Jon Lett, Dealer Principal and CJ Settles, GM, Pure Country Auto

February 20, 2023
ASOTU was on the ground during the 2023 NADA Show and caught up with Jon Lett and CJ Settles.
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Jon Lett is the Dealer Principal at Pure Country Auto.

CJ Settles is the General Manager at Pure Country Auto.


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Kyle Mountsier: 0:00This is In the Dirt with ASOTU. So, Jon and CJ, where are you guys at in the country Dealer? And what are your roles? roll that down real quick.Jon Lett: 0:12

We're from the from the Eastern part of Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia tri state area, and I'm the Dealer Principal at a Ford CDJR dual point and a Chevrolet single point.

Kyle Mountsier: 0:23

That Ford CDJR. How does that go?

Jon Lett: 0:26

goes? Well,

Kyle Mountsier: 0:27

amazing. And you're both?

CJ Settles: 0:28

I'm the General Manager.

Kyle Mountsier: 0:30

Congrats. That's a big deal. All right. So how long have you been with this store?

CJ Settles: 0:35

Oh, gosh, going on six years now.

Kyle Mountsier: 0:37

Right. Cool. And then your stores? How long have you been in the in the dealer world?

Jon Lett: 0:42

At this store? Six years?

Kyle Mountsier: 0:44

Okay, so was that a new kind of partnership? And you brought everybody there? Alright, cool. All right. So looking at kind of current status and where you guys are headed, because every Dealer in the country, every area is different? What's kind of the next steps for you? What are you looking at? What are you looking to change or move forward or solidify over this next year?

Jon Lett: 1:04

Well, you know, we think we want to build the total dealership and we're in the midst of building that dedicated commercial repair shop that we're getting, almost, it's almost complete. And we think service is a big part of business going forward. You know, the front end sales, the first quarter, the server sales, the first vehicle service sales, the second, third and fourth, and they're on.

Kyle Mountsier: 1:27

Yeah. What if you don't mind me asking? Like what type of things are you doing in the community? Currently? I'm sure. I mean, I Oh, yeah. Like, you're like, do we have a seat over here somewhere? Talk to me at CJ a little bit about what your dealerships or dealership group is doing in the community to impact that?

CJ Settles: 1:44

Yeah, I mean, we try to do everything with with the community that we're huge on community, we have local, you know, Rotary Clubs, we have local sports teams, Chevrolet does a good job with, they do a program where you come in you test drive car, it goes to money for Little League, I mean, you know, anything we can do to sponsor, you know, the high schools, the elementary schools, anything that, you know, we can do to help the children and also get our name out there. We do all of that stuff. So we're huge on that. Yeah,

Jon Lett: 2:12

Corporate sponsor, Grace and Memory Days, week long festival in the around Memorial Day, and we had our first annual pure country Jeep show last year, and that was a real success.

Kyle Mountsier: 2:28

You know, what I love about this is the first couple of questions you guys were kind of like, well wait about about I give it a bit a bit a bit. And then all of a sudden, I just saw your eyes light up? Is there a story or something that you remember, from the last few years of engaging with the community that's been significantly impactful for your store for the community?

CJ Settles: 2:46

Well, yeah, you know, I think we do a thing every year around Christmas, where we give something away, and we did a car one year and, you know, it went to a family who their daughter was going to school and, you know, they won the car come in, and it just, you know, I really think that that probably changed their their lives with with being able to do that and not have to worry about that financial burden that we were able to give back to them. And, you know, I think any anything that we can do to help somebody, I think it goes a long way. So, you know, that, you know, business is stressful, but seeing, you know, being able to, to afford to help people makes it all worth it.

Jon Lett: 3:25

We've always said, you know, have fun and build relationships and success follows that

Kyle Mountsier: 3:31

Man, um, you know, some of these moments that I just know that the car business is the reason why we want to share these stories. Like I get goosebumps on my back, Watching, listen to you guys to share this. Thanks so much for letting me stop you in the hall. And I can't wait to stay connected. Thank you for listening to in the dirt with ASOTU. We love the automotive industry and the people who make it run day in and day out. We would love to connect with you more through our daily dose of fun, a free email that you can sign up for at ASOTU.com That's a s o t u.com. We put our heart and soul into it every day. Thanks again for listening. Join us next time for more Conversations in the dirt with ASOTU

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