Trending Auto Retail News
Wow! A Free Money-Maker
I discovered a well-written, easy to read, instructional paperback written by Gary Vann, the VP of Sales and Marketing for Mighty Auto Parts, a nationwide Aftermarket maintenance parts distribution company located in the Atlanta area. Mr. Vann is obviously a sharp...
The Calm before the Storm
Business has picked up for most manufacturers and dealers this year and there is much optimism that we will enjoy a steady economic rebound. But this isn’t the time for chest bumps and high fives. We may have emerged from the pit, but we’re not out of the woods. There...
Blind in Plain Sight — One Opportunity after Another Lost
How would you respond if one of your best friends during a social gathering came up to you and said something like this: “Wow, you really have to try that new restaurant on the corner of Elm and Main. We had such an average meal there. The food quality was average,...
Will Large Deductible or Retentions Save You Premium Dollars?
Taking on higher deductibles and retentions may sound like an excellent way to save your dealership some serious premium dollars. But is that always the case? The auto dealership insurance marketplace continues to be a vigorous one with more carriers scheduled to...
An E-Marketing Update
It’s hard to believe that virtually no one understood the concept of e-marketing just 15 years ago. In 2010 the digital transformation of every aspect of advertising, marketing and communication is mind-boggling. I asked CBC’s e-marketing expert Greg Johnson for a...
ASP vs. In-House Servers: Which DMS Model is Best?
The time has come. Your dealership’s DMS contract with a large, expensive legacy provider is ending. Your search for a new DMS partner is beginning. Which DMS is best? The answer is: it depends what your needs are. One thing that’s certain is when it comes to making...
Back-end Lender Repurchase Demands: A Hidden Land Mine in the Red Flag Rules
By now, most dealers are aware of the FTC’s Red Flags Rule and the potential liability they face if they do not adopt and implement an Identity Theft Prevention Program required by the Rule. Countless mailings, webinars and other communications from compliance gurus...
Can your CRM be your ILM?
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 there – some of these...
The Case for Dealership Consolidation – But Who are the Buyers?
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 dealers are seeking...
Five Must Do’s to Reel Customers In
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 rolled out, enticing...
Mastering the Internet Sales Process
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, we have begun to...
Where Did that Come From? Obsolescence You Didn’t Know Was There
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 reduced the amounts...
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