GNG Sales Managing Director Greg Davie wasn’t a natural car lover, but he grew into it

Unlike many of our industry leaders, Greg Davie did not start out with an existing passion for cars.
“It was not until later in life that an appreciation for cars developed,” Greg said.
While he may not have come to the industry with that background, the Managing Director of GNG Sales has developed a healthy knowledge of automotive products.
Today GNG Sales is 100 percent owned by British car care specialist, Autoglym.
As well as its car care products, GNG Sales stocks many other automotive accessories, including spray guns and car buffing equipment.
Greg certainly has an interesting past. He was born in Auckland in New Zealand, and has lived in Hong Kong, in Houston in Texas, and in Boston, Massachusetts.
He attended the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science.
While he wasn’t always a car nut, the selling and the sales process captivated Greg from his early 20s.
“I was in a sales position after University when I began to get interested in why people made the decisions they did as it related to purchasing products,” Greg said.
His first part time job was as a carpet layer while he was in school, before going on to work as a merchandiser for a wine company after school.
“My career journey has been quite diverse from hospitality and IT where I gained a broad set of experiences before eventually moving into the automotive and industrial sectors,” Greg said.
“Early on, I had the chance to work in both startups and large corporate settings, which taught me a lot about adaptability and strategic thinking.
“Then, my father decided to invest in a small, local import business, and he asked my brother-in-law and me to join him.
“Initially, we saw it as a short-term commitment, but 25 years later, both of us are still deeply involved in the company’s growth and evolution.
“In the beginning, it was a very small operation, so I had to wear many hats, working across everything from unloading containers and sourcing suppliers to developing new products and pitching to major Australian retailers and trade specialists.

“Along the way, I completed my Masters degree at Macquarie Graduate School, studying part-time.”
Greg outlined the importance of knowing the products you are selling and working closely to align values and strategies with manufacturers or parent suppliers.
“A big part of our success has been working closely with our key brands, positioning ourselves as a local extension of their teams by aligning with their goals and strategies,” Greg said.
“This commitment required us to continuously build our internal capabilities to meet the evolving demands of both our customers and manufacturing partners.
“Eventually, we reached a stage where we were bringing innovative ideas to our suppliers, proactively driving growth initiatives.”
Having said this, he is also the first to admit that they didn’t always gel with their suppliers.
“Not all partnerships along the way were aligned with our values, and we made the tough decision to exit some. These changes ultimately strengthened our business and solidified our focus,” he said.
While sometimes it didn’t work out, Greg says that when it did, it created strong partnerships.
“Two years ago, Autoglym, one of our largest and longest-standing partners, approached us about taking an equity position in our company,” Greg explains.
“With this acquisition, I was honored to join the Board of Directors of Autoglym in the UK, marking an exciting new chapter in my career.”
Greg’s advice to youngsters looking to start out in our industry is to follow their hearts.
“My advice to anyone starting out – whether in this industry or any other – would be to trust your instincts and have the courage to follow them,” Greg said.
“While doing your research and gathering information is essential, don’t ignore your intuition; those gut feelings are often based on valuable, even if subconscious, insights.
“I would also encourage new professionals to challenge the status quo.
“Don’t be afraid to question established practices and look for creative solutions, rather than simply following the way things have always been done.”
Greg says his best decision for the business was to grow the distribution of the Autoglym brand in Australia.

“Aside from convincing my wife to marry me, one decision that stands out to me, and was pivotal for GNG’s growth, was the timing of our decision to expand Autoglym’s distribution network,” Greg said.
Again, he’s not scared to admit that he doesn’t always get it right.
“Wrong decisions are part of business. Making a wrong decision isn’t the issue – it is repeating the same mistake that becomes problematic,” Greg reflects.
“Some of my greatest lessons have come from missteps rather than successes.
“One decision that stands out was our acquisition of a small abrasive conversion facility. The choice to acquire the business itself wasn’t the core mistake…the real error was in not cutting our losses sooner.
“Strategic decisions are tough, but it can be even harder to acknowledge a misstep and take corrective action.”
Greg met his wife in the USA and moved to Australia for what was originally going to be two years, but they are still here 26 years later. They have three daughters aged 17 to 21, all living in Sydney.
Away from the office, Greg is involved in surf lifesaving and is an active patroller on Sydney’s northern beaches. He loves being in or around the water; swimming, paddling his surf ski, and surfing.
Greg describes his greatest strengths as “adaptability, creativity, and passion for problem-solving.”
“I thrive on challenges and enjoy finding innovative solutions to issues. Having started in the company when it was a small business and playing a role in its growth, I’ve developed a unique perspective on how to drive results efficiently,” Greg said.
“One of the most fulfilling parts of my work is helping my team succeed. I genuinely enjoy supporting their growth, trying to give them the resources they need and watching them develop their own skills and confidence.”
GNG Sales’ products are available from large automotive retailers such as BAPCOR, GPC, and Supercheap Auto, as well as industrial outlets such as Sydney Tools, Wholesale Paint Group along with a wide range of specialist resellers in the automotive refinish, marine, and industrial markets. The company also works with OEMs, dealerships, and commercial fleet businesses.

Greg believes building strong relationships is key to GNG Sales’ success.
“One constant strategy has been our focus on building strong relationships with our team, suppliers, and customers. We aim to be easy to work with and committed to doing the right thing by our stakeholders,” Greg said.
Greg believes the company’s challenges have changed over the journey.
“In the past, our biggest challenge was managing capital constraints as a growing business. During periods of rapid expansion, we had to be especially careful with our resources to ensure we could continue to support growth sustainably,” he said.
“Today, our main challenge is integrating smoothly into a larger organisation.
“We are learning how to align our capabilities with those of our parent company to maximise new opportunities and leverage our combined strengths.
“This integration is a shift, but it is one we are tackling with a focus on long-term benefits.
“Looking to the future, as part of a global manufacturing network, we face several significant challenges.
“One of the most pressing is the journey toward sustainability.
“Creating a genuinely sustainable future means rethinking traditional practices, adapting to evolving consumer habits, and addressing the complex environmental impacts of our industry and reporting requirements from governments.
“This will require innovation, agility, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement.”

To learn more about GNG Sales, visit www.gngsales.com.au