Need a part for a '38 Ford? Call Sanderson

David Kimmerle, owner of Sanderson Ford of Glendale, AZ got a phone call at home from a man looking for a part for a 1938 Ford vehicle. Kimmerle called his parts manager to check. To the man's surprise, they stocked the part.

Stories like this illustrate how Sanderson Ford has built one of the nation's top parts operations. With revenue of over $40.9 million in 2001, the dealership is the top-ranked Ford store in parts revenue on this year's Ward's 500 and is ranked 95th overall.

Kimmerle says much of Sanderson's success comes from committing first to stock the parts the customers need. With more than 100,000 parts covering 150 product lines adding up to an inventory of $8 million, Sanderson Ford is evidently fulfilling its commitment.

“We work at getting parts into our inventory faster and keeping them longer — just so we have them in stock,” says Kimmerle.

Service is also a big part of the store's success. “We're able to provide better service to our customers than other dealers or the factory can,” explains Kimmerle. “With our 100 employees, we have a great infrastructure. And Stan Wibben the manager has done a fantastic job for us.”

The dealership offers will-call until midnight Monday - Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturdays. There are 15 trucks that do deliveries throughout the state. Sanderson also ships parts all over the country.

For the future, Sanderson is looking to develop its aftermarket and accessories business. Only a year old, the store is already selling $160,000 a month in aftermarket parts and labor. “It's an additional niche we're going after,” says Kimmerle.

Sanderson will have another formidable competitor in the next year, though. Ford Motor Co. is building 19 high velocity warehouses — one of which is going up in Phoenix.

“I'm not very cordial about it,” says Kimmerle. “I'm very disappointed about it.

“It's a result of the Nasser regime. Everything they did was to get into the retail business.”

Kimmerle adds, “We're not dummies here. We've won the President's Award six times. But when your neck is on the line as a family business you've got to protect yourselves.

“We'll be competing with Ford in that area. Our goal is to close their parts warehouse down.”