Business Development
How to Succeed With a Counterintuitive F&I Strategy
We all know why the scorpion stung the frog after all, right? It’s what a scorpion does, even after the frog has done it a favor. Fortunately, our industry’s “scorpions” are leaving the car business as new talent, not burdened by tricks, attitudes, and tactics once so colorful in our
Dealers and Manufacturers Are Wary: Will Trump Impose Tariff?
With his campaign promise to put a stiff tariff on vehicles manufactured outside of the United States, President Donald Trump has automakers scrambling and dealers worried. The proposed tariff, generally mentioned to be 20%, throws a wrench in auto pricing. If domestic manufacturers move production back to the U.S., they
What Impact Will the New Presidential Administration Have on Regulations and Compliance?
When the election results were known the morning of November 9, 2016, one thing was certain: Change is coming. President Donald Trump’s administration made clear during its campaign and after the election that burdensome regulations had adversely effected business growth and jobs creation. An expressed priority of the new administration
The Zero Moment of Truth in High-Consideration Purchases
Technology is changing the way consumers think about high-consideration purchases, including vehicles. So, what does that mean for automotive marketers? Consumers have never had more information at their fingertips—86% report doing at least some type of research online before making a high-consideration purchase like a vehicle. This means when and
Cloud-Based Systems Empower and Protect Your Dealership
For many years, Bill Feinstein, president of Planet Honda in New Jersey, has fought for his dealership to make better use of its data. Feinstein understood the potential to leverage financial, operational, and transactional information to improve dealership performance. He quickly realized, however, that better data collection and analysis would
Why Your Service Department Needs a Communications Plan
A communications plan based on accountability and solid training is sure to be effective. Let’s face it: we live in a smartphone nation. Almost two-thirds of American adults have one, according to the Pew Research Center, and we use them obsessively to the point that most people are connected virtually
How (and Why) to Go Green at Your Dealership in 2015
Like most auto dealers, you’ve probably got a lot on your plate in the coming year. The economic recovery has provided a boost for car sales, and most dealerships are hoping to continue that momentum through 2015. But with all the items on your to-do list, have you also considered
Data Security Starts At Home
As security breaches and data theft become more commonplace, businesses will encounter increasing regulatory and consumer pressure to protect that data. I’ve written numerous articles on the importance of data security in dealerships, especially when dealers share that sensitive customer information with their vendor partners. According to a recent article
6 Challenging Scenarios Dealerships May Face in 2015
New-car sales this year will reach more than 16.4 million units, the best performance since 2007. We are all quite thankful. Can we expect a repeat in 2015? Yes, in fact, says Reuters, citing J.D. Power, Edmunds and others. That is certainly a cheerful forecast for all of us who
