The residents of Lugoff, S.C., live just 30 miles northeast of Columbia, the state capital. But for many of them, the fair held there each fall might as well be on the moon.

“The state fair is very expensive. A lot of people can’t go,” says Mark Mason Sr. “I understand. I grew up poor. I wasn’t able to go when I was young.”

Now, as the dealer principal of Lugoff Toyota, Mason is neither young nor poor. But he still remembers where he came from. So to help bridge the gap, his dealership hosts the Fall Festival one Saturday each October on open land it owns across the street from their showroom. Carnival rides, face painting, a petting zoo, arts and crafts activities for children, performers, food, beverages and more—all provided free of charge. Though Lugoff is a town of just 7,500 people, some 3,500 indulge in the state fair-like experience.

“It’s grown to the point where it now takes up about 10 acres,” says Mason. “It will probably be even bigger this year. We’re going to have to figure out where to put all of the cars.”

Why does Lugoff Toyota go above and beyond, both internally and externally?

Mason says it stems from his strategy to hire young employees who have no prior experience in automotive retail sales. The average age of Lugoff Toyota’s sales consultants, all of whom are paid a salary vs. a traditional commission, is just 28. Managers are typically in their early- to mid-30s. The upside is that they don’t have any bad habits to unlearn. The downside? They need guidance. On the job and off.

“Culture is the key to any successful enterprise,” says Mason. “We tell our people that their faith, family and health come first. We try to create a work/life balance. But we also try to give them a clear career path. As a family- and Christian-based organization, investing in others and giving back is in our DNA.”

“If you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of your customers,” he continues. “After that, everything else takes care of itself.”

A People Business

The results back up that claim. Mason got his start in the car business in 1979, then became a dealership owner in 2008. Each year since, Lugoff Toyota has set a new sales record. It’s also earned multiple President’s Awards and, in 2014, achieved Elite status within Southeast Toyota.

Mason credits that success, at least in part, to the resiliency of the Toyota brand during challenging times. But, if pressed, he’ll tell you it’s people—both on staff and in the community—who really make the difference.

“Sometimes we make this business too complicated,” he says. “If you genuinely care about and invest in people, things work out. This is a people business. It’s all about people.”