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The reviews are in for the first Automotive Conference & Expo (ACE) that was held in April at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ont. — it was a hit and should be held again next year.
The Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) and their partners, Consolidated Dealers combined the Ontario Dealer Day trade show with the TADA’s Auto Dealers’ Innovation Series event usually held in the spring.
Dealers and suppliers Canadian auto dealer talked with say they were happy with the turnout, the venue and the caliber of the presentations at this first ever event of its kind.
When they weren’t touring the sold-out trade show floor featuring more than 80 suppliers, dealers and their teams had the opportunity to network, take in keynote presentations, and enjoy some nightlife at the ACE kickoff party that featured Canadian rock icon Kim Mitchell.
We are sitting on the threshold of a number of technologies that when they combine, and realize their full potential, will have a staggering effect on consumers.
“It’s the biggest trade show and automotive conference in Canada. We are humbled,” said Todd Bourgon, TADA’s Executive Director in an interview at the event. “We are really happy.”
The event began with a discussion from Doug Stephens, Retail Futurist at Retail Prophet, about the future of selling in a post-digital world.
Stephens offered dealers a cautionary tale about not recognizing the signs in the changing retail landscape. He said Blockbuster dismissed Netflix as a niche business.
He said Amazon is building its own delivery fleet, putting lockers in apartment buildings, and doing everything it can to enable e-commerce — which is growing dramatically.
“Where does this escalation of e-commerce end?” he asked. We are just getting started, he said. “We have a long, long way to go. We are sitting on the threshold of a number of technologies that when they combine, and realize their full potential, will have a staggering effect on consumers.”
With 50 per cent of car purchases now starting online, he said the willingness for consumers to complete the transaction online is growing, and it’s also fueled by the notion of frictionless commerce, where people get what they want when they want it with no technology gaps slowing them down.
Stephens said some question whether dealerships have a future, but he said he feels they will. He said people still enjoy the shopping experience, and even pure-play online companies are recognizing the need to open bricks and mortars facilities. “I am a firm believer that there is still tremendous value in physical experiences,” he said. “But we have to realize the store is now everywhere.”
TADA also used the gathering to unveil its new automotive lifestyle website, www.autolife.ca. Former Dragon’s Den star Bruce Croxon offered some brief remarks and then introduced the site. “It’s an online experience to allow consumers to experience the auto industry by leading with their needs and their wants rather than, buy here, buy now,” said Croxon.
“This is a road to a relationship,” said Croxon, adding the site will provide detailed specs on cars, driving destinations, insurance reviews, concept cars and more. “This is a very bold response to a very disruptive and unpredictable time.”
Other speakers included Peter Mansbridge, former Chief Correspondent at CBC’s The National, who took attendees through decades of Canadian history shown through the lens of his time at the anchor desk.
“We are great at telling the original story — we get the headlines, we tell the stories and we disappear — rarely do we get back — it’s those follow up stories that are often the best,” said Mansbridge, reflecting on how the media covers big stories but misses the lesser but equally important ones.
“The best stories are told by the people who actually live here,” said Mansbridge, relating his story about visiting the Arctic and letting people tell their stories, including oral history stories from aboriginal people.
Mansbridge described all the ways Canadians show their character — defined by how they care for others. “We care, and we care for those on the other side of the world,” said Mansbridge.
Michele Romanow, one of the dragons from the popular TV show Dragons’ Den closed out the event with the final keynote.
Other speakers included Huw Williams, Director of Government Relations for CADA; Kevin Baumgart, Vice-President of Business Development at Hireology; Kevin Gordon, CEO of Convertus, Chuck Seguin, President of Seguin Advisory Services, and more.
An Education Alley section at the event also helped promote automotive industry jobs, where dealers can connect with colleges from across Ontario to learn about their programs, and co-op and apprenticeship students for dealerships.
