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Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x6r25dAmdg

During Flick Fusion's kick off event at the 18th Digital Dealer Conference, Dealer Authority's Executive VP, Subi Ghosh discusses her speaking session regarding vendor collaboration and panel participation…

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An acquaintance of mine shared an experience with me that got me thinking. He traveled frequently and was a member of a particular hotel chain’s loyalty program. One particular stay at one of the chain’s locations was, in his opinion, beneath the quality that he had come to expect from the chain. There were multiple issues with the room – some involving cleanliness and even…

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Written By: Joe Basil

We just returned from a 20 Group meeting and it was the most invigorating workshop we have ever attended. We completed an assessment of our dealership operations and identified major sales and profit opportunities in all departments. We have benefited from the extensive experience of our facilitator and fellow members. We had the opportunity to compare our operation to other…

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A top 10 nationally-ranked auto dealer called me recently and asked me to do an assessment. I said no problem, I’ll send the list of schedules that I need from your controller and we can get started. The dealer responded no, not that assessment, the management assessment that we did two years ago. Based on the urgent tone in his voice, I asked, “Tell me what’s going on?” The dealer explained that in 2011, the store had a record year in volume, market share and net profit. Based on that year,…

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For some time now I have chided myself for not chronicling the random and not so random thought that courses through my brain on a daily basis.  A child of the "teach English by forced journaling" era, perhaps I believe that every thought must be put to print lest you deprive the future of your all importance consciousness.  Or perhaps, like everyone else in our current narcissistic culture I believe that my thoughts and ideas have meaning beyond the confines…

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Why does GM think they have to be so involved? They are like that friends parents in high school that are WAY too involved. Just get out of our way and let us sell some cars. I can't help but think that a majority of dealers have to be smarter than they let on to be. With GM buying Google ad words, and making us compete against ourselves, forcing us to have a Cobalt site, and now taking over our Yelp, Google…

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In 1982 I had the biggest blessing ever in the car business.  "Bruce" hired me as a sales person.  Bruce was the GM of a small Ford store in NJ and I was still finding my way around the business.  All I knew for sure was that I wanted to be a sales manager.  At that time, I couldn't tell a good one from a bad one but I still wanted to be one. …

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Things are moving fast these days.  Business is conducted at the speed of a mouse click.  To gain a competitive advantage and have any chance at success, you not only have to know who your competition is, but you need to understand them as well.  Too many managers, owners, and top executives have lost sight of the real competition out there.  So, just who is the real…

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Over the years, I've had the privilege of spending time with some of the best speakers, trainers, and mentors on this planet.  Many of you know that I count Jim Zieglar as a friend.  We've known each other since the mid 90's and he has always gone out of his way to help me, encourage me and on rare occassions even ask me a question.  Through it all, it's always been fun and educational.

 

I've been able to spend quality time with Mr. Les Brown and listen to his advice as I was…

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Average is a term I think is often overused.  Average income, average performance, average height, age, etc.  But, when it comes to sales performance, what does average really mean.  For some it means the worst of the best.  For others, it's the best of the worst.  I'm from Jersey.  For me it's the "Cream of the Crap."  Average for me is doing just enough to stay out of trouble and under the radar.  And, if you are perfectly happy, there is nothing illegal about that.  However, you give up…

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Many new car dealers know that something is not right with their service departments or for that matter with their dealership business model as a whole. Customer loss rates are at all time high, "Right To Repair" legislation is seemingly hanging over like a "sword of Damocles" and profits margins are shrinking across the board. I bet in almost every franchised new car dealership, management meetings are being held to discuss how to tackle these challenges and I can imagine the nature of some…

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It's not a trick question - I really want to know. Here's why I ask: In every sales training meeting, book, or video I listened to early in my career, they always said the same thing - make sure when the customer leaves the lot you give them a big stack of business cards and ask them to send their friends and family your way. Funny thing is - most of these people were my managers, who I found out became managers because they never were able to develop a book of business the right way. I was one… Continue