Preventative Maintenance.

Most everyone who has owned a car has undoubtedly had to pay for some unexpected repairs. The best way to stay ahead of costly car repairs?  Two words:  preventative maintenance.  Lawrence Hall Abilene  offers a free multi-point vehicle inspection to do just that.  See our own Rick McWhirter, Lawrence Hall Abilene Shop Foreman, explain what a multi-point inspection is and how important it can be the the health of your vehicle:

Preventative maintenance is simply the most effective way a car owner can take control and prevent expensive repairs.  Visit Lawrence Hall Abilene today to make sure the health of your car is in good hands.

Lawrence Hall Difference.

I've already spoken on this blog about how happy I am to work at a place like Lawrence Hall and how impressed I am that everyone truly works together to make each customers experience the best it can be.  Apparently I am not the only one who has noticed...

"Dear Mr. Hall,

You are to be complimented for having the most customer friendly business in Abilene.  Over the past 20 years I've had the pleasure of purchasing 4 vehicles from your new and used car departments.  Each time I was treated with the utmost respect and yours sales staff and finance staff went out of their way to make my experience pleasant and satisfying.

Today I had the pleasure of dealing again with your parts and service department.  My clicker had died on my 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer I purchased at the end of June, 2010.  I wish I had the names of your staff that assisted me that day, but I don't.  They all went out of their way to be sure the clicker was dead before selling me a new one and programming it to my car.

Having had two careers in the customer service field and having taught customer service skills, I appreciate good service when it is given.  Whatever your philosophy has been for your employees is evident with every experience I have with your company.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Colette McCloskey"

Special thanks to Colette for taking the time to write to us on her experience and allowing us to post her letter, in its entirety.   Visit http://www.lawrencehall.com/ to see our service department information and check out our facebook page at www.facebook.com/lawrencehallabilene

Cabin Fever?

I'm sure most of you Big Country and Abilene residents have been couped up in the house these last few days because of this frightful weather!  Between school closings, business closings and late starts, you've probably spent a lot more time at home and are looking for fun things to do to keep you, and if you have little ones, occupied.  Check out this fun list below to keep the kids happy and you sane.  Happy snow day!

• Build a fort:  Make it as simple as throwing a blanket over a card table, chairs or old boxes from the garage or as elaborate as building one with wood and nails!
• Bring the snow inside:  It may be too cold for the kids to enjoy this snow, so why not fill up the bathtub with snow for them to play with?  Easy clean up, the kids stay warm and you don't have to worry about hypothermia for your little ones.
• Make snow candy:  Mix one cup of molasses (can substitute maple syrup if you use slightly more brown sugar) with 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and stir over medium heat until the mixture reaches about 245 degrees.  Pour over snow, let it harden and enjoy!
• How to Make Snow Ice Cream:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Ar-Zbn9TI 

Winter-not so-Wonderland.

Abilene and our surrounding communities have not had too much bad and wintery weather these past few months.  Here in West Texas we just haven’t had much to complain about!  But tomorrow's winter weather advisory will leave a lot to be desired when we're driving all around Abilene.  Check out these helpful tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning - nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don't stop if you can avoid it. There's a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
• Don't stop going up a hill. There's nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don't have to go out, don't. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don't tempt fate: If you don't have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

With this weather, school closings and late starts are inevitable.  Check websites like www.KTXS.com or www.bigcountryhomepage.com  for information.  If you have a smart phone, Big Country Homepage has an app for easier and faster updates, right to your phone.  Check it out here:  http://bit.ly/hrcYyd 

As always, drive carefully and be safe! 

January Events for Lawrence Hall Abilene

This past January, Lawrence Hall Abilene had some fun community opportunities.  Several of our employees worked the phones for the West Texas Rehab Center Telethon.  Calling people for 3 hours in the middle of the week can seem daunting to just about everyone, but our employees agreed across the board that it was very rewarding.  The telethon was an outstanding success and we are happy to have been a part of it!  For more info, click here:  http://bit.ly/gxMf4x   

"Working the West Texas Rehab Telethon really reaffirmed to me that there are people out there who are willing to provide hope and encouragement for others.  It was such a great experience.” 

--Mika, Service Department, Lawrence Hall Abilene

We also supported one of our Lawrence Hall family members as she competed in the Hendrick Home for Children’s “Dancing with the Abilene Stars” at the Civic Center.  Our own Shea Woodard took home the biggest prize of the night, raising the most amount of money out of all contestants to bring home the trophy.  We are so proud of our Shea Shea! 

Check out our facebook page for more pictures:  www.facebook.com/lawrencehallabilene 

As a sponsor of the "Best of Broadway Series," Lawrence Hall Abilene was able to mingle with audience members before "The Aluminum Show" and show off the all new Cadillac SRX.

  

"The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council is thrilled to have the support of Lawrence Hall Abilene as a sponsor for the 2010-2011 Abilene Broadway Series.  Our community always benefits when progress through partnerships, such as this one, happen. It's a win-win."

--Kaysha Kosman, Marketing Director, Abilene Cultural Affairs Council 

Lawrence Hall Abilene is excited for the upcoming events in February!  Follow this blog for upcoming events and “like” us on Facebook for more information.

Everytime a bell rings...

An angel gets its wings.

You’ve probably heard it on the first day of every place you’ve ever worked:  “You’ll love it.  We’re just like family around here.”  At some places you have worked, that statement probably rang true.  Others?  Well, maybe not.

My name is Trish and I’ve had the great fortune of working at Lawrence Hall Abilene for the last couple months and I can honestly say it sounds like a bell tower in this dealership.  I’m talking bells everywhere, people.  I’m constantly surprised at the genuine loyalty and care that each employee has for one another.  There is such a commitment to teamwork and a true dedication to reaching our ultimate goals:  exceeding the needs of every customer, making a positive impact in the Big Country area we serve and helping each other do the best job possible.

I look forward to sharing, with all of you, stories of our ultimate goals within this blog.  We’ll also have guest bloggers, handy tips on just about everything from how to change your windshield wipers, to how to make sure your credit is in top shape to purchase the car of your dreams.  Follow us and see just want LHAbilene means to Abilene and the Big Country.

Check out this video from our Thanksgiving 2010 celebration on our facebook page to give you some more insight into the Lawrence Hall family.

http://on.fb.me/fwTK5r