The following story seems unbelievable, really. But it's true. How do I know? Because it happened after I left one of the big dealerships I used to manage. It's a case study for what not to do when it comes to dealership management. It's evidence that employee training is crucial and by telling this story, I hope to stop anything like it from ever happening again. The Cast of Four Characters A hard-working General Sales Manager A disengaged Corporate Office An untrained Payroll …
dealership profitability
Why Dealership Processes Must Be Considered a Value Chain
After years of robust car sales, auto retail is now experiencing a softening market. It's difficult to predict what's coming next and while no one has a crystal ball, it’s clear that many showrooms are not as active as they were last year. Tightening up dealership processes could actually help dealers survive these choppy waters ahead but are they prepared to tighten their belts? When times are good, everybody's flush. It's human nature to hold off on belt tightening while things are going …
Numbers are the Nucleus of Dealership Profitability
Numbers don't lie. It's a mindset that's been at the forefront of every auto retail operation I've ever managed or worked with as a consultant. Numbers are the nucleus of dealership profitability. In a softening market, being diligent about your numbers is vital to the health of your store. When numbers are the foundation of operations, better-informed operational decisions happen. For example, have you wanted to hire someone only to stopped because it's not financially feasible? How did …
Time for Auto Retail to Get Lean (and Not Panic)
Are we about to see a replay of the Great Recession? Some auto retail leaders expect a downturn in sales this year and many dealers are experiencing it right now. While no one has a crystal ball, it's clear that many showrooms are not as active as they were last year. When the auto retail market softens, leaders don't panic...they get lean. In times of uncertainty, dealers should work to steady the ship. Flat sales are inevitable and downturns are part of the auto retail cycle. Recognizing …