Category: Features

Interior exposure

May 8, 2013

FOR DEALERS NEIL AND DARLENE KALAWSKY, BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WITHIN THEIR HOME BASE OF CASTLEGAR, B.C., HAS HELPED PUT THIS INTERIOR CITY ON THE MAP. The Kalawsky family owns and operates four new car dealerships in …

System harmony

May 8, 2013

SOLID SUPPORT AND TRAINING ARE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL DMS INTEGRATION AND OPERATION As technology advances and new software products and features enter the market, dealers can sometimes find themselves struggling to figure out exactly what they need in terms of …

Building a stronger community

March 24, 2013

Multiple community projects have proved rewarding for dealer and entrepreneur Jamie Massie Jamie Massie, was born in Toronto but has spent much of his life in and around Barrie, Ont. When the Massie family purchased what was then Georgian Pontiac …

Training for the future

March 24, 2013

A shortage of young, qualified people is a major issue affecting the auto business today. Yet, if dealers can throw support behind school and college training programs, the future can Today, it can be argued that our industry faces more …

The used advantage

March 24, 2013

Today, more franchised dealers are looking at the used car market and armed with new strategies and tools, the opportunities to boost business have arguably never been better For franchised dealers, volatility in the new vehicle market over the last …

The art of conversation

A high-tech Florida-based firm enables dealers to form successful Internet relationships with their customers via a time-honored form of communication — talking As human beings, we are by nature social creatures. We like to engage with one another, take part …

Looking down the road

March 4, 2013

Succession planning is often seen as the elephant in the room. But it shouldn’t be. We talk to different second generation dealers about the process, asking them how it went and what life is like on the other side One …

Shifting fortunes

March 4, 2013

With the growth in non traditional lending, online pre-approvals and products such as tire and wheel protection, the F&I business is changing fast We’ve all been hearing about how the concept of auto retailing is changing. Consumers are reaching out …

On the up

March 4, 2013

How a novel retail sales process is having a big impact in dealer showrooms Make no mistake, selling cars is a tough business. Furthermore, with more competition than ever and consumers armed with greater knowledge, it is increasingly important for …

Tantalizing technology

March 4, 2013

Why advancing vehicle technology represents an opportunity for dealers to really grow their service business Since the 1970s, the pace of vehicle technology has evolved rapidly. Driven by the need to bolster fuel economy, reduce emissions and deliver safer passenger …

Rewarding excellence

January 15, 2013

HOW RECOGNITION FROM OEMS HELPS DRIVE DEALER PERFORMANCE AND REPUTATION When we work hard, receiving acknowledgement for the tasks we’ve done is often very satisfying. Not only that but getting that recognition from others can also serve to promote our …

Reaching out

January 15, 2013

SERVING THE COMMUNITY TAKES ON A DIFFERENT MEANING AT BUDDS’ BMW Sometimes there is a pivotal moment, an event that forever changes your life. For Patrick Fletch, director of service at Budds’ BMW in Oakville, Ont. that moment came when …