Handshakes to Hashtags

From Handshakes to Hashtags: Reed Brothers Dodge Through the Years

When Reed Brothers Dodge first opened its doors in 1915, life—and automobiles—were a lot simpler. Founded by Lewis Reed, the dealership began with more than just a love for cars; it was built on genuine relationships. Lewis was known for remembering customers by name and recalling exactly what kind of car they drove. His philosophy was simple: Treat your customer as your friend and always do what you promise.

Fast forward nearly a century, and both the automotive world and society have undergone dramatic change. But some things—like dedication to community and innovation—remained constant at Reed Brothers Dodge.

In 2006, Jeanne Gartner, Lewis Reed’s granddaughter and co-owner, returned to the family business with a new mission: to bring the dealership’s rich legacy into the digital age. As Director of Digital Marketing and Website Administration, she launched a bold new initiative to expand the dealership’s presence online.

Why make the shift from traditional media to a digital media marketing focus? It’s the same reason why we did away with the horse and buggy and got into transportation in automobiles. Reed Brothers began the transition from traditional to digital marketing in 2006—because that was the future.

Behold. The next frontier is here. And it is digital.

While many dealerships were still relying on tent sales and balloons to attract attention, Reed Brothers Dodge embraced the power of social media. Jeanne built a complete Web 2.0 marketing network in less than a year, introducing the dealership to platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogs. The result? A stronger connection with the community and a modern way to continue a century-old tradition of customer care.

Reed Brothers Presence Across Various Social Media Platforms

From tweeting vehicle specials and dealership updates on Twitter, to sharing historic photos and engaging stories on Facebook and the dealership blog, Reed Brothers Dodge carved out a meaningful and professional presence online. YouTube videos showcased inventory and dealership milestones, bringing history and modern service together in a fresh and accessible format.

Reed Brothers Twitter Page

Beyond the obvious upside of an amazing user-base, Facebook offered something that no other website in history had ever offered: truly personal connectivity. It was through this connectivity that Reed Brothers struck up real friendships online and sold five cars directly through interactions on Facebook.

This success story even earned Reed Brothers national attention. The dealership was featured in Firsthand Accounts: How Social Media Sites Will Work For Your Dealer Website, a Dealer.com newsletter, as a standout example of how effective social media can be when used with authenticity and strategy.

Reed Brothers Automotive Facebook Page

1 of 3 Blog Sites

Reed Brothers Google+ Business Page

Reed Brothers Listed Under “Cool Rockville Businesses”

A New Age for Marketing

Reed Brothers has been quick to recognize and adopt Quick Response (QR) codes as a powerful instrument in their marketing tool kit. In today’s mobile world, people are turning to mobile technologies and smartphones instead of PCs. No doubt everyone has heard of QR codes or have at least noticed that more and more businesses are using QR codes on pretty much all of their marketing materials. These 2-dimensional barcodes allow consumers who own mobile devices with QR code readers to link to more information about Reed Brothers, in just seconds. Here is just one way Reed Brothers integrated mobile strategy in their business processes. Reed Brothers Automotive Adds QR Codes to Their Marketing Strategy

Try it! Scan this QR code with your mobile phone to see where it takes you!

Reed Brothers Dodge may have started with handshakes, but thanks to forward-thinking leadership, it thrived in a world of hashtags—proving that timeless values and modern tools can go hand in hand.