In a recent article, I presented the need for dealers to take a proactive approach to dealership reputation management. The premise of the article was that dealers who are in tune with the way customers prefer to do business should find ways to extol

Our clients are always looking for ways to minimize legal fees and reduce the number of lawsuits. There are many steps dealers can take to try to prevent litigation, which we frequently explore in these articles. One way to reduce litigation expenses

Each November, some 100,000 plus aftermarket and new vehicle manufacturer personnel, gather to view the latest in parts, accessories, tools, equipment, wheels, tires, performance enhancements, customization, car care, business services, and restorati

One of my favorite dealer clients once said to me, “All I get is ‘What,’ stuff all day; I’d like to see some ‘Why’!”  He went on to explain that he only gets reports of what is wrong: expenses are high, we’re out of cash, we’re los

There is a simple rule of business that we all want to live by. It’s not that we forget that this simple rule is our guide to success, it’s that we get so overwhelmed with many things that we take our eye off the net “ball.” You all have said

The question I’m asked most often is “What advertising mediums should I use, and what percentage of my total ad spend should they be?” Unfortunately, there is no easy ‘one size fits all’ answer. We’ve had more media additions, deletions a

In most organizations today, staff levels have been reduced and the fewer remaining managers and employees are taking on more responsibilities and becoming stretched thin in the process. While most organizations have outsourced key staff functions fo

A common misconception is that you can change your team’s behaviors strictly by changing your dealership’s vision. Here’s an example to explain why that won’t work: a football team going 0-8 halfway through the season isn’t going to imp

He started out wanting to be an attorney with no intention of being in the car business. Now, Stephen Wade is this year’s incoming chairman of NADA after almost 40 years of being a dealer. He shares with Dealer magazine the numerous challenges the