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NCM Event Conversations feat. Red Gupta

NCM Event Conversations feat. Red Gupta

Car Guy Coffee May 18, 2026 18 min
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About this episode

Red Gupta, co-owner of dealerships near Cleveland, shares how her hospitality and baking background shaped her customer-first approach in Ohio. She connects hospitality to dealership profitability, explaining that events like NCM Client and Friends through WOCAN build friendships, connections, and community—making it easier to ask questions and get support. She also talks about the emotional stakes of buying a car, and how vendors who communicate and take issues seriously earn long-term trust.

Topics: dealership hospitality community engagement event networking customer experience vendor responsiveness leadership under pressure baking background hospitality education
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Hello and welcome to the CarGuy Coffee Podcast. You are listening to the inter-brews at the
NCM Client and Friends event. Enjoy these conversations. Let's brew! What's going on,
Car Guys and Car Gals? We're excited to be brewing solutions here in Kansas City,
having fun at the Clients and Friends event. This is an incredible individual that we are
pumped up to brew with. Another one doing some great things in the dealership, and we can't
wait to talk more about the incredible story of the one, the only, Red Gupta!
I'm talking, we have royalty in the building. I'm just saying, but one thing I do
respect about what you're doing is that you guys, you and your husband both decided to take a huge
risk, come over here and make things happen on your own. And you guys are doing that right now.
And I know you're very proud of that, but yet you're going through the struggles. That's why
you're here. You're learning some stuff to be able to take it to the next level and keep making your
dreams come true. So excited to have you here, Red. I heard a little bit about your story,
about how you got your name. We'll get into that a little bit later. It's literally a nickname that
just works. And I think it's a great way to do it. And I think people should take notes on that a
little bit, especially when you do have a unique first name. Tell everybody what your, I guess you
would call it, your government name is. That's Redema. Yeah, it's beautiful. Thank you. That was
beautiful. I love it. So you got some of that rhythm? I believe that. I can almost guarantee it.
I already know I've seen the cops. I've seen your culture. Yeah, we want to learn.
Yeah, I would definitely learn that. But I've got plenty of room in here. We can do our own
class. We have a whole lot of space inside of this room. Now I've been watching Bollywood and
what they're doing and their dance moves are next level. I've been watching a lot of even the hip
pop dance that they're doing right now and breaking it into some of the Bollywood. And you're like,
no, it's sick. It's really next level to me. I'm like, wow, I keep reminding like, did they just
do what? That was pretty sweet. I got to say, it's mesmerizing for me because one, I love Indian
food. So I don't doubt that at all. Well, I hope that one day I get to enjoy some of that because
I love it. Yeah, but there's the videos that are playing in there and I'll go get stuck in a trance
and they're just watching them get into their rhythm. And that's one thing I love. I love
seeing the whole room like I wish, secretly at heart, I wish that I can run in there real fast,
hit the cue and everybody just start doing their dance moves, right? That would be an amazing
Broadway moment for us. That's what we're here to do. Try to wake them up, bring some of that coffee.
But Red, this is a great honor to be able to have some time with you. Thank you for taking
some time out of getting educated in there and contributing to the Car Guys and Car Guys that
are out there watching, listening on the podcast. But you have a great story to tell, but you're
making some great things happen in the industry right now. Tell us where it is that you're located
and what it is that you're actually doing with your dealerships to be able to make a difference in
your community. So we own a dealership back in Ohio, close to Cleveland. It's a border of PA
in Ash DeBiola. That's where we have a four dealership. We got this dealership a year and
three months back. It was April. And it didn't start off, of course, it was a different mindset
and my husband actually is the owner. And I decided on helping him out with a little bit,
whatever I can, because fun fact, I'm a baker by profession. I own my own bakery. That's what I've
done for the past 15 years now. I didn't get into automotive because my husband and I, we decided to,
you know, do your own thing, do our own thing, make our own names and do whatever we know best
we can. But I was pulled into the automotive out of love that I have for my husband. Oh, I love
that. That's amazing. And I decided on helping him out. But what I did not know was how much I
was going to love the automotive, how much. So I did my master's in hospitality. I did my MBA in
hospitality and I never could take it out as much as I wanted to because I was a baker and I tried to
stay on the back and let the other people do the front stuff. But here I was thrown in the automotive
and what I've realized is as much as we focus on selling bigger things for me, I used to sell
cakes. It was flour, sugar, butter and I was done. But here I go with a huge, yes, with a huge floor
plan and all of that stuff. And that was very new to me. But what I realized at the end of the day,
what matters is your customer. It's the same thing hospitality. It blew my mind how a little hello
at the door would make such a big difference. How going to the community with a box of donuts would
bring people in and bring them out of love and understand that this is a small business.
And if the owner is stepping out with all that love, there has to be love inside the
dealership. So my name read is actually, you know, why I know you're going to bring this. But right
now I would want to tell you that I started using this name so much because of the love that I have
for my community. And everybody told me that why read because red means love for me, but it also
means stop. I know that there has to be so much done. But I know I have my limits because I'm the
owner. But I felt no, this is something that I have to do right now is put my love part outside
and show people how much I care about them when they come in. They're not my customers. They're
my family to be if they buy a car for me, then I really stick with them and I make sure I know
their kid's name. I make sure I know what their family does and where they are. So I try to bring
in the love side of me, not the stop yet. Love it. Listen, I love that and
having that color red, it does symbolize love. I see it all the time and yet does it symbolize
stop also but sometimes you have to stop in order to love, right? Stop what you're doing and really
pay attention to what's happening. And sometimes you need to stop in the name of love. And it is
so important that we do keep a rhythm to our life that keeps love being the forefront. Again,
we are all alive because there is a rhythm. There is our heart that's literally beating,
keeping us moving. That's the light spark of our life and being able to be out there
with the love that we have is incredible. Again, we'll talk about love to a blue in the face,
literally as blue as your shirt, your Ford blue looking really good on that side looking very
Ford, right? But it is the first core value of a solutionary. We teach these core values to
everybody that we work with. You probably have a band in your hand right now that might have that
forgive, focus, fly on it. And there are key elements to a solutionary which is to love,
to have faith, to honor, to be adaptable, to be consistent. But love is the first one. And
what I love is that you came in committed to just being able to help your husband
do what it is that you could do. And then you found a niche for yourself to say,
I can do incredible stuff and brought something that is much needed to the industry.
Good hospitality skills because it is a skill to be able to deliver hospitality in a way that
it's memorable. A person feels valued and they enjoy their experience. Goodness, that is worth
its weight in gold if you can provide a great experience. We have other great friends out there,
Anthony Allegona, who's great about hospitality. You guys should definitely meet if you don't know
him. But he comes from the hospitality world and has been blessing the industry with showing us
the vantage point of what it really means to be hospitable and to recognize that's a key piece
of relationship. Just like here coming to an event like this with Kane. What is it that you're
enjoying most about seeing this event? Because if there's one thing that they know how to do,
it's host well. Everything, the moment I stepped in and Kane, I haven't met him ever and I'm brand
new. I'm one year old in the industry. I don't know a lot of people, but yeah, I tried to do my
search and I come in and he walks in and say, Hey, Rad, how are you doing? For a second, I was
like, did I know him? Have I met him in any of my previous events to figure? No, it's this,
what they're talking about. It's this hospitality, what they're talking about. And I experienced
as soon as I walked in this hotel. So I am splendid by what they've done here. Every dog,
every vendor, it is incredible. It is incredible. Really. For somebody like me who's so new, I felt
no, this was meant to be. I feel like you've been part of the party already. Yeah. And I was welcomed
by Wocan last year. Awesome. That's where I got the scholarship from. And if it wasn't for them,
I wouldn't have been here. So it was very last minute, but I'm so glad that they thought that
I'm worthy of this, that I can, one thing I can take back is going to change something in my
business that's going to make it profitable. That's exactly why I came here. And I feel like
there's not one, there's more than 50 things that I've already noted down that are going to be there
next week when we sit down and do things. I love that. Shout out to Wocan.
Women of color automotive network. It's a network not just for women of colors for all of us to be
supporting and growing together. And they are doing a magical job. These types of sponsorships
are phenomenal that they do this because they send you all to places that matter to them. And
they know that NCM, especially with the friends, the way that they network and the way that they
make it feel, they knew that this was a good place for everyone. But doesn't matter. Man, woman,
first just started selling cars to being in this industry for your whole life. It doesn't matter
if you come here, you will find value. You will find people and you will find a whole new community
that you can be part of, right? And when you find that asking question, asking for help is a lot
easier. Sometimes when you have a stranger, you're like, I don't know if I should ask them. But when
you know them, you're like, Hey, let me ask you a question and they're happy to answer it almost
every time. And that's one of the benefits of coming to these events. It's not just the tools
that you can leave with. It's the friendships and the connections and the again, the community. So
I love that. So speaking of community, you talk about where you're from and I love that you're
from Ohio, right up there by Cleveland. You are you a cast fan? Yes, I don't blame you. Are you a
brown? Yes. Okay, so that's that's I don't blame you when you're from that area, you have your
teams and your teams that I tell you one thing I love about Cleveland fans is that you all love
them no matter what that's special, right? That's how you know it's love. And that's why she's red
because she loves them no matter what I'm gonna say you have to be red in order to love those teams.
But I understand that they're it's a great city town to be around
being able to put yourself in that community and be able to bring some some love to the community
through your dealership does matter. And I know that with your hospitality, there's no doubt in
my mind that you're going to be able to relay that to your community show them the hate. We are
here and we want to make sure that you guys get served the way you want to be served. Correct.
That's good. What's your favorite way to what's been one of the biggest things that you
found inside automotive that makes you excited about being part of this whole industry?
Everything. I love your answers. Everything. I mean, as soon as they walk in and they're anxious
about this is the second big decision that they have to make. It's their house and then it's their
car and you see a first time buyer you see a person who has six forge already in his garage
and planning it is so special for everybody who walks in when I bought my first car I remember
how my experience was it was excellent by the way. So I remember that and why why full
short if I can give the same experience to somebody else why wouldn't I know I love that
takes a little bit of extra effort but trust me it goes long yeah it gives you that good night's
sleep. I love that and there's anything that a baker would know is that it just takes a
little bit of leaven a little bit to make it all rise right and recognizing that and needing it into
this business we need more people like you that are actually making sure that we recognize
that there is so much love here you're in this industry fresh into it so it's a big open box
of opportunity that you're noticing and you're learning and you're absorbing it and for some
of us that have been in the business for decades the thing that keeps us alive is that we wake up
every day and we see it again brand new because if there's one thing about this business is that
it changes all the time we had a guest on a little bit ago talking about what let's talk
about a normal year what does a normal year look like to you this is a normal year this is what
the business looks like to you this is all that you have compared to and that is exciting on the
side of there is so much more we're all going to get to see together and all of the stuff that's in
the past that we had to overcome okay that just shows our resilience but in the future if we
continue to press forward with love with meeting new people trying new things stretching ourselves
a little bit i'm sure you had to get on comfortable or time or two in this business right still are
and i love that you are but how can you get comfortable when you weren't my little one who's
five year old she told me one time when the first initial six months was so hard that i really had
to talk to her to make myself comfortable because i figured that it was all going on her and then i go
one day that i'm having a hard time then she comes up with this thing thank you daniel tiger or
whatever she watches that her hard times make the good times even better and i was in my office
and i was five year old zip but yeah shout out to that cartoon that she watches that made my day
that i understood that oh yeah she's right i have to see the bigger picture but it was hard it still
is but i would say i enjoy every part of it now that i'm so new and i don't know how things were
because i started afresh and i love it yeah and you get to make it the way you want through your
hospitality through your love right and through community and the more that you can get that
involved all three of those pieces ingredients always together the more successful you're
gonna be and it sounds like you guys are on the way nothing worth having is easy right so if it's
hard it's so worth it so get after and keep pushing even harder right and you're gonna get
through it and your daughter is so right and whatever cartoon she was watching a shout out to
them too it is true hard times make the good times even better and if you understand that and know
that get through these hard times and then party when it's the right time so that's what i'm talking
about yeah so all you guys have good indian food and have some dance oh yes all day all day we gotta
keep the good food we gotta keep the dancing and there's a lot of that's gonna be happening here
we got a lot of fun that still grew in over here at the ncm associates clients and friends workshop
but meeting incredible people like you who are leading the way fresh to this business is why we're
all here all of these vendors all of the people are here to help to make support supporting you
easier for you what does it feel like to know that the actual star of the show the subject that
everybody's actually united here for all these vendors are chattering and advertising and pitching
and non-pitching and presenting they're doing all of this to support you to be successful inside
of the business how does that feel knowing that's actually what this environment is to set you up
for success that feels amazing i'll be honest that feels amazing having people who have always
i know they're my vendors some of them are but i was never able to talk to them because i let my
managers do their thing and if there's a big disaster yeah but just i was talking to one of
our vendors outside and i'm like oh i haven't heard anything about you guys recent so let me
check with my manager and i did and he had a couple of things that he pointed out so i went to him
and the way he accepted everything and put everything down it just made me feel how concerned
they are about our business sometimes there's not the right communication that takes place
but when it does and you take it seriously that's what we're looking for here if you're a vendor
you run your own business or just like us you run your own business so if there is something
that's not right if you make that effort there and then to make it right it completely shows
it oh it's the facts so it happened and right now so it's just easier for me to tell you that yes
they care they care so much about every person who's in here who's taken their time out who's
here for three days without getting access to their stone it means a lot a lot yeah it does
it's the same thing that sales people need to hear that too when you're inside a store when a
customer comes in and they're not happy don't belittle them don't put them to the side listen
take notes and be very attentive letting them know listen i'm sorry that this happened but
i'm happy to get a solution for you we're gonna find it a way to make you satisfy
today and when they hear that it's all they want hey the problem isn't a problem until you don't
do anything about it yeah that's true and it's all of our problem is what we should look at as
a company right when it's brought up it's all of our problem and we're all in it to make it go away
we never want to let somebody not be taken care of or to brush something under the rug we literally
want to neutralize the issue put out the fire in this business you only have a year in so far
you're gonna see a whole lot of other fires make their way in the kitchen but what's awesome is
that in the leadership role you get to wear the hat that helps to show everybody when it looks like
to do it peacefully and to do it loving because it's those opportunities where somebody comes in
with their head on fire that you calm them down you win somebody for life that then is buying you
food giving you great reviews seeing great stuff and buying cars for as long as they can so again
we love the dynamics of this industry love that you're only really seeing it one year in there's
so much more awesome you're gonna see and you are now a contributor to the great litany of people
that have been contributing to CarGuy Coffee's culture of brewing with the best we get the chance
to say that now we've had red on the show brewing solutions and we're so thankful for that and we
have one thing left to do that we're gonna do together this is going to be assembled together
as we have some of the greats in the industry joining the flock with you as we forgive we focus
and we fly so remember the moves
forget focus fly we're gonna do it together on 3123 forget focus focus
rolling thank you so much solutionaries for taking some time to brew with us today you have
been brewing solutions on the CarGuy Coffee podcast with this incredible I'm still gonna call
a new beat to the industry that's already showing us how to love right and we needed it so much
but we're thankful for the one the only red goop that's right so much thank you peace

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