Founder reflects on success of car buying business

The founder of the dedicated buying arm of NK Motors has been reflecting on over 10 successful years in business.

BigCarBuyer was first conceived by group managing director Sanj Kumar while on holiday.

What began as a small add-on to help bring in a few more used cars has since grown into a standalone department, now sourcing close to 200 used cars a month for three busy NK Motors sites, as well as a significant amount of direct trade-to-trade business.

The success has led to the creation of a specialist team at NK’s Pride Park headquarters, tasked with managing the growing appetite for both volume and prestige cars.

Sanj personally oversees cars worth more than £50,000, while Mark Burrell, who has been with NK for five years, handles vehicles up to that value.

Kim Stuteley, previously in the sales team, ensures a smooth customer journey as buying administrator, and Dave Upton, who has also been with NK for five years, brings his Kia expertise to the process.

Customers selling prestige models are given the VIP treatment, often including Sanj inviting them to Nicco Restaurant & Bar, his award-winning Derby restaurant based on Pride Park, while his team finalises the paperwork and payment.

Current stock highlights include a Ferrari F8 Spider, Rolls-Royce Wraith, Bentley Continental and a range of luxury Land Rovers, sitting alongside everyday models such as the Kia Sportage and Ford Fiesta.

Sanj’s eye for opportunity often leads to memorable deals – including the time he went to view a property and ended up buying two cars from the owner instead of the property, a classic Fiat 500 and a Range Rover belonging to the owner’s wife.

His entrepreneurial streak can be traced back to his teenage years in the 1990s, when, at just 14, he helped his father track down a rare BMW by knocking on a school friend’s door after spotting the car parked outside.

That chance connection led to the purchase of the vehicle and Sanj’s first taste of the business.

He said: “When I came up with the idea of BigCarBuyer in Portugal, it was meant to just help us source a few more used cars.

“A decade later, it’s grown into a department that stands firmly on its own two feet, buying nearly 200 cars every month.

“Whether you’re selling a much-loved family run-around or a six-figure supercar, you’ll get the red-carpet treatment from us.

“Too many people feel pressured into quick, impersonal sales. We’ve built a business on trust, hospitality and fairness – and it’s why so many customers keep coming back.”