A Lesson In Accountability In Best Buy
If you’ve followed my columns about reconditioning best practices, you know my drumbeat is time-to-market (TTM) frontline readiness, workflow and accountability, all which describe nonnegotiable processes for turning recon operations into a profit center for the dealership. Dealers using reconditioning workflow software to reduce their TTM or cycle time to three to five days
Leading The Way In A Changing Marketplace
The automotive industry is standing toe-to-toe with several marketplace disruptors — all of which affect your dealership. Among consumers, there is an increased demand for ride sharing and in-vehicle technology, and overall vehicle needs are changing. Autonomous cars are coming closer to being a reality for everyday drivers, and consumers in general are increasingly seeking
Better Customer Experience Starts With Better Employees
By hiring better-quality employees, your dealership — and your customers — benefit in the long run. Top-quality employees provide a better customer experience, allowing you to inspire repeat customers, referrals and a positive online reputation. Customer experience is increasingly the differentiator between high- and low-performing companies. Especially in the case of new-car dealerships, competition
Three Tactics To Beat The Competition When Automotive Sales Decline
Automotive News recently reported that September 2016 sales fell about 2 percent, a decline for the second consecutive month. J.D. Power and LMC Automotive reported that this is the fifth month in the past seven to show an overall retail sales decline. As we head into the final quarter of 2016, auto dealers are understandably nervous that they
Customer Retention Doesn’t Just Happen
Have you noticed how “customer retention” is the new buzzword? For many years, it was “improved CSI” that manufacturers pushed for via incentives. Dealers quickly complied and, after a while, realized that improved CSI scores were good for the manufacturer (which is why they are willing to pay incentives), great for the customer (thanks to
If You Think You Know Your Customers, You May Be Wrong
Consumers want to love the car buying experience just as much as the vehicle they’re purchasing. There is no sacrificing one for the other. Transparency is crucial in making the experience worthy of their trust, their confidence and, ultimately, their business. However, newly released data tells us that there is an alarming disconnect between dealer
Make It Great – Make It Matter
As the Thanksgiving season draws near, my thoughts center around things for which I am grateful — family, loyal friends, my work family and our clients and business partners. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise with the automotive community and dealerships. Time is a valuable commodity, so for
Fast Forward: Predictive Analytics
In theory, direct marketing has always been future based. After all, it typically happens before any dealing in the showroom takes place. But today, intelligent direct marketing based on predictive analytics amounts to so much more than the “good old days” of sending out a bunch of mail and waiting for the up bus to
How To Rank Your Dealership At The Top Of Google Searches
I use Google in the title, because they are the 800-pound search engine, but you can substitute Yahoo, Bing or others if you desire. The secret is: There is no secret recipe. Depending on a variety of factors, every recipe is slightly different. But, there are some basic core ingredients you can master that will
Three Steps To Making Sure Your Email Messaging Doesn’t Miss The Mark
It’s no surprise that 2017 will be more competitive than ever, and the right email campaigns can mean the difference between prospects buying from you or from the dealer next door. That’s why segmenting customer data in your CRM is critical, because it’s a cost-effective way to target customers in your database, deliver personalized messaging
These Scary Situations Can Damage Your Dealership Long After Halloween
The leaves are changing colors, it’s starting to become jacket weather (well, maybe not down here in Houston), and pumpkin spice everything is packing store shelves. These things all contribute to why October is a fantastic time of year, but there’s one more reason why I love it: Halloween. Scary costumes, big parties, teeth-rotting candy
Four Used Vehicle Fundamentals to Help Stay Strong as Fall Unfolds
There appears to be good news and bad news on the horizon in used vehicles. The good news first: According to analysts, the healthy pace of used vehicle sales, particularly in near-new segments with good-credit buyers, that many dealers have enjoyed this year may continue this fall. If true, the used vehicle market may defy