MEET THE TEAM: Our North Lakes Business Manager, Laurence Hutton

April 21, 2021

What does an empty mug and a problem have in common? Both can be solved by coffee, along with our amazing North Lakes Business Manager, Laurence Hutton!

That’s right, Laurence is Torque’s resident coffee connoisseur / problem solver / finance expert – and boy has he got some great insights when it comes to financing vehicles.

Laurence has earned his stripes in the automotive industry, having started out his career as a mechanic, through to today where he assists our guests in securing the best finance deal for their car. He looks at hundreds of different financial situations each year, so trust us when we say he knows what he’s talking about!

We invited Laurence to share his tips and tell us a bit more about what he does here at Torque each day.

Hi Laurence, thanks for chatting to us! So, what does a typical day in the life of a Torque Toyota Business Manager look like?

Laurence: Wake up, drink lots of coffee, come to work, drink lots of coffee – haha! A typical day would be speaking with our guests about their finance options, running through different scenarios to best suit their needs, taking finance applications, and working them to get the best approval for the guest and help have their new car dreams come true.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

Laurence: The challenges. There are no two financial situations the same, so I enjoy the problem solving to make sure we are getting the approval from the banks for our guests.

What financing tips do you have for our guests?

Laurence:

1. Be careful to not apply for finance everywhere before doing your research. Too many finance enquiries can affect your credit score without you knowing, which may affect your chances of approval. Also, the bank’s job is to make money from money, whereas the car financier’s goal is to make it an easier process to help sell more vehicles, which in most cases will give you the better finance deal. So, apply once with your best foot forward with the assistance of a Business Manager. We like to help you get approved easier and faster, so we can deliver another new car!
2. Set yourself a budget of how much you are comfortable on spending per week or month first, and that will give you a gauge on what kind of vehicle you can apply for.

Now, tell us a bit about you! How long have you been at Torque?

Laurence: Two years.

Where were you working prior to that?

Laurence: Mitsubishi.

What was your first car?

Laurence: VL Commodore

We hear you’ve now got a new Hilux! What do you love most about it?

Laurence: The freedom! Being able to head up the beach with the kids any chance I get.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Laurence: I like to simply get outside and spend time with my kids outdoors. Driving up the beach in my new Hilux, kayaking, kicking the footy, etc.

Tell us a bit about your Torque team. Do you all get along?

Laurence: Sounds cliché but I think the entire sales team at North Lakes are amazing. We are like a little family and have each other’s backs. It’s a great work environment to be a part of, and I honestly wouldn’t want to spend my workday with anyone else.

But we want the dirt… What’s it really like in there?

Laurence: Okay, so the team and I like to give ourselves little monthly personal goals. One month we tried to not curse at all for an entire month. Each time someone swore accidentally, we would all call them out, and you had to complete one push up per swear word. Let’s just say we were all pretty fit by the end of the month!

Do you have a secret talent?

Laurence: Yes I can read people’s minds….haha joking. It’s no secret I am amazing at everything. 😉

Lastly… Tell us about the coffee.

Laurence: I’m very lucky, my partner owns a coffee shop. My favourite coffee is a Heck Yes coffee cold brew on oat milk with ice. Ooooh its refreshing and gives you just the caffeine kick you need.

Thanks, Laurence, and we’re definitely coming with you for one of those brews next time!

Got a financing query? Now you know Laurence and our team are here to help. Drop in today for all your Toyota financing needs… or even just a coffee and a chat!