Top 15 Ways to Improve Communications in the Service Drive
We need to take a closer look at how we communicate with our customers and our colleagues as well as how our customers perceive us. We cannot expect for our colleagues and employees to just read our minds as to needs and actions without having an open line for conversation and understanding. Customer loyalty is
The Real Product of a BDC: Rapport
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 behind his ears with your
The Importance of Employment Branding
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 the workforce and consumer base,
The ROI of Relationships: Get to Know Your Most Valuable Customers
Dealerships that identify their most valuable customers immediately set themselves up for success. They know there’s power behind the relationships they build with shoppers, and the more they interact, engage and improve the customer experience, the more loyalty and trust they’ll gain. Relationships take work. In fact, building relationships can sometimes seem like a lot
Hope: A Magic Ingredient for Employee Retention
Today’s average car buyers go to 1.6 dealerships before they buy a car. They do not move on from that first dealership because they don’t like the brand. They move on because they don’t like the dealership. With a turnover rate for dealership salespeople of 72 percent, customers who want to become loyal to a dealership
Staying Engaged and Planning for the Future
PEOPLE CAN BE RESISTANT TO CHANGE, SO YOU BREAK THAT RESISTANCE DOWN BY EMBRACING IT, UNDERSTANDING IT AND PUTTING FOCUS ON IT… When David Elattrache stepped in as the general manager of Huggins Honda in 2009, he knew that some changes would be inevitable to keep the dealership competitive for its future. After all, technology
WILL YOUR DEALERSHIP THRIVE, OR SIMPLY SURVIVE IN 2017?
Running a car dealership has been and always will be challenging; but several workforce trends in 2017 will make it even more challenging for dealers who insist on doing “business as usual.” An improving economy, changes in organizational structure and customer expectations are at the root of these trends. As always, the ability to embrace
USING CUSTOMER RETENTION TO DRIVE SALES
I visit about 250 dealerships a year and, from time to time, I hear different complaints about things that are not working the way we would like them to. Some are the usual — not enough sales, can’t find techs, heavy turnover in the sales department, etc. Sorry, no answer for these. However, I think
The Dealership’s 2017 New Year’s Resolution List
As January 1st quickly approaches and everyone reminisces over their 2016 successes and regrets, for some, the latter of the two weighs more heavily. However, the promise of a new year brings hope and a fresh, optimistic perspective. Just as we discard our old calendars and reset the financial books, the New Year gives us
GET REAL: Five Ways to Show Your Customers You’re Undeniably Authentic
Authenticity. It’s a word that’s tossed around a lot, but what does it really mean for your brand, your consumers and your bottom line? As it turns out, quite a bit, actually. Consumers are adamant that the businesses they support convey a genuine sense of self, communicating their missions, as well as the ways their