How Port Lincoln Mazda Became Mazda’s Master Dealer & Australian Rural Dealer of the Year in 2024

How Port Lincoln Mazda Became Mazda’s Master Dealer & Australian Rural Dealer of the Year in 2024

Mazda Master Dealer

The Dealer: Todd Collie and Port Lincoln Mazda

At just 39 years of age, Todd Collie has already built a career that many in the industry admire. From his early days as a Finance & Insurance Consultant and New Car Sales Manager at Far West Auto, Todd worked his way up through the ranks with determination and focus. Today, he is the Dealer Principal and proud owner of Eyre Car Centre incorporating Port Lincoln Mazda. In November 2024, he returned to his spiritual home at Far West Auto, completing a full-circle moment in his professional journey.

In regional Australia, running a successful dealership isn’t easy. Competition is fierce, margins are tight, and buyers are bombarded with offers and advertising. To stand out, Todd needed more than ambition — he needed a clear, consistent marketing strategy that connected with his community and turned attention into action.

Todd Collie

The Challenge: Recognition in a Competitive Market

Mazda’s Master Dealer program is one of the toughest benchmarks in the industry, measuring excellence in customer experience, sales performance, and business operations. To be named Australian Rural Dealer of the Year is an even higher bar — a recognition of leadership, resilience, and performance across the unique challenges of rural markets.

Todd wanted Port Lincoln Mazda to achieve and maintain this standard. His goals were clear:

  • Build a dealership brand people trusted and recognised.
  • Drive consistent sales performance and repeat customer loyalty.
  • Compete at the highest level, not just locally but nationally.

The Partnership: Strategic Marketing with Catalyst

Since 2011, Todd has worked closely with Kain Vodic, Director of Marketing Catalyst. Over more than a decade, Kain has been a sounding board, mentor and strategic consultant — providing both the perspective of experience and a hands-on plan to help Todd build momentum at every stage of his career.

Together, Todd and Marketing Catalyst developed an advertising and marketing approach that consistently cut through the noise and spoke directly to local car buyers.

The Approach: Advertising That Resonates

Marketing Catalyst designed and implemented a strategy that joined the dots across every channel:

  1. Facebook & Instagram Ads
    Highly targeted campaigns that stopped the scroll and generated qualified leads.
  2. Television Advertising
    Punchy, high-impact 30-second ads reaching mass audiences across the Eyre Peninsula.
  3. Email Marketing
    Regular campaigns that re-engaged past customers and built stronger loyalty.
  4. Website Integration
    Consistent campaign creative across banners and landing pages to capture and convert traffic into leads.

Every campaign was designed with the same goal: make the message clear, compelling, and consistent across every touchpoint.

The Results: Sustained Success and National Recognition

The results have been outstanding:

  • Mazda Master Dealer: Port Lincoln Mazda achieved this prestigious recognition again in 2024, following earlier wins in 2023 and 2021.
  • Australian Rural Dealer of the Year: Back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024 underlined the dealership’s consistency and excellence.
  • Measurable Business Growth: A steady flow of quality leads, stronger conversions, and repeat customers.
  • Stronger Brand Presence: Port Lincoln Mazda has become more than a dealership — it is a trusted, respected brand across the Eyre Peninsula.

The Ongoing Journey

Todd’s leadership and ambition, combined with a clear marketing strategy, have positioned Port Lincoln Mazda as a standout in the Australian automotive industry. The long-term partnership with Marketing Catalyst has provided not only campaigns that perform, but also the confidence and clarity to compete at the very highest level.

As Todd continues to shape the future of his dealerships, Marketing Catalyst remains a trusted strategic partner — ensuring the story of growth, recognition, and resilience continues.

Key Takeaway

When clear vision is paired with the right marketing strategy, great results follow. Port Lincoln Mazda is proof that consistency, focus, and smart advertising can deliver sustained success — even in one of the most competitive industries in Australia.