By Ross Fattori

In August 2020, Amin Tejani received a phone call from the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, informing him that he had earned a coveted Laureate award.

The news was a surprise for Tejani, Vice President Operations, Weins Canada (which represents 14 new car dealerships, one Pre-owned dealership, and nine automotive brands in the GTA). Only three out of 3,200 new car and truck dealers from Canada each year are awarded a Laureate award. Tejani won the Innovator Laureate, for initiatives that significantly enhance performance or broaden the scope of business for new car and truck dealers. “I am humbled and honoured to receive a Laureate award,” says Tejani, who is also a board member of the TADA. “This is an acknowledgement of our entire team, and a credit to all those with whom I’ve worked, past and present.”

Tejani began his career in automotive in the mid-1980s; he worked at his father’s used car dealership in Bellingham, Washington in the USA. He did everything – washing cars, performing light re-pairs, buying, selling, and importing used cars from Canada. In 1988, Tejani moved to Toronto and, a year later, began working in sales at Don Valley North Toyota in Markham, where he soon became a top producer. Throughout his 35-year career in automotive retail, Tejani has been a strong advocate for innovation at the dealerships where he has worked. In March 2020, in response to Covid-19, Tejani and his team at Weins Canada introduced a number of innovative safety protocols, in addition to the implementation of health and safety guidelines created by the TADA.

These protocols included launching initiatives such as Weins On Demand, where customers could fully transact from the comfort of their home. The installation of Smart Desks inside showrooms, where the customer and salesperson can sit at a table, six feet apart, and utilize separate computers to facilitate a transaction. Other measures include a contactless service department, where customers can drop off their vehicle and have service work performed without having to step foot inside a dealership; outfitting shuttle vehicles with Plexiglass between the front and back seats while transporting customers; introducing Zoom meetings for customers; and introducing a flatbed delivery system, where customers can have their new vehicles transported to their homes without visiting a dealership.

“When we introduced these additional safety protocols, our staff felt safe, which immediately put our customers at ease as well,” says Tejani. “We have been complimented on our safety protocols by frontline health care workers, and by the Ministry of Labour inspectors who have frequently visited our stores, which makes us quite proud.”

Prior to Covid-19, Tejani says the team worked on many innovative initiatives at Weins Canada, such as a new hire orientation system, a vehicle exchange program, a Wow contest (which encourages employees to share ideas on how to improve customer experiences), and a Rewards program that allows customers to earn points toward the purchase or a lease of a vehicle.

Education is a core component at Weins Canada. In 2014, Tejani and the team launched Weins Canada University, a program that provides training, resources, and financial assistance for employees who want to learn management skills. They also developed, in conjunction with the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College in Barrie, a 12-month management program that provides leadership training and other essential skills for Managers to help them with the soft skills of organizational leadership. Covid-19 has been the single largest challenge that Weins Canada (and other dealerships) have faced in the company’s history. “What Covid-19 has demonstrated is how resourceful, tenacious, and resilient the auto industry is,” says Tejani. “Dealers just find a way to adapt and make the best out of any situation. I would especially like to thank the CADA, the TADA, and various levels of government all working together with a shared understanding that retail automotive is an essential service.”

But other business challenges exist, which are ongoing and also require innovative thinking and solutions. Tejani recognizes two important challenges in particular. One is how dealerships and OEMs need to work together in the digital space, to avoid confusion and frustration among customers.

“The OEM’s role is to provide a great product and product branding across multiple online spaces,” says Tejani. “Dealers’ primary role is to facilitate the retail experience of selling cars and services directly to consumers, but sometimes our messages cross paths, which leaves gray areas. The challenge, going forward, is learning how to differentiate the OEM and dealership messaging in order to streamline the buying process and enhance the customer experience.”

Another challenge is sorting through the myriad of tech platforms to figure out what products and services dealerships should be using, and discarding. Weins Canada is bombarded with new product pitches all the time, and it takes time to evaluate the various platforms to determine which ones offer the best value for employees and customers.

Tejani is no stranger to change and challenges. He recalls a situation early in his sales career (1990) when he was pretty successful selling many Toyotas per month. One day, his GSM approached Tejani and asked him to start selling Lexus models, a brand that had just arrived in Canada. At first, he was reluctant to make the move, as Lexus was untested in the Canadian marketplace.

“But I decided to accept this challenge and, in hindsight, it was a good career move. Although it was intimidating at first, and far out of my comfort zone, it taught me how to adapt to a new challenge. That is something that has always stayed with me – don’t be afraid of change and a challenge – you have to keep evolving.”

That Lexus store began with four employees, and today Don Valley North Lexus employs 162 associates.

As he looks back on his career in the retail auto industry, Tejani is proud of how Weins Canada has grown and evolved as an organization. With nearly 1,400 associates, he under- stands the responsibility the organization plays in the lives of so many families and the communities they serve. Weins Canada has always been a generous corporate citizen, supporting many charities and causes throughout the GTA, including the United Way, hospitals, arts groups, food banks, the YMCA, and children’s sports teams, just to name a few.

“I’m proud to be working in an industry with so many talented men and women of many backgrounds, and very proud of the Laureate award,” says Tejani. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have worked with many great mentors, in a field that is changing day today.” He credits the leadership of the Miyahara Family whose philosophy has always been to take care of the employees so that they can take care of the customers. He also credits Weins Canada President, Seiji Ichii, for bringing a much broader perspective on how to lead a large organization.

Looking forward, “I’m particularly excited about the changes in the auto industry coming over the next 5 to 15 years, with onboard technologies, electrification of vehicles, on-line commerce and how dealers will adapt to still provide that human touch,” says Tejani. “This is the beginning of the new chapter for automotive and I embrace the challenge.”

When he’s not working, Tejani enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling (he’s attended five World Cups, two Euro Cups, and three Olympic Games), and golf (friends call him “Tiger in the Woods”).

    Winter 2021

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