Joe Girard
Encyclopedia
Joseph Samuel Gerard, better known as Joe Girard, (born November 1, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan
) is an American
salesman. He is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's greatest salesman for twelve consecutive years, selling 13,001 cars at a Chevrolet
dealership between 1963 and 1978.
Girard worked from childhood on. A high school dropout, he started working as a shoeshine boy, then he worked as a newsboy for the Detroit Free Press at the age of nine, and then as a dishwasher, delivery boy, stove assembler, and home building contractor. In 1963, the then thirty-five-year-old walked into a Detroit car dealership and begged a skeptical manager for a job as a salesman. He sold a car on his first day and, by the second month, was so good, some of the other salesmen complained and got him fired. His next job was at Merollis Chevrolet in Eastpointe, Michigan
, which he held until his retirement in 1977. There, he set consecutive sales records over a fifteen year period.
One of America's most sought-after speakers, Joe Girard appears before such companies as General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, and Kmart.
Mr. Girard's awards include The Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, and he has been nominated for the Horatio Alger Award by the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and the late Lowell Thomas.
Joe Girard now resides in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
.
In 2001, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
salesman. He is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's greatest salesman for twelve consecutive years, selling 13,001 cars at a Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
dealership between 1963 and 1978.
Girard worked from childhood on. A high school dropout, he started working as a shoeshine boy, then he worked as a newsboy for the Detroit Free Press at the age of nine, and then as a dishwasher, delivery boy, stove assembler, and home building contractor. In 1963, the then thirty-five-year-old walked into a Detroit car dealership and begged a skeptical manager for a job as a salesman. He sold a car on his first day and, by the second month, was so good, some of the other salesmen complained and got him fired. His next job was at Merollis Chevrolet in Eastpointe, Michigan
Eastpointe, Michigan
Eastpointe is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 34,077. Eastpointe forms a part of the Metro Detroit area. It borders on 8 Mile Road on the northern edge of Detroit.- History :The community was first settled by Irish and German...
, which he held until his retirement in 1977. There, he set consecutive sales records over a fifteen year period.
One of America's most sought-after speakers, Joe Girard appears before such companies as General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, and Kmart.
Mr. Girard's awards include The Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, and he has been nominated for the Horatio Alger Award by the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and the late Lowell Thomas.
Joe Girard now resides in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Shores is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. With only land area, the city is the smallest of the five Grosse Pointe communities. The city, which is entirely residential, is the location of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club on Lake Saint Clair. The city's population was 3,008 at the...
.
In 2001, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
.
Personal achievements
- Sold more retail "big ticket" items "one-at-a-time" than any other sales person in any retail industry including houses, boats motor homes, insurance, automobiles, etc.
- Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "World's Greatest Salesman" (This record has not been broken.)
- Averaged six new retail automobile sales a day (no used automobiles)
- Most new retail sales in one day (18 automobiles)
- Most new retail sales in one month (174 automobiles)
- Most new retail sales in one year (1425 automobiles)
- Most new retail sales in 15 year career (13,001 automobiles)
- All retail, no fleet or wholesale, never in management
Publications
- How To Sell Anything To Anybody (1977)
- How To Sell Yourself
- How To Close Every Sale
- Mastering Your Way To The Top