Category: Columns

Engagement Is the new control

April 9, 2026

Why modern automotive sales live or die on connection In today’s automotive marketplace, engagement has quietly become the new form of control.  Not control in the old sense of pressure or persuasion, but control of relevance, attention, and emotional permission …

Handling the AI conversation

March 6, 2026

Dealers attending NADA 2026 heard AI promises everywhere. What should they take seriously now? The AI conversation in automotive accelerated rapidly in 2025. Some dealers moved quickly, others more cautiously. What mattered was whether restraint was deliberate, driven by learning, engagement, …

Are you ready to meet your clone?

March 6, 2026

How auto retail executives can build a thought partner to accompany them on their journey Senior leadership can be lonely. You’re expected to make fast decisions with incomplete information, navigate competing priorities, and maintain a consistent philosophy across dozens — sometimes …

Start fresh, start strong

March 6, 2026

Start the new automotive sales year with clarity and purpose As a new automotive sales year gets underway, what separates the most successful sales professionals from the rest isn’t merely the number of vehicles they sold last year — it’s the …

A New World Order

Our columnist David Adams is retiring and reflects on a 40-year career in automotive, sharing key lessons learned along the way Anew world order.  That was a statement made by Prime Minister Mark Carney during his mid-January visit to China, …

Cash is king!

In a volatile market, strong cash flow matters more than booked sales or paper profits Today’s automotive ecosystem is volatile.  New tariffs, supply-chain disruptions, recessionary economic indicators and OEM spending restrictions have forced Canadian dealerships to work harder than ever …

The complex role of the GM

March 6, 2026

In this two-part series, our columnist looks at the difficult role of being a dealership’s general manager Ask most people in the automotive industry to define the core responsibilities of a sales manager, service advisor, technician, or even controller, and …

The affordability challenge

March 6, 2026

Will 2026 be a turning point for affordable, practical vehicle ownership? British Columbia enters 2026 at a crossroads — one that reflects both the province’s unique pressures and the broader affordability challenges unfolding across Canada.  While BC faces several issues that are more …