I recently moderated a roundtable of Internet and BDC managers at the 8th Digital Dealer Conference in Orlando, Florida and one of the objectives of the attendees was to find a good ILM, DRM, ERP and CRM software. For many of us “old timers” out

Since the fourth quarter of 2009, we have begun hearing about the next wave of dealership consolidation. The public companies continue to report their interest in acquisitions, though they are admitted “bottom fishers.” Similarly, many private de

As the tools needed to compete for Internet sales proliferate, it’s become more difficult for dealers to assess their digital marketing efforts, ensuring that they are best equipped to outsmart the competition. New tools and features are regularly

Are you completely buttoned down in your sales processes to manage the 12 key steps in Internet sales? At my company, for the past three years we have closely studied the Internet sales process. By observing our dealer customers across the country, w

Traditionally obsolescence has been defined as parts that have not had a sale in anywhere from six months onward, the time frame dependent on the source defining the term. Over the last few years the manufacturers and importer/distributors have reduc

A number of going-forward GM dealers recently received an unexpected “welcome letter” from New GM.  The welcome letter did not include words of encouragement or a thank you for hanging in there through GM’s bankruptcy mess.  Instead, New GM�

You hear the name Bruce Qvale (pronounced kevallee) and probably think it sounds familiar. That’s because it is, especially if you have a fondness for exotic sports cars. The Qvale family maintains a long-respected and eclectic history within the U

Businesses couldn’t survive without a vibrant network of suppliers providing a wide range of equipment, services and supplies to sustain and support the enterprise. High performing suppliers bring consistent value by providing quality goods and ser

One of the graphic pictures in one of the presentations I recently gave is a picture of a bullfighter. The bullfighter’s shin has been punctured by the bull’s horn and the picture captures that moment when the horn punctured the skin, but still r