Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennison Rivera.
Hi Dennison, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started working for Gillman in 2013 and was very successful as a car salesman in Houston. I was recognized for a number of achievements that helped me really build a solid foundation for sales. Then after some years, I decided to have a change of pace and moved to Helena, Montana, and literally started over. I had a life-altering experience where I not only found success in becoming a small business owner but also found the love of my life and made wonderful friends. It felt as if I was in another world with a different life altogether.
After trying for some time, my wife became pregnant, and unfortunately, the economy and high inflation forced us to move away in order to make an affordable living. Gillman has always made it known to me that the doors are open for me to return to my career. So, my wife and I packed our bags and stuffed as much as we could in our car and moved back to the Lone Star State, my H-town, my birthplace. I’m thankful that my daughter and I now share the same birthplace.
Since returning to Houston, I’ve been making significant achievements at Gillman Honda Houston. I have proven time and time again why my performance in sales is one of the best. As an Internet Sales manager, I’m able to work independently and provide VIP service for my clientele. I started this year, 2023, with a bang, by selling 26 cars and becoming the Salesman of the month despite the inventory shortage.
I look forward to making many more sales achievements this year and doing my absolute best to provide for my wife and newborn daughter.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
That is an interesting question… Like in real life, a road could be smooth or rough —it’s just part of the journey. You can’t begin to appreciate or recognize a smooth road without first experiencing the challenging one. With that said, this last year, I’ve had many challenges to overcome. It started with my 30+ hour road trip across the country with my pregnant wife traveling from Montana to Texas. Then I’m trying to cope with the idea that I’m back in Houston, where I feel like I traveled to the future because things aren’t what they once were seven years ago. I had to start from scratch at selling Hondas again and trying to adapt to the sales world as it is today. We struggled to find a home and were so busy preparing everything for our child’s birth. Trying to balance my work performance and supporting my wife through her third trimester was intense. Then, finally, my wife’s water broke on the last day of the month (which any car salesman knows is the most important day of any month) at night, and she was born the next day!
Don’t get me started with work and the inventory shortage. Never in my career have I experienced such a problem where we don’t have enough inventory to sell cars and instead have to rely on reserving incoming units. Thankfully, I work for a dealer that receives the most inventory, but it was frustrating not being able to sell a car on the same day. I had to learn and adapt to a new way of selling and trying to help people in dire situations. Think about it: having a car is a must in Houston, and many people are struggling because that is their primary source of transportation for work or family.
Now, it’s about balancing my schedule and performing my best while ensuring time for being a good husband and now father. I think we’ve struggled in every way, but we have been blessed in even our worst moments in this last year. It’s not easy packing up your bags, moving, and starting over; it takes a measure of faith and courage.
Our road is smooth now because of the struggles we were blessed to overcome.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work as an Internet Sales Manager at Gillman Honda Houston. I work independently by managing inquiries made online by clients looking for a no-hassle car buying experience. My clients connect with me online, and I work out the price for them, have the car ready when they visit, and give them the concierge service. I also have a small business called Rivera Marketing Strategies LLC, a Marketing Consultation Firm where I help small businesses and non-profits with their marketing plan. I offer services where I either consult or manage my client’s marketing.
I specialize in sales with over ten years of experience in different industries. However, I now have a marketing background since I started selling for an advertising agency some years ago.
In Houston, I’m truly known as the car sales guy. The reputation I made years ago and the strides I’m making now have really solidified my standing as a notorious car salesman. However, if you ask about me in Montana, I was the marketing guy and a community leader.
I’m proud that I make a difference wherever I go. My feats are proof enough of my hard work, but what makes me really proud is when I can make something better and more efficient. I see a problem and do my best to find a solution to help everyone. I’m proud that I work in high-level sales, can compete with the best, and even started my own business; however, making a difference truly inspires me.
My service to my clients sets me apart from others in my field. Since I was young, I have learned that customer service matters most, no matter your field. It’s the best transferrable skill any person can have. No matter where I’ve worked, I always prioritize providing the best service by having a great attitude, listening, and advising my clients with my expertise. I go above and beyond to make sure my clients are satisfied.
If you are looking for a car or need a marketing consultation, reach out to me! I wouldn’t be much of a salesman or a marketer if I didn’t at least include a call to action. 😉
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I believe luck is another way of saying that success and failure are due to chance. I don’t believe anything in my life or business is due to chance whatsoever. If anything, I’ve learned that circumstances, whether it’s success or failure, are all results of our choices. Ironically, I’d say it’s all been predetermined one way or another. (Proverbs 16:9)
Life is much like farming. You sow a seed and do your due diligence to take care of it and watch it grow so you can reap its fruits in due time. However, the rain, sun, and soil are all up to God. There is no success without failure.
Contact Info:
- Website: Riveramarketingstrategies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shophondahouston/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennison.rivera.904/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennison-rivera-57395398/
- Other: https://calendly.com/gillmanhonda/new-car-consultation-voyage-houston
Image Credits
Gillman Honda Houston
