IT MAY not come as a surprise that Steve Pearson is the face behind the family-run car dealership that bears his name.
What may be equally obvious when you meet him is the fact that stress is not exactly part of his way of working.
When you have such a passion for what you do, why should it?
At Steve Pearson Car Sales, on Acres Lane in Stalybridge, his fondness of people is every bit as strong as what he has for cars.
Something he has held since childhood.
“I can’t call it work with a straight face,” Steve laughed. “It’s a passion.
“I always liked cars.
“When I was little, my dad used to take me to the auctions and we’d spend hours looking around.
“I always wanted to work in the motor trade.”
Steve’s route into the industry was not a direct one. After years working in manufacturing, the opportunity finally came to turn that lifelong ambition into reality.
Long before Steve Pearson Car Sales opened its doors, the site belonged to Derek Collins, affectionately known as ‘Uncle Derek.’
“He’s not actually my uncle,” Steve admitted with a smile.
“Years ago, if someone looked after you and treated you well, you’d call them uncle out of respect. That’s how it started.
“I said, ‘One day, Uncle Derek, I’m going to save up and buy this place.'”
Two decades later, the phone rang.
Steve bought the site and in 2009, Steve Pearson Car Sales was established.
Nearly 20 years later, the dealership has become a familiar name in Tameside, specialising in carefully selected low-mileage cars and serving customers who return time and again.
The business remains a family affair. Steve’s son, Jack, now manages the dealership, while Uncle Derek is still part of the team.
“It doesn’t feel like two minutes,” Steve says.
Ask him what it is like working alongside his son and his answer comes with his trademark humour.
“I just do what I’m told,” he grins. “He’s the boss.
“Don’t tell him this, but it’s lovely seeing him every day. As your kids get older, you don’t always get that time together. Working with Jack means I do.”
Giving back has become just as important as selling cars.
For the past seven or eight years, Steve Pearson Car Sales has supported Willow Wood Hospice.
On Sunday, August 9, the team will host Blast From The Past, a classic car show raising money for the facility.
Visitors can expect everything from Ferraris and BMWs to Ford Capris, Mk2 RS Fords and even an American truck.
Entry is free, with donations welcomed throughout the day – but the team is also appealing for raffle and tombola prizes.
“If you’ve got a couple of bob, put it in the pot,” Steve said. “If you haven’t, just come and enjoy the cars.
“If someone’s got a toy they’ve never opened, or a couple of bottles of champagne they don’t fancy drinking, we’d be grateful.
“Every little bit helps.”
Away from work, Steve has another passion that catches many people by surprise – badgers.
His phone is filled with CCTV clips of the animals that regularly wander through his garden, and he is always happy to show visitors the latest footage.
It is another glimpse into the personality customers have come to know over the years.
A man whose enthusiasm is just as infectious when he’s talking about wildlife as it is when he’s talking about classic cars, family or fundraising.
For Steve Pearson, success has never been measured solely by the cars on the forecourt. It is about building something with family, supporting the community and doing work that still feels like a passion every single day.