South Carolina Cars

March 25, 2009

For the past 15 years, Columbia-area radio listeners have become as familiar with Gary Raszewski’s voice as they are with such local personalities as Joe Pinner, Rick Henry and Jim Gandy. Sitting in the office of his four-year-old business, South Carolina Cars, Raszewski smiles when reminded of his well-known voice.

Usually when I meet someone, all I have to do is say, ‘Hi, I’m Gary Raszewski with South Carolina Cars,’ he says. It’s been a great tool for me and has opened a lot of doors.

Raszewski was with Phillips Automobiles of Distinction since 1983 before striking out on his own, taking the knowledge with him in his quest to bring the very best automobiles in the country to his customers, some of whom come from as far away as Canada for the quality Raszewski assures through his careful hand-selection. That kind of loyalty has kept his business going strong and is a major reason Raszewski keeps doing what he does—finding the perfect car for his customers.

About 85 percent of our business is from referrals from former customers and our growing Internet site, Raszewski says. I’ve had remarkably loyal customers, people who know I’ll go from coast to coast to find exactly what they want.

Besides Raszewski’s knack for fulfilling the most-specific car requests his discerning customers demand, Raszewski keeps approximately 35-40 first-rate luxury cars at his Two Notch Road location.

That’s where a lot of our Internet business comes into play, Raszewski says. People see the quality of these cars and the care with which they’ve been kept.

Plus, since all our cars are stored in our indoor showroom, they’re in much better shape than cars that sit in the elements.

Still, cars don’t sell themselves, and it’s Raszewski’s clear passion for his business that has endeared him to so many loyal customers, some of whom take as long as seven months working with Raszewski to ensure they get precisely what they want. Since he researches cars from across the country, he is able to make sure every car he buys has been vetted personally.

I love talking about nice cars with people,Raszewski says. My customers are special; they all can go today and buy something nice off a lot.

They’re not looking for basic transportation; they come to me because they know I won’t just find them something nice, I’ll find them what’s perfect for them. That’s why I have so many people from different states who trust me. When you do things right, when you research cars thoroughly and deliver the car of their dreams, it’s a good feeling.