My dear friend “Jolly John” Pulsifer was greeted by St. Peter on February 19 of this year at the age of 74, with 50 of those years in the business he loved, surrounded by the people he loved. I’m sure the first words out of John’s mouth were

The Japanese earthquake and tsunami have rocked the automotive world.  Honda has reported, at the time of this writing, that it is still not able to manufacturer the Fit small car, the CR-V crossover and the Acura TSX sedan.  Toyota announced that

It’s complicated to be an Internet-savvy dealer. Pricing, dealer web site SEO, social media, Internet structure and staffing, lead management, there are many critical success factors, and just as many potential points of failure. If you’re a deal

As a first time exhibitor at National Auto Dealer Association this year, our team staffed the booth and had a great opportunity to talk with current and former clients and prospects.  We also spent a fair amount of time on the show floor, meeting s

On March 1, 2011, Century Motor Corporation in Wentzville, MO reopened its doors as a Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership, nearly two years after being one of the 789 dealers terminated by Chrysler as part of its bankruptcy. In the top 10% of Chrysler sal

An economic warning to the US dealer It is now spring of 2011 and we are experiencing a thaw from one of the harshest winters on record. The temperatures are rising and the days are getting longer. We are also beginning to see green sprouts after a l

It’s a tough market. Definitely getting better, but still a challenge to even the most seasoned, experienced dealers. Some of the dealers I’ve spoken with over the past few months have been trying new low-cost marketing ideas suggested by employe

The state motor vehicle franchise laws may have something to say about that It was reported last week that Mercedes Benz USA is taking over the distribution of smart vehicles from Penske Automotive. The problem, of course, is that Mercedes Benz USA h

Last month’s article, “The Accolade Sandwich Sales Meeting” leads me to share specifics about what, from my experience, must to be communicated and maintained internally by you and your department heads, or “position coaches.” You must perf