Category: Features

DEALERSHIP 2030: The human touch

June 13, 2014

OUR DEALER OF THE FUTURE, BILL TANNER, DECIDES TO FOLLOW UP WITH ONE OF HIS CUSTOMERS AND FINDS HIMSELF MAKING A GENUINE, PERSONAL CONNECTION IN A WORLD THAT HAS ALL BUT FORGOTTEN TRUE HUMAN INTERACTION Here’s the thing about automated …

Meeting the challenge

June 13, 2014

CANADA’S AUTO MANUFACTURING SECTOR IS FACING PRESSURE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. CANADIAN AUTO DEALER LOOKS AT SOME OF THE ISSUES CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE INDUSTRY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TACKLE THEM. There’s been a great deal of discussion regarding vehicle …

The chat factor

April 29, 2014

WHY CHAT IS IMPORTANT AND HOW YOU CAN GET THE MOST OUT OF IT In the last few years, live chat has grown to become a staple part of many stores’ overall marketing strategies and yet in some quarters it’s …

Legal maintenance

April 29, 2014

WHILE CUSTOMERS LOOK TO SERVICING THEIR VEHICLES AT YOUR DEALERSHIP, SPRING IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WHEN IT COMES TO LEGALLY PROTECTING THE BUSINESS TOO As the weather starts to warm up, for many of us, thoughts …

Making the connection

April 28, 2014

PAST AND PRESENT CONVERGE AT OUR DEALER’S ANNUAL INDUSTRY CONVENTION Bill Tanner, our fictional dealer in 2030, attends the annual big industry convention, where he connects with new technology, reunites with old friends and discovers why he loves being in …

Principled approach

April 28, 2014

FRANK SERPA HAS TAKEN HIS OWN PATH WHEN IT COMES TO AUTO RETAILING, ONE THAT’S ENABLED POSSIBILITIES HE ONCE ONLY DREAMED ABOUT When you spend a lot of time visiting auto retail facilities, it’s not often that something takes you …

Rethinking retail

April 28, 2014

TESLA MOTORS IS LOOKING TO CONTROL THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE BY PURSUING A CORPORATE APPROACH TO AUTO SALES Dealerships have been displaying cars in shopping malls for years. Sometimes it might be to highlight a new image builder for showroom traffic, …

On target

AUTO DEALER APP BY PULSE IS HELPING BOTH DEALERS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WHILE CHANGING THE WAY BUSINESS IS DONE It’s amazing how fast things progress. Five years ago not many of us knew what an app was. …

Solid Investment

BECOMING A RHINO LININGS APPLICATOR IS PROVING A GOOD STRATEGY FOR MANY DEALERS IN CANADA North Americans like trucks. They consistently buy them in huge numbers and particularly for Detroit automakers and their dealers, pickups are a huge source of …

No going back

March 20, 2014

BIDDING FAREWELL TO HIS “TRADITIONAL” STORE FOR THE LAST TIME, OUR FICTIONAL DEALER IN 2030, BILL TANNER, IS HIT WITH A TINGE OF A SADNESS AND PERHAPS LONELINESS. NEVERTHELESS, IT’S WHAT LIES AHEAD THAT’S IMPORTANT AND THERE’S WORK TO BE …

Hockey drive

March 20, 2014

FOR MANY DEALERS, HELPING KIDS PLAY CANADA’S GAME PROVIDES A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS In the Great White North, minor hockey and automotive retailing go together like Crosby and Malkin. Minor hockey engages all ages, encouraging hometown pride, good sportsmanship …

Best of both worlds

March 20, 2014

TRILLIUM FORD LINCOLN COMBINES SUBURBAN SOPHISTICATION WITH THAT SMALL TOWN, PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE In 1975, Jack Vant Spyker started selling and servicing Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles. Back in the days when gigantic land yachts like LTDs, Marquis, Montegos and …