Karma Carmeleon
The fate of Tesla could impact the playing field for other electric vehicle makers With a nod to the Culture Club hit of the 1980s the modified title of the song and the title of this piece relates to the …
Category: Columns
Trade war will drive up prices
Calculating how the politics of trade will impact car dealers is an inexact science The on-and-off trade war in North America has left the auto industry in a truly difficult position, where the unknown, insecurity and uncertainty are really the …
Understanding your cost structure
Managing fixed and variable expenses can make the difference between running a profitable operation Dealership success is a fickle game. Many factors can work against you, or for you, on your way to greatness. New tariffs, OEM programs, customer and …
Manage your AI risks
How to keep your data safe while using OpenAI ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a big deal in the business world, and for good reason. It can save time, boost productivity, and even help companies make smarter decisions. But …
Getting the mix right
One person, one desk and one office? Or many specialists? I recently had to complete some legal matters, in two different countries, and experienced two very different approaches. One firm had my initial discoveries handled by one lawyer and then …
Building a stronger future
Creating equal opportunities for all in the automotive sector The automotive sector has been a male dominated domain for decades, but in recent years we have seen a positive trend develop as more women ascend to senior leadership roles within …
What does the future hold for automotive retail? Part 2
Canadian dealership leaders predict upcoming industry changes In this second installment, we will revisit the remaining three trends gathered from the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) study discussed in the previous column. As you may recall, CADA commissioned a forward-looking …
Navigating the murky media landscape
It’s important to understand the key differences between paid and earned media In a highly-competitive industry like auto retail, dealers must constantly look for strategic and cost-effective ways to generate visibility and build trust, while ultimately increasing sales and service. …
Principles for operating in 2025
Dealers can’t control external forces but they can improve their internal processes and support their people In early March, I was having lunch with a good friend of mine, a senior leader at a Canadian subsidiary of a global car …
Low hanging fruit in a confused market
There’s lots of opportunity, but it will require hard work and fresh approaches In 2023, I wrote an article called, Staying alive until 2025. At the time I wrote that article, things were unsteady on the back of both COVID …
Auto finances are far from standard
If you hire a controller from outside automotive, expect a steep learning curve How many times has this happened? The Controller you’ve been relying on for years decides to quit. After an exhaustive search for their replacement, you hire a …
Managing a crisis
Is your organization prepared or would you be caught off guard? Sometimes having your company’s name in the news is a great thing, however it can also have the potential to be anything but. Communication crises can, and often do, …
