Meet Leslie Vander Baan of Automotive Consignment

One of the benefits I receive by running BriefcaseDiva is the incredible women I meet on a daily basis.  Because my mission is to spotlight Truly Outstanding Women, I was thrilled to interview Leslie Vander Baan.  As you will read in the following interview, Leslie’s drive and perseverance in building her business is truly inspirational.  And now, let’s get to know Leslie!

Q: What is your name, the name of your company and when did you start it?

A: Leslie Vander Baan, Automotive Consignment founded in 2003 and AutoConsign.com in 2008

Q: What was the motivation behind your company?

A:  My husband and I always purchased our vehicles from private sellers to avoid paying full retail at a dealership. We also always sold our cars on our own to avoid the lower payment we would receive by trading it in to a dealer. Buying and selling on our own saved us money but proved to be a very inconvenient and time consuming process. I was not able to take calls at work or get away to show my vehicle to a prospect until late at night. I was hesitant to meet strangers at my home or let someone take off in my car to test drive. There was also the matter of payment and title. When I sold a car I was leery of accepting a bad check, and when buying a car, became concerned about the title I was receiving. One-third of all vehicle transactions are conducted between private parties, and I felt there had to be a better way to facilitate this process. I had always wanted to be in business for myself, although I never imagined it would be in the car business. Despite that, I left my current job at the time to pursue this venture.

In 2003 I launched Automotive Consignment in Charlotte, NC, a for-sale-by-owner dealership that takes vehicles in on consignment. Sellers can pay a flat fee to park their vehicle on display and come back for a check once my team has sold their car. For buyers, we’ll handle all of the test-drives, financing and the DMV registration once they’ve found a vehicle. In 2008 I expanded our service with the nationwide advertising site, AutoConsign.com. AutoConsign.com allows sellers to list their vehicles on a site that does not force them to compete with dealer ads (which dominate the majority of online vehicle advertising) as well as provides individuals with all the tools, tips and services to sell their car and navigate through all of the tedious details associated with that process.

Q: How long did it take you to earn a profit from your business?

A: At Automotive Consignment we saw profitable periods within our first 8 months of operation. In 2005, when Automotive Consignment was two and a half years old, we were able to consistently sustain profitability. With AutoConsign.com we are not in the black yet. In order to build up a user base and overall awareness, we specifically designed our business plan to account for a free introductory offering period. We have been very pleased with the initial results and response from our users.

Q: What significant obstacles (if any) have you faced & how did you overcome them?

A: Every entrepreneur wants their business to be successful and make it big. If we all had access to a huge marketing budget that would make a lot of the challenges of introducing a brand new business to the market a lot easier. Unfortunately, most businesses do not, and mine was among them. Being efficient and creative with the resources and cash that you have is vital.

In my business, we are as good as the people we employ so we look to bring on the best. At the end of the day, someone may call or stop by because they saw our name advertised, but they’ll do business with us because they feel comfortable with the team that we have put together.

The second largest obstacle was avoiding burnout. Starting a new business is like a first-time mom bringing home a baby. It is very exciting and new but it also doesn’t let you sleep, it’s expensive and you don’t trust anyone else to take care of it like you can. I was drained emotionally and mentally. Every ounce of stamina, and endurance was required to get the business going.

I burned so much energy, I simply did not have a lot left to give to my spouse or my friends. It was impossible for me to be away from the business and not feel guilty about it. How could I rest or take free time away from the business when it still needed me to grow? In order to overcome this, I first addressed the guilt I was feeling. I always knew I got some of my best ideas and sources of inspiration when I was having fun away from the business so I had to get over feeling guilty about being away. I knew how hard I was working when I wasn’t there so I couldn’t worry about the perception of me taking time away from the business…to still work!

I also started making ‘me’ time a couple times a week – whether it meant leaving early to go to the gym or simply take a long walk. I reconnected with friends I felt I had distanced. I made time to go see them. I laughed. I addressed my guilt and got rid of it. I started getting monthly massages and practicing yoga.

Q: Did you ever feel like just giving up at times? If so, what keeps you going?

A: Despite being very exhausted and overwhelmed at times, I never felt like giving up. I knew that most businesses did not survive after 3 years. The top reasons for a business closing are lack of capital and burnout. The burnout was coming on quick but I had invested too much time, money and energy to let it all go. My family and our growing customer base kept me going. First of all my family joined as operating partners so I had more help.

Secondly, every time we earned a referral from a customer it inspired me to keep going. I thought, ‘This is working,’ and it encouraged me. I believed in our concept and I believed in the long-term potential. The dream was too big to let go by the wayside simply because I was tired.

Q: What qualities (i.e., family support, discipline, time management) do you think are necessary for a women entrepreneur?

A: All of the above! You’ll also need persistence and tenacity. The stories are true – starting a business will take longer and be more expensive that you have planned. You must be your company’s best advocate and story teller and you must be willing get out and be the company cheerleader time and time again. That will never stop.

Q: What is the one thing (book, website, coach, tool, blog, service, etc) that you value and can say has contributed to your success?

A: My family. They have been my coaches, my co-workers, my trainers, my source of inspiration as well as my spiritual accountability. It was my parents who instilled in me the values that I bring to my business today. I grew up feeling like I was being groomed for the job I have today. It is my husband, Mike, who was a constant source of encouragement and provided me amazing advice, insight and inspiration as we worked to grow our businesses.

Q: What is your favorite quote, saying, Proverb, or scripture?

A: My favorite verse is: Philippians: 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me”

My favorite quote is: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in business or thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship?

A: Set boundaries before you start, not after you need them. Realize things can’t happen fast enough for a business owner so pace yourself and don’t set overly aggressive goals that you have to kill yourself to meet. Don’t forget what makes you… you. Schedule times of self renewal before you need them.

Don’t sacrifice all of your favorite personal commitments for the business. It’s ok to go out with friends, send personal emails during the day, read a fun magazine at night. It’s ok to have fun despite the struggles of starting or maintaining a business. Stop feeling guilty- whatever you have to do, figure out how not to waste a minute of your free time/ personal time feeling guilty. Find an outlet to blow off steam- Cut loose in whatever way gets rid of the tension we hold in our bodies. You’ll be thankful for the fun the next day!

Also, take the personal experience of other women to heart. Despite having read a lot of start-up articles I thought I was ready, because for me, it was going to be different. My age (I was 24 when Automotive Consignment opened its doors) and my drive were going to get me through. This blind enthusiasm worked for a while but eventually leaves you drained. It’s important to plan accordingly before you’re too burnt out to do anything about it.

Q: What are a few goals for you or your business this year?

A: Personally, I would love to compete in a 10K and a sprint triathlon. I find I am more likely to stick to an exercise regimen if I have a goal event…and I miss the competition!

Professionally, given that we operate in a unique niche within the industry, our biggest challenge is getting the word out regarding the value we can add to the vehicle buying or selling experience. My goal for our dealership, Automotive Consignment is to continue to build awareness throughout our local market and by doing so, increase our consignment volume. My goal for our national site, AutoConsign.com is to gain a web presence within all 50 states and become THE premier location for people with privately owned vehicles to buy or sell them.

Professional BIO: Leslie Vander Baan is the co-founder and co-owner of Automotive Consignment which was established in 2003 and AutoConsign.com which launched in 2008. Leslie manages the day to day operations of Automotive Consignment and AutoConsign.com and works closely with sales and consignment team members.

Leslie has over 10 years of experience in the automotive industry. She is a third generation business owner. Both her grandfather and her father had their own pre-owned car store. Leslie was exposed to the automotive industry at an early age, as her Father and her Grandfather would take her to the car auction and she would also spend time at their car lot on weekends.

Leslie is a graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. Shortly after graduating, Leslie and her husband Mike moved to Charlotte, NC. Upon moving to Charlotte, Leslie joined a large automotive auction house and managed both the eCommerce and various fleet and lease accounts for the auction. In 2003 Leslie left the auction to pursue the idea of a consignment dealership, which eventually led to what is now Automotive Consignment and AutoConsign.com.

Away from Automotive Consignment, Leslie is an active volunteer with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and served on the board of the Charlotte chapter for six years. She is also an avid traveler and loves to spend time with her family.

Businesses Include: Automotive Consignment, http://www.AutomotiveConsignment.com

And

http://www.AutoConsign.com

On Personal Note: I live in Charlotte, NC with my husband of 8 ½ years, Mike, and our Golden Retriever, Doc. I love to travel and have been all over Europe and lived in Africa for a month. In my free time I like to head out of town and you can usually find me on the beach.

I’m inspired by the humility of others. I dream about working full-time in the non-profit sector. I’m passionate about mental illness awareness and treatment. My dream is to see the stigma surrounding this illness eliminated!

My favorite reads include: Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini.

Wow! What a great woman! Please visit her websites and let her know that you read her interview on BriefcaseDiva.  Also, leave me a comment.

That’s it for now.  Until next time…wear your heels well!

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