Trending Auto Retail News
Federal Warranty Laws On FTC’s Radar
Over the years I have noticed more and more dealerships offering in-house warranties on used vehicles, backed by the dealership. It is a wonderful selling point and can set the dealership apart from competitors. But frequently dealerships want to make warranty...
How the Best Dealerships Crawl To the Top
The showroom floor is swamped. Your website needs an update. A sales mailer just went live. Vendors are calling . Your third-party leads need an audit. The copy machine is broken. Does that sound familiar? Somewhere on a 50 item to-do list, your dealership’s phone...
Manufacturers Go on the Offensive in Unprecedented Ways
The major automobile manufacturers are active at levels not seen since the days of linemake discontinuances and dealership terminations during the General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings. It seems almost weekly that the lawyers at BSM are presented with a...
Review of Digital Dealer 18
I recently attended the Digital Dealer 18 convention in Tampa. Digital Dealer continues to evolve and gain significance with dealers, vendors and representatives from the brands each year. I have attended every convention starting with Digital Dealer #1 (DD1) held in...
Calm & Controlled Communications Secrets To Strengthening Your Team
A few years ago I was scuba diving in Bimini with a couple of buddies when we discovered a 45 foot long tunnel made of coral at 60 foot depth. The three of us gathered around the entrance, which was about four feet in diameter, pondering if we should go through....
9 Commandments for Leading by Example
A quick way to lose credibility is with a leadership style that says “don’t do as I do, do as I say.” If you’ve ever wondered why your people haven’t bought into you like you think they should, or how to earn even greater buy-in I suggest that doing a better job of...
Regrettable but Reality – Facing Challenging Family Business Decisions
In spite of family dynamic issues, ABC Auto, a second generation multi franchise dealership group was “successful.” Dad, our original client from 35 years ago, was quite the dynamo. He had been a very successful domestic dealer in a prosperous community. Back in the...
Auto body shop offers free car workshops for women
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -- A local auto body shop is giving women the tools they need to take charge of their cars and their safety. Trubilt Collision Center opened its shop Tuesday to women in the community to teach them car safety. The center says women make up a...
Why Technicians and Service Advisors Need Marriage Counseling
Life in the retail automotive industry is taxing. Managers and employees work long hours and, in many cases, are with their co-workers more than they are with their families. Miscommunications, tension or arguments can detract from the efficiency of the dealership,...
Breaking Down The Innovation Barrier In Fixed Operations
If fingers point to the top, the lack of focus on fixed operations is a burden shared between both dealer/principals and manufacturers. The amount of effort directed at parts and service from either party is underwhelming compared to that of new vehicle sales. Gary...
Five Ways Automakers Can Design For Connected Cars
It’s the Daytona 500 of vehicle manufacturing: the race to bring connected cars, light trucks, and SUVs to market. Unprecedented safety, driver assistance, and infotainment features promise to revolutionize the driving experience. Still, few industry executives are...
Increase Service Interval Awareness to Boost Your Bottom Line
You know what they look like and where they are. They’re the service interval reminders, and they come in the form of a tiny piece of plastic that clings to the upper driver’s-side corner of every windshield. Your service advisors take the time to update them with...
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