Saturday, August 06, 2011

It's HUGE! How Billy And Caroline Sell Lots Of Cars In Florida

"Caroline, It's HUGE!" - Selling Cars Big Time In Pine Island

LABELLE, FL. -- Fuccillo Kia in Cape Coral, Florida, just north of Fort Myers, is advertised as one of the largest Kia dealerships in the country. Featured in the TV and radio ads, Billy Fuccillo is obnoxious and unforgettable. And that's the plan. He wants you to buy a car from his Pine Island dealership, and buy it now, presumably at "huge" savings.

The Fuccillo ads are probably the most played spots on Fort Myers radio and TV stations, probably outdoing the Morgan and Morgan law firm ads that play obnoxiously too often as well.

William B. Fuccillo is the sole owner of Fuccillo Affiliates Of Florida, Inc., the one-year old automobile company hitting it big at the Pine Island Road store. Many say they hate the ads with the "huge" tagline, but you have to admit, you can't forget it. It's just "huge."

Fuccillo started in the car business back in 1980, two years after attending Syracuse University on a football scholarship. He started buying car dealers' trade-in vehicles, reconditioning them and selling them at dealer auctions for a nice profit splitting it with the dealership he worked for.

Having saved a large nest egg from his car sale profits, he bought a Dodge dealership in 1989 in Adams, New York, with $125,000. He bought a second dealership in 1990, beginning a string of dealership purchases all over the country.  He says he liked to buy a dealership cheap, and then sell it two years later for a big profit.

He's owned automobile dealerships in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and the Carolinas. His base, however is New York. He started his Fort Myers store last year and as luck would have it high gas prices, and a shall we say "huge" inventory of Kia vehicles have done well for Fuccillo.

Caroline Renfro, the gal who never gets to finish the TV commercials before Billy says, "It's HUGE, Carolyn, It's HUGE," has been acting in the Fuccillo commercials for many years. Originally from North Carolina, Caroline met Fuccillo when had a dealership there. His son also attended school there for a while.

She worked for JTA Talent in Charlotte, N.C., and has done other car dealership commercials other than the "huge" ads for Fuccillo, including ads for a Greensboro, N.C. Kia store. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baSg3sDJLOU&feature=related

For Caroline fans (her Linkedin page): http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinerenfro  
For Billy fans (ad for his New York car store): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQO0v_HEGU0

UPDATE May, 2013: Fuccillo charters cruise ship for customers' 5-day Bahamas trip and other sales gimmicks (see story)

53 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:06 PM

    Tv ads are in very very poor taste and downright annoying .

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    1. Anonymous11:37 AM

      There's many ways to capture someone's attention for marketing purposes. I must admit, I almost went to this dealership until I just couldn't stand the commercials any longer (frequency and LOUD mouth). He may be a great guy, not doubting that. But do you want to be known/remembered as being the OBNOXIOUS LOUD MOUTH or would you like to come up with a clever marketing strategy that would make people like you instead? Many commercials are remembered for decades, to quote the "Where's the beef" commercial for example. But to get under someone's skin is just not my favorite way to lure buyers. Not bashing the man, just saying it really does get annoying.

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    2. Well, in my opinion and I'm certain most Chrisyians, Billy has simply gone too far. Saying while looking in the sky, "these are the Lords cars." etc, etc no idea what was said after that it was so horrific and offending...

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    3. Well, in my opinion and I'm certain most Chrisyians, Billy has simply gone too far. Saying while looking in the sky, "these are the Lords cars." etc, etc no idea what was said after that it was so horrific and offending...

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    4. Anonymous6:07 PM

      Fuccillo and his claim of being the biggest or seeling the most cars worldwide. Is a false claim and kia corp. Says there in the process of investigating there false tv ads claims and they might also be fined big time.

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    5. Anonymous4:18 PM

      No one owns that many dealerships by there own legal means no matter what they claim.
      From what I hear, his so called deals are not "huge" for the buyers, but surly are for him.

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    6. Get this jerk off the air. So very annoying! Would not buy a Kia because of him.

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  2. Not really in poor taste....but yes, often annoying due to the frequency, but the plan is spot-on, you can't forget

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    1. Anonymous10:47 AM

      After a store purchase this was given as an email address....cas9791@Gmail.com

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  3. Anonymous7:47 PM

    love the ads, very entertaining; love that Billy donated $100,000 to the local Salvation Army over Christmas.

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    1. I HATED this guy at first, and I was Always taught to give someone a CHANCE!! After a while...I thought Him and Caroline were "Alright!!" BUT......BILLY IF YOUR READING THIS...ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS ADD SOME COMEDY TO YOUR ADS AND THEY WILL BE H-U-G-GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.......DON'T FORGET ME IF YOU MAKE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ON BEING FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    2. Less commercials and more donations....

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  4. Anonymous10:26 PM

    RECENTLY MET THE GUY, TRUE GENTLEMAN.

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  5. Anonymous7:44 PM

    Listen. We've been dealing with this obnoxious guy for years in NY. It's time someone else got a taste. He's worse than Justin Resnick and his mattress commercials. Never met him. He could be the nicest guy in the world but his commercials are so annoying I will NEVER buy a car from him. I'll take the bus first.

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    1. So do it Who cares? I live in SW florida and I like them

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    2. I agree I will never set foot in that dealership because of him and his loud mouth -- gets on my last nerve

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  6. Anonymous4:45 PM

    I love these people that have these negative opinions about him being obnoxious. It doesn't matter. His strategy works. If you don't like it turn off your radio, t.v.

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    1. Sadly, Billy Boy is in your face before you can grab the remote... Only another New Yorker could identify with his style...

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  7. jessica9:34 AM

    i work for billy and if you dont like his ads thats your problem turn off your radio / tv he is extremely generous and a wonderful boss, come see us on pine island road in cape coral ill be the smiling employee

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  8. Anonymous11:59 AM

    he catches your attention and if the price is right, he's the guy i will buy from

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  9. Anonymous1:36 AM

    Not only are these commercials annoying they are offensive
    I can't chane the channel fast enough?

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  10. Anonymous8:03 PM

    Hubby and I snowbird in Matlacha from England and get a good laugh out of the Fucillo adverts. Billy, apparently, is a generous man (only this weekend he has pledged up to $50k for Wink TV and recently paid $100k to the Salvation Army). Only those who are in his life, or work for him, have a real idea of his personality. Don't knock the man for his adverts - they work. If you don't like them then you should know where the off switch is on the TV or radio - if not then you really shouldn't be allowed out on your own. A lot of 'knockers' of successful people are basically jealous at the end of the day. Good luck to him, Caroline and his dealership.

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  11. Anonymous4:40 PM

    They are the best dealership in Florida. He has been the best thing for our community. His commercials are a little annoying but he is nothing like that in person. they have the best management team ever.. We are a family of 3 Kias and we love them..

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  12. Anonymous6:30 PM

    The commercials are more than just annoying. In my opinion, they degrade the intelligence of the entire community. The fact that the man has to raise his voice and scream to get our attention to buy a car is just ridiculous. Is this what our society has come to? Do ads have to have this kind of shock value in order to get our attention as something worthwhile? I would never buy a car from a car dealership owner who behaves this way. NEVER. Does matter what kind of guy he might be.

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    1. I'm pretty sure they won't lose sleep over u not buying a car from them. LOL

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    2. Anonymous5:56 PM

      Why so serious people? It's a COMMERCIAL! Mute it or change the freakin' channel. Go get a snack! Doesn't take much to figure that out!!!

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    3. I know right?,Some people just love to complain.For the generous donations this business owner has made we should all be saying nicer things about him.He gets into your thoughts enough to get reactions, and other people would say"who cares if he's annoying he is a decent guy" what's the big deal?

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  13. Debra4:23 PM

    My question is why do people have to be sooooo judgemental. REALLY? I think there are so many critical people. It's a commercial get over yourself. He is a generous person who runs a great business who employees people that respect him and I say good for him I told my daughter Mandy to go to him love his commercials what annoying is unhappy people....Keep up the good work.....

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  14. Anonymous8:01 PM

    he does nothing good for no one when he is promoting alcholism

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    1. Anonymous8:21 PM

      Get over yourself. You probably have no idea what alcoholism is. I think the commercials are great and as promised in the commercials promise I was financed at a reasonable rate and payment

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  15. Anonymous1:00 PM

    if you think this guy is obnoxious, try spending five minutes in a room with Doug Plattner of Plattner Auto Group (Arcadia Chevy, Labelle Dodge, Belle Glade Chevy). Biggest piece of scum in America. As Billy would say he is a HUGE piece of crap.

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  16. Anonymous9:26 PM

    I think he is a great guy. He gave my husband a job when we really needed it. Gave him a chance to really learn about himself. He now has a career at the tender age of 40. I love his ads and do think he will do some good with the comedy aspect. Love the "Star Wars" ad. Thank you very much Billy for the great chance you have given my family to succeed just as you have.

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  17. Anonymous11:24 PM

    He is not a good role model when he has been drunk with blood shot eyes and slurred speech in some of his commercials like the ones he did at the casino. He needs to look, act and speak like he is sober because being drunk in a commercial is in poor taste

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  18. This guy makes me want to puke.I would never buy anything from this loudmouth jerk.

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  19. Anonymous11:44 PM

    Hey Billy............could you calm down...please????? Your ads are annoying !! After all......it's only a Kia !!! Geesh !!!!

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  20. LOVE THEM! I can listen to them all day. They make advertising fun. I cannot stand Rose and her bloodybloodybloody, or brad with his missing teeth. I rly cant stand Sutherland Nisson. Someone needs to get rid of that guy once and for all with his yippie ki yay. Ads on the radio are NOT supposed to gross u out. Radio is for entertainment and fun. And Billy and Carolyn are FUN.

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    1. Anonymous6:19 PM

      I see the paid PR people are out in force today.

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  21. well the latest ad was okay until they added the fast talker at the end. I don't like that.

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  22. What people doan't understand is he is a marketing genius ! Most people get all wound up about buying a car and stories of evil salespeople are legend. Almost everyone buys a car for current market value of that model Auto markup is very small nowadays. Your paying multpile times value at jewlers and furnature sales but everyone thinks they are so nice .. Supply and demand rules all sales . Why not have some fun or humor when buying a car. I spent 9 years in the business ( old school ) 73 to 82. Nobody ever critiques a realestate agent who are by far more scrupulous then any car sales person , You can get taken on 100's of thousands of dollars instead of a hundred or so.

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    1. Anonymous12:19 AM

      I am a Realtor. We have a code of Ethics unlike car salesman and we are proud to live by it. We are licensed by the state unlike car salesman & our license is on the line if we behave unethically. Yet we are constantly compared to used car salesman. Shame. By the way - I don't mind Billy's commercials; if its too much then I mute it. He is a generous man who has done a lot of great things for our community and many things for individuals that he does without press or fanfare. Great marketer that is for sure!

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  23. Anonymous8:55 AM

    I cant stand it hear they finance anyone, but with very high payments, and the commercials keep me from buying, non professional, , they promote drinking and areso focused on it on theie commercials, . Drinking and cars dont mix!! Mr. Fuccillo!!!!!

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    1. John moletzsky6:53 PM

      Really??? Put on your big boy pants before you fall off that high horse. Maybe if you sober up you can learn to spell and type. And grow a set, use your name. Pussy.

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  24. Who is the new (young blonde) girl (not Caroline) in the Fucillo auto commercials. Whoever she is I don't like her. She is extremely unprepared and unprofessional to work in advertising. I thought the commercials were annoying before but now there even more annoying.

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    1. Anonymous8:11 PM

      I agree lol that's actually why I was reading this link!!! Lol I find her to look and seem very stuck up and like you said, very unprepared!! As far as Billy and Caroline , I think even though the slogan gets old,it works!! I would just prefer to see the ads that said girl is not on!

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  25. Christian Citizen8:09 PM

    I would run over him with a KIA except the KIA would lose it's such a junk car!

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  26. Always thought a car dealership could do well by making a commercial featuring all the obnoxious ads that other dealerships use and saying you won't get that crap here. Starting w/ Terry Hanks in Lansing MI with his cowboy act and his tag line "If we make a buck, it's sheer luck." I find Billy entertaining in kind of a wink and elbow in the ribs way. His shtick appears to be working, so more power to him. Check out the occasional "HUGE" references on Morning Joe.

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  27. Anonymous8:41 PM

    Their commercials are funny and cool. Billy really turns me on, i bet it is HUGE.

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  28. Anonymous6:41 PM

    All car dealers are the scum of the earth. they would cut out their mother's heart for a dollar.sold new and used cars in va. this is the truth folks! caviat emptor!

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  29. Anonymous7:25 PM

    I've tuned out the channels that run this clown, and have let the stations know why.

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  30. Anonymous11:55 PM

    Wow. I've been having this argument with myself for a long time.
    I'm so avid for both sides, apparently, that I've been arguing on a Damn chat board.
    -anonymous

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