BELFAST car dealer Mervyn Stewart has expanded its sales operation on Boucher Crescent during the lockdown with a £2 million investment.
The new used car venture, Mervyn Stewart Select, is expected to create ten jobs over the coming months.
Already the north’s largest Skoda dealer, the company has been operating for 50 years in the Belfast and north Down area.
The expansion followed the acquisition of property, including premises previous used by the Infiniti luxury car franchise in south Belfast.
During the coronavirus lockdown, the car dealer completed the transformation to turn the space into its first stand-alone Mervyn Stewart Select used car facility.
The move was backed with a bounce back loan secured through Danske Bank.
Mervyn Stewart’s managing director, Stephen Stewart, said: “This year every retail sector has faced increased challenges with the uncertainty of the Covid- 19 pandemic, but we feel confident that we have launched our Mervyn Stewart Select brand at the right time.
“There has already been a significant bounce back in sales, with strong demand driving a strong performance through June and July. We have noticed that people have had time to consider what they want and they are now in a position to move forward confidently with their purchase.”
The company has also invested in an expanded digital offering.
Ellen Matthews, business banking manager at Danske Bank, said: “We are pleased to have supported Mervyn Stewart with its recent expansion through a Bounce Back Loan.
“This is a company which has been a key player in the Northern Ireland car market for a long time, and they have managed well through the coronavirus lock down by quickly moving to a virtual platform for car sales.”
