The Bristol Press| www.BristolPress.com Wednesday, January 23, 2013 | PDF: 2013-1 Jan
By LIZ NEWBERG STAFF WRITER
PLYMOUTH — After more than a quarter of a century in the automotive business, Clifford Jones, owner of Cliff’s Automotive in Terryville, CT can look at the business he’s built and take pride in the fact that his customers have been with him for more than 18 years.
That speaks volumes about the kind of automotive shop Cliff runs. And a successful business having ben built solely by word of mouth is even more testament to the fact the Watertown native offering customers an honest and fair deal.
Jones never advertises directly, and besides attending networking events and Chamber of Commerce events, he relies on satisfied customers to get the word out about his automotive shop.
His small-town business with a comfortable feeling that offers more personal service than one would find at a large company.
“It’s the simple things that matter,” Jones says. “What I really enjoy is keeping people’s vehicles rolling at a fair and honest price and making them happy to find a good, honest mechanic. I treat people fairly and honestly, like they should be. Customers appreciate that and keep coming back.” Besides being honest, another advantage that differentiates Cliff’s Automotive is that rather than dealing with a crew of people who may work on your car, Jones runs a one-man show. This means customers get answers straight from the source. There is no middle man in Jone’s shop.
“I do it all, whether it’s meeting people, taking messages or fixing cars,” Jones says. “So I can’t pass the buck. I’m all there is and that means I’m going to do it right the first time.”
The automotive expert realizes that people rely on their cars day-to-day. Having your car out of commission for an extended period can cramp your lifestyle. That’s another reason Jones’ customers keep coming back as his turnaround is usually within a day. When emergencies arise, Jones says he can usually get the car in that day.
Jones opened up his first shop in Farmington in 1997 and then moved to Prospect Street in Bristol, CT. Hist most recent move to Main Street in Terryville, CT is a chance to expand his business as it’s a larger facility with more growth potential.
Although Jones has no immediate plans to expand, he says the future is bright. His willingness to go with the flow and just be happy for tomorrow translates into a positive attitude that resonates with his customers.
“Anything can happen from here,” Jones says with a smile. “I’m just happy for today and will wait to see what happens next.”
Cliffs Automotive is located at 410 Main St., Terryville, CT. The hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cliff’s Automotive services foreign and domestic cars and small trucks. To reach Jones, call (860) 314-9528 or stop by the shop.
