
We were fortunate to have strong contributors from the outset, each an expert in their field. That foundation has defined the magazine ever since. We also benefited from an experienced and efficient staff overseeing layout, design, advertising, and sales. It showed in our first issue, which tackled early discussions around satellite radio and subscription-based sales models, and was well received despite my own newness to the editor’s role.
Twenty years later, everything has changed and nothing has changed. In 2004, passenger cars dominated the market, accounting for 53.4 per cent of sales. DaimlerChrysler still existed. So did Mercury. General Motors sold Pontiacs, Saturns, and Saabs. Suzuki sold cars in Canada. Hyundai and Kia were growing, but still secondary players.
The industry had yet to face an economic collapse. And an unfamiliar venture capitalist named Elon Musk had only recently invested in a small company called Tesla, which planned to build an electric car.
Despite the enormity of what has changed since then, Canadian auto dealer continues to serve the same purpose it did at the beginning: to provide Canadian auto dealers with the information they need to run stronger, more competitive businesses. It is thanks to your support that the magazine continues to deliver on that mission 20 years on.
