Whether called Product Specialists or Salespeople, how would yours do selling popsicles? Let me share a recent experience. I was so ready for a chocolate dessert the other afternoon and I was looking for the Yes, We’re Open sign at the ultimate popsicle store in town. Hallelujah, they were open! They sell nothing…

   So many trainers like to tell you when they started in the business, how great they were and how they single handedly saved a manufacturer from near ruin. Not my thing. I’m simply stating that I sold my first vehicle for a dealer in January of 1979 for the purpose of this article. What I’m sharing, I’ve participated in, witnessed or at least saw from a distance. In other words, I was there.

    As I got to be about 6 months into the sales end of the business, domestic dealers were…

There are many managers who have given up on the bottom twenty percent of their sales team, and have stopped trying to salvage that person’s employment.

This is especially true for managers with no involvement in the hiring decision.  Those…

JIM ZIEGLER NEEDS YOUR HELP ... THIS WEBINAR IS COMING UP THURSDAY  AND I AM ASKING MY FRIENDS TO HELP GET THE WORD OUT. PLEASE, RE-POST THIS EVERYWHERE AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS TO SIGN UP FOR THIS WEBINAR... THANKS -…

As many of you know, I've been involved in this industry since cars took leaded gas.  There have been many changes.  Some good, some not so much.  One thing that has seemed to be a constant is selling extended service contracts in your service drive has been an abject failure.  

Dealers get excited about it.  Service Writers train for it.  Sometimes it even takes off selling.  But, usually within weeks, sales slow to a trickle and then become a forgotten practice followed by the ever…

December is here, which means the holidays are right around the corner. When we think of Christmas, several things come to mind, one of them being good ol’ Saint Nicholas—or Santa for short. 

The holidays are the perfect time to appeal to consumers and find innovative ways to bring in-market shoppers into your dealership. A simple way to attract more business…

Our team has outlined 10 tips, tricks, and best practices for sales and gaining new business.

1. Don’t Hear; Listen: Most times, your prospective client will clue you in on exactly what they need.  It is important that you listen to what they are saying and look beyond your immediate scope to identify your prospective client’s true underlying…

Millions of years ago dinosaurs became extinct. They became extinct for one reason only, a failure to adapt to a changing environment. Not all dinosaurs became extinct. Many, according to scientists evolved and became the birds that soar in our skies today.

The theory is a massive meteorite struck the planet, changing the environment dramatically. This new environment made it difficult, no impossible to survive without adapting.

Metaphorically…

What Were You Thinking?

       It has often been said that the questions are the answers when it comes to selling anything.  The better you become at asking questions, the more success you’ll enjoy.  The key is asking the right questions.  But, you can’t teach every question for every situation.  Otherwise your sales people will never leave the training room.

     There is one question that I believe fits any situation and it provides…

Safety is not automatic in kind; you have to think about it. Here are some safety tips with respect to auto glass repair that you should keep in mind:

• Not all auto glass is created equal
  
  Different manufacturers must comply with different safety regulations. To this extent, not all auto glass is made of the same material…

Connected Car and the Dealership:

The era of connected cars is officially well underway. Automotive and technology giants recently announced substantial partnerships that will pave the future of cars and technology.…

A new vehicle is a big investment and calls for celebration; you are thrilled and eager to go places while enjoying the feel of your new machine. Frequent trips can cause wear and tear to your vehicle; therefore, you need to be aware of a few components that might need replacement by the end of the year to continue your smooth ride.

An automotive battery has an average lifespan of about five to seven year but in some cases…

TTAC has learned that Google is shutting down its car shopping service, which existed only in beta form for San Francisco Bay Area shoppers. Visitors to the site have received a message stating

“The Google San Francisco…

This years NADA was definitely one for the books. Taking place in one of the best cities in America, New Orleans, LA. The times to be had were extremely fun and the information we gathered on the auto industry was insightfully eye opening.

The convention center was like a massive maze of everything auto with our friends being scattered…

Tips for Dealership Sales Success from Expert Trainer Jeff Cowan

Have pride in your team. Put effort into your appearance and wear your work shirt or uniform with as much pride as you would your favorite sports teams t-shirt or jersey.  You’re being paid, just like an athlete, to proudly wear your teams’ colors.

Enthusiasm is the main ingredient to making a…

 What To Expect : Future Trends To Solve

Its that time of year again, when we all gather in the largest building NADA find and consume everything auto. As we approach one of the biggest conferences of the year we take a look at what to expect.

Technology has the pedal to…

ALBANY, N.Y. – November 4th 2013 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today it was named one of the 2013 “Best Places to Work” in New York State’s Capital region by the Albany Business Review. This is the fourth year in a row that Auto/Mate has received the honor.

“I believe that taking care of employees and ensuring they are happy is just as important as taking care of our customers,” said Mike…

Estates, minivans and SUV’s... Why is it that we tend to regard all the big, bulky cars, the ones that drive like boats, the big, clunky, uncool ones as mummy mobiles? Why can't a hardworking parent drive something with a little bit of style and class to it? Something that offers a fair bit of luxury and handles like a dream? Something like the Mercedes E63 AMG?

Practical Considerations

Now obviously, there are practical…