Last night, AutoTrader filed registration papers with the Securities Exchange Commission to go public. The IPO is slated to start at around $300 million, and will be used to pay off debts, according to AutoTrader.

The company did not indicate how many shares (they will be common stock) or at what price they will be offered. Neither was a date provided, but it should happen before the end of the year.

We had heard rumblings AutoTrader was going to make this move either…

Good afternoon Dealer Elite Members

Change is one of the only constants in the universe. The automotive world as you all know is overdue for this change as is a number of other retail environments. I was forwarded a very interesting article from a friend today that i think everyone in the automotive retail business should read. BMW who is one of the largest high end car companies in the world is taking the…

I’ll admit it. I fear bringing my vehicle in for service as much as visiting the dentist. I recently brought my car in for service, and for some reason, it reminded me of a routine dental check-up. Bear with me on this analogy.

Just like you want your teeth to stay white and strong, you want your car to run in tip-top shape. However, when the time finally comes to go back in for a check-up, you curl up in the fetal position, and softly cry (That’s what I do, at least, you may…

Good Morning Dealer Elite Members and Car Guys and Gals everywhere.....

As an industry we have had our ups and downs, our challenges and our opportunities. As I travel around North America I see the whole range of Owners, Managers, salespeople and customers. I also see examples in our industry and in other industry of how we can move the industry forward and change the process for the better. We have spend the last 30 to 40 years conditioning customers that we can sell in…

Let’s talk about the processes, the Playbook’s and All the ABC’s to closing, they all include how to identify and adjust to the natural tendencies of the three main personality profiles within in us all.  In today’s market exclusive let’s stop relying on our dominate traits. Focus more on understanding of what makes our customers tick, utilizing the self barometer technique, mastering the 12 foot rule and the genuine smile. Building confidence from consistent practice and performance, allows…

  As an industry professional for over 23 years and as a specialist in compliance and process management I am no longer surprised when I read of sad stories such as this. For the past 7 years, I and my peers have been at the forefront of promoting Compliance within the entire front end sales process for dealers. The number one risk to a dealer when it comes to Compliance is ambivalence. Compliance today is as much about preserving hard earned capital as it is about earning trust from our…

I've seen it happen all too many times. 

While working for one of New Jersey's best sub-prime lending car dealer, I was in constant interaction with the salespeople. As I became more and more versed in the daily functions, I learned which salespeople I could go to for straight answers, and which ones would beat around the bush, forward me to voicemail, or give me an excuse of why they couldn't give me the report that I needed.

More often than not, it was the low…

80% of motor vehicle accidents are preceded by 3 seconds of distraction.  3 seconds: that’s less time than it takes to read the last sentence.  Last week Myra Blanco from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute presented some of the break-through safety research they are doing to the Automotive Communication Council in…

Thanks for your intuitive and sincere response. Its interesting the things you said.

As the Internet Director of a department that has three dealerships to deal with, I have my hands full.

I have a staff of three, including myself. All over the internet there are consultant types who would have us believe that they know the answer to: "How do we run an automotive internet department?" They would have us believe that for a fee, they can take all the things we have learned about…

As we reach the mid year time, many of us make decisions.  Some even make commitments to change certain aspects of their life and their profession.  Unfortunately, far too many change absolutely nothing because they believe that their career is subject to the mercy of the markets.  They boast about how they were a top producer during the market high points, and continue doing the same things they did when customers simply showed up with checkbooks in hand.

     Case in point.  A good…

     All this technology is becoming very popular around and among dealers.  Sales people can pull up apps and show customers all the details about a particular car in stock.  Customers can shop and research before they get to the dealership, and an Internet staff can track web visits and initiate contact with potential customers.  All at the speed of light.

     Thanks to the innovation of Steve Jobs and Apple, we can "i-anything" we want.  But there is one important ingredient to…

http://www.automotiveinternetsales.com ;

One of my Dealers just forwarded me this official email from Vehix. They sent it to him yesterday... 

Dear Vehix Dealer,

As you may know, Comcast Spotlight has owned Vehix since 2008. As…

As of 2012 Generation Y accounts for 40% of the car buying public, yet traditional methods of advertising don't reach them. Don't miss out on this growing and often ignored market.

 …

As our inboxes become inundated with reports from both manufacturers and big-box automotive groups gleefully boasting of double digit gains in sales, one cannot help but hum the song, “Welcome back Kotter,” look up and be thankful that maybe, just maybe our industry is on its way back. We recount 4 years ago, walking past the TV and hearing the talking heads’…

Have you ever attended a workshop and had questions that you did not want to ask publically?  Did a workshop presentor spark your interests but there was not enough time to dig into specific questions you had?  You are not alone.  We have modified AutoCon to meet the feedback we received from automotive professionals.  They wanted more, and we delivered.

At the end of each full…

Having run my own brick and mortar businesses for a number of years I am very familiar with the ebb and flow of customers and their spending habits. I have always tracked sales, customer count, costs and how effective my marketing has been. Whenever I noticed any kind of downturn I immediately looked for answers.



If I were to have had an unexpected downturn in the last month or so I would have been scratching my head wondering why just like many of you may be doing right now. One of…

http://www.automotiveinternetsales.com

Discussing "Pay Plans", Commissions, Bonuses (And WHY) Inside an Automotive Internet Sales 20 Group - Sean V.…

Have you…