Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Joseph.
Andre, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started as an entrepreneur at the age of 7. I would sell paper before tests on school days. By age 21, I had saved some money and a tax return check from a bank job in downtown Chicago to start a small car business. I purchased a car and sold it for twice what I paid. That got the ball rolling. A few months later, I started selling cars out of my grandmother’s house. People would ring the doorbell constantly asking about the prices of cars I had parked outside. Eventually, I sold enough cars to purchase my first investment property for $10,000.
My first real estate experience taught me the traits needed to be successful. I turned those lessons into my first book “How to be Successful: The 17 Laws” while working on my second property. One very tough year later, I sold my second property and started my latest business: Chicago Luxury Motors, a used luxury car dealership. I provide quality cars at affordable prices for the African American community. Now at 30, I’m looking to take my business global by exporting cars internationally. The only limitations are the ones that we put on ourselves.
Has it been a smooth road?
The life of a self-starting entrepreneur is never over and is never easy. I have never used anyone’s money to start any of my businesses so that I could retain total control. In doing that it’s been difficult. If a project was taking longer than expected to finish, like my first real estate investment, then the business would suffer as well as my personal life. When I starting my dealership after getting licensing, fixing up the location and putting a state authorized fence up, I had little to no money to buy cars and stay in business. It was almost over before it started. So faced with a problem, I came up with a solution. I outsourced luxury cars on consignment to sell at my lot. I upsold the vehicles and made money to purchase my own cars. Selling consignment actually turned out to be a good thing, because I was able to make money without any investment. Struggles force you to explore every option and in doing so you may come up with a better solution than you previously had.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We know that a lot of independent dealerships get a bad reputation so we go out of our way to provide quality vehicles at affordable prices. We’re known for treating every sale as if it was to a family member and being involved in the community. Every year we give a car away for our yearly anniversary to a needy person of the community. We value people over profit and that’s our “thing”. We’re also known for our crazy deals, sometimes we offer flat screen TV’s with a purchase, surprise meals, and even concert tickets. Another thing that we’re known for is that I’m the youngest Black Owned car dealership in Illinois.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I assume you mean Chicago, and I’ll say that I would not recommend someone starting out in Chicago. Chicago is not a friendly place for the most part. Everyone including and most importantly local government is money hungry and they put profit over people all the way. The City of Chicago could make it more business friendly by lowering taxes and fines for businesses. A lot of businesses and people are leaving Chicago and Illinois.
Pricing:
- How To Be Successful The 17 Laws Volume 1 = $14.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 3750 w. 79th st Chicago IL 60652
- Website: www.chicagoluxurymotor.com
- Phone: 7734984045
- Email: chicagoluxurymotor@gmail.com
- Instagram: chicago_luxury_motors
- Facebook: Andre Joseph
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