Charleston Fashion Week- Arrive in Style!

Spring is in the air and it seems like everyone is doing a little spring cleaning!

For me, spring cleaning not only extends to things such as dusting and fixing up around the house, but it also extends to digging out those clothes I haven't worn in years and updating my wardrobe a little bit. Charleston Fashion Week definitely gives me some stylish and new inspiration and also reminds me of my own former modeling days.

Before I came to Rick Hendrick Dodge Chrysler Jeep, I balanced working for two bachelor's degrees and modeling part-time. I had some great opportunities and it helped me learn how to find creative and fun ways to express my individual style and personality.

Please be sure to check out all the great new local styles at this years Fashion Week as well as support our local community and its unique sense of style. Named a Top 20 Event for March by the Southeast Tourism Society, the event will feature the Style Lounge, the Catwalk for Kids auction and luncheon, Rock The Runway Model Competition, the Stiletto Stampede, and the Bridal Couture Show.

If you can't make the event, be sure to check out the event photos here.


Also, just want to remind you of our great stylish new vehicles! Here are my top picks to improve your appearance on the road that are also friendly for your budget!

- 2010 Chrysler Sebring Convertible: MSRP Starting At: $28,590. Sophisticated and Sleek!
- 2010 Jeep Wrangler: MSRP Starting at $21,915. Rugged and Daring!
- 2010 Dodge Charger: MSRP Starting at $25,140. Muscular and Agressive!

We look forward to seeing you at Fashion Week and finding a vehicle that inspires you!
-Sarah Taylor
Internet Sales Department

Quench Their Thirst-Help the People of Haiti by Walking for Water on March 20th!

Here at Rick Hendrick Dodge Chrysler Jeep, we are strongly tied with the community and support local events and charities on a regular basis. Helping these events gain support and interest is just one of the ways that Rick Hendrick Dodge Chrysler Jeep contributes and we just wanted to take a moment to provide you some additional information on a wonderful event you can participate in coming up on March 20th.

The "Quench Their Thirst" walk for water benefits Water Missions International's efforts to raise money to build water tanks supplying clean water to Haiti and beyond.

The event is a 3.5 mile walk at Cannon Park Downtown at 9AM on March 20th. The entry fee is only $10, which includes a very cool locally designed Haiti t-shirt. Please be sure to pass the information along to friends and loved ones! The more support we can get, the more we can help!

Here are some facts found on the event website and additional information on how you can participate:

"88 cents on the dollar donated to Water Missions International goes in the field. They are one of the few charities nationwide to receive a 4 star ranking by non-profit watchdog, Charity Navigator."

"Each WMI water tank provides clean drinking water for 3,000 people (5,000 in emergency situations like Haiti) for 20+ years. It's not a band-aid. It's a sustainable way of life."


We are proud to be raising awareness for this event and we hope to see you there!

How to Improve Your Credit Score and Common Questions Answered!

Your credit score can be a sensitive subject, especially with the current economic situation.We all know that a higher credit score can mean big savings, but do you really know what affects your number or how to improve it??

Here at Rick Hendrick Dodge Chrysler Jeep, we help people everyday with their unique financing situations and help guide you on the right track to either reestablishing your credit or helping you maintain your current credit score. Besides purchasing a home, purchasing a car is the BEST way to reestablish your score or keep it where you want it to be! Please check out our inventory for specials.

Here are some common questions taken from the Sebtember 2006 issue of Money magazine in the article "How to Scrub Your Credit Score" by David Futrelle.

"You hope to nab a better rate on a car loan by shopping among lenders for the best deal. Will that hurt your score?"
A. Yes
B. No

ANSWER: B.
It's true that applying for several credit cards within a short amount of time will put a ding in your credit score, but lenders know that searching for the best rate on a loan is a smart strategy. Credit score formulas ignore any rate shopping you've done in the 30 days before your score is calculated. Multiple mortgage or auto loan applications within a 45-day period are treated as a single credit inquiry.

"You've got your score, and it's below 700. What can you do to raise it? (Check all that apply)"
A. Get a higher paying job.
B. Pay off fines for overdue library books.
C. Pay your bills on time
D. Make a partial payment on your past due accounts.

ANSWER: B,C and D
Don't get me wrong, having a bigger paycheck is definitely a plus, but it doesn't fix your credit score. Making timely payments is what matters the MOST (this accounts for 35% of the total score, and yes, unpaid library fines count too if they go to collections). Six to twelve timely payments in a row should be enough for you to see a difference in your score. And what happens if you can't clear your debts? Make a partial payment on accounts that are past due. Remember, the longer the debt is overdue, the more it will drag down your score.

For more information on how to improve your score by purchasing a car, please come by our showroom to meet with our certified sales associates who can guide you to a vehicle that meets your needs--and your budget! You can also fill out our online credit application here.

We look forward to seeing you here soon!

March Madness

It is that time of year again...March! There's a  bit of duality that exists for March and the "Madness" as it pertains to my life.

Five years ago, I ended my career as a Division I college basketball athlete for the College of Charleston on March 3, after a loss in the Southern Conference Tournament. I was playing while contending with a major sinus infection as I reflect.

Well, a few weeks ago I saw my doctor and explained to him that I was very sick. My voice was raspy, my throat was scratchy, and there was major conjestion in my head. After a quick look at me my doctor agreed--"it's that time of year again"--I was having major sinus problems. Due to the crazy changes (like three inches of snow!) in the consistently inconsistent Charleston weather, my sinuses had gone mad! Five days into March, they are still a force to contend with. What time of year was my doctor speaking of though?

On another note, it's time for college hoops tournaments! Each NCAA team winds down their seasons with conference tournaments in hopes of solidifying an automatic bid to the ultimate NCAA Basketball Tournament. The excitement in the campus air is thick. Last year, my alma mater's men's and women's teams made it to the conference finals--the first time in school history for them to make it in the same year!  They both lost, but that's not the point. The point is that it was exciting!

Two years ago I experience my first taste of a different kind of madness--in the car business. March is when the weather starts to show glimpses of warmth and consistent sunshine, and car buyers come out of their winter hibernations. It is a beautiful time for all. We start to sell more cars--lots more--as the weather gets warmer. The second half of February this year, we sold twice as many cars as the first half. We expect to almost double the sales total in the month of march as we did for the entire month of February.

We have kicked off March here at Rick Hendrick Dodge Chrysler Jeep with our "March MarkDown Madness" sale! There has been much excitement here at our dealership. The excitement is not just about the sales. It is also about connecting with our customers. Our first cusotmer to participate in the MarkDown Madness got an excellent deal on a brand new Dodge Nitro with power sunroof and 20" chrome clad wheels for $19,999. Wow! He also participated in a free-throw shoot, making 3 of 5, and won a free oil change and free detail. Like the Nitro, there are other great markdowns on new and pre-owned vehicles.

We are really excited about the month of March as well as the rest of the year. Our company is coming off of a record year thanks to our exellence in serving our customers, both internally and externally. Just like the beginning of march, in respect to basketball tournaments, it's plain to see that here at Rick Hendrick Dodge Chrysler Jeep the MADNESS has just begun!

--Bernard Jackson

Internet Sales