I think about time a lot. It’s the one thing that is truly in limited supply. No matter who we are or what we do, we each have 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year. Is there enough time to do everything I need and want...
How do you befriend a skittish puppy? You crouch down to the pup’s level, hold your hand out — but not too far — palm face up, and wait patiently until he approaches, haltingly at first, sniffs your fingers and then finally licks your palm. Then you can reach...
Today’s technology allows us all to express our individuality, and we expect that in return from the businesses we patronize. Facebook lets us share with our world the things that make us unique — be it the fancy meal we prepared for our friends and family, our children’s successes or...
There’s no question that social media has changed the auto buying process dramatically. Ten years ago, one might ask a neighbor or a friend where they bought their car. Now they can ask hundreds or even thousands of people for recommendations via Facebook, Twitter, Yelp or dozens of others...
Employment branding: a company’s reputation as an employer, or how great a place it is to work — a must for today’s prospective employees. Dealerships have always placed a heavy emphasis on attracting consumers and cultivating a company brand for them, but with Millennials now making up the majority of...
Third-generation car dealers and brothers Doug and Andrew MacIver own and operate Ride Time, an independent auto dealership in Winnipeg, Canada. Their grandfather, uncles, father and now they have operated dealerships in the area and they have a track record of success. Ride Time specializes in custom trucks, but retails...
I read an article recently in USA TODAY with the headline, “Expect Some Freebie Love when Buying a New Car.” The article mentioned the things dealers give away to reward customers, such as a free tank of gas, a second set of keys, floor mats and so on. The article...
The Internet has certainly revolutionized our industry and, for the most part, that revolution has been a positive one. But with so much information available to consumers, who now spend an average of 17 hours online visiting dozens of Websites to research their next vehicle purchase (known as the “Merry-Go-Round”...
As we move toward the end of the first quarter of 2017, we continue to see a SAAR pressing more than 17 million units. The OEMs are geared to produce the volumes, the incentives continue to maintain sales momentum and leasing makes up about 30 percent of all retail...
