Category: Features

Reach for the top

October 26, 2015

PERFORMANCE GROUPS CAN HELP DEALERS IMPROVE THEIR OPERATIONS. HERE’S HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM. Dealers are always looking to learn about the ways they can improve their business. New technologies and forums have made it easier for …

The swinging 60s

October 16, 2015

THE 1960S WERE A TRANSITIONAL TIME FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED ON THE RETAIL FRONT The 1950s had been a battlefield in the auto industry, as recession-weary carmakers dumped vehicles onto their …

2015 Mid year report card

October 16, 2015

THE MARKET IS GROWING AT A RECORD PACE — BUT NOT ALL AUTOMAKERS ARE DOING WELL In a near parallel of last year, new-vehicle sales in Canada at mid-year 2015 are 2.9 per cent ahead of where they were a …

When chat becomes conversation

October 16, 2015

DMT DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS GROUP INC. HAS ROLLED OUT A NEW SYSTEM THAT TAKES CONVENTIONAL ONLINE CHAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL When Glen Demetrioff mystery shopped U.S. dealers through their chat functions, he wasn’t too impressed with the online customer experience. …

The great divide

October 16, 2015

THE SALES AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE TWO CRITICAL BUSINESS UNITS WITHIN THE DEALERSHIP, YET THEY OFTEN BUTT HEADS In most Canadian dealerships, the sales department is focused exclusively on its own performance. The same is true on the service …

Developing a learning culture

October 15, 2015

ADAPTING TO CHANGE AND COACHING THE CUSTOMER CAN HELP BUILD CREDIBILITY AT THE DEALERSHIP There are two major sides to what can be referred to as a learning culture. There is the aspect of always learning ourselves, and there is …

The fabulous fifties

July 8, 2015

IN THE FIFTH PART OF OUR HISTORICAL SERIES, WE EXAMINE THE 1950S, WHICH WERE FAR FROM FABULOUS FOR DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS   Canada had been battle-toughened in the Second World War, and when those soldiers came home to civilian life, …

Metal matters

July 8, 2015

LIGHT AND STRONG, YOU CAN EXPECT MORE ALUMINUM VEHICLES TO JOIN THE POPULAR FORD F-150. BUT ARE BODY SHOPS READY TO REPAIR THEM? When Ford introduced its 2015 Ford F-150 featuring lightweight aluminum alloy it caused quite a stir in …

Surviving CASL

July 8, 2015

IT’S CASL’S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, AND CANADIAN BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY BEING HIT WITH HEFTY FINES. IS YOUR DEALERSHIP CASL COMPLIANT? It’s been almost a year since the federal government introduced onerous regulations to reduce unwanted spam. Usually referred to as …

The War Years

June 16, 2015

IN THE FOURTH PART OF OUR HISTORICAL SERIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANADA’S AUTOMOTIVE RETAIL INDUSTRY, WE LOOK AT THE WAR YEARS OF THE 1940S The Great Depression of the 1930s had created some of the worst times many people …

Savvy service strategies for fixed ops

June 16, 2015

MORE TOOLS AND SERVICES ARE EMERGING TO HELP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS STEP UP THEIR GAME AND PROVIDE A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Todays’ vehicle shoppers are smarter and better informed than they’ve ever been in the history of the retail vehicle industry, …