The big get bigger
Dealer groups continue to grow. What does this mean for you? The trend towards large dealer groups is spreading from coast to coast. Beyond the synergies and the economies of scales, what’s behind this? And is there such a thing …
Category: Features
Bodyshop Benchmark
How Budds’ Oakville, Ontario, Collision Centre is taking front and center stage in the industry “It’s all about Six Sigma,” says Budds’ Collision Vice President and General Manager Sam Piercey, as he draws a little diagram on a piece of …
Catch a rising star
Dynamic entrepreneur Mike Trotman shares recipe for success When we last caught up with B.C. auto dealer Mike Trotman, he had just been named to the prestigious Top Forty under 40 list by Business in Vancouver magazine. In the course …
Infotainment Systems evolve
So-called infotainment systems, which can provide both information and entertainment, have been around in various forms for more than a decade. They encompass a multitude of possible features ranging from satellite radio service to real-time navigation to emergency reporting services …
Impact of Japanese crisis spreads
Almost three weeks after a hurricane and tsunami devastated Japan, much of the nation’s auto industry remains shut down and the resulting disruption in the critical global parts supply chain is beginning to impact automakers in the rest of the …
VIrtual Inventory Management
Digital solutions can help drive success in one of a dealership’s most challenging areas For some dealers, inventory can either be a blessing or a curse. Have the right vehicles in stock and you can often move metal off your …
Should new or used sales forces be separate?
Several Canadian dealerships have separate sales teams for new and used but it’s not the usual approach. Opinion remains divided on the issue and evidently the debate has gone on for years. Back in 1919, Walter B. Zimmerman, a Hudson-Essex …
Trainers say now is the time to train
In the summer of 2005, everything in the economy and auto industry had aligned to deliver us the trinity of business success. We had traffic, profit and staff morale. Profits were amazing because customers were hungry for our product and …
The year ahead
A roundtable discussion with industry experts The participants were in a feisty mood when we gathered in the boardroom of the CADA office for the first in a series of roundtable discussions on the state of the auto industry in …
Creative Compensation
Get a pay plan with payback It’s more than just the money, as Canadian dealers know well. A well-designed compensation package addresses several business needs. It supports recruitment, assists in retention, motivates performance and rewards the employee with money (direct …
Get help with your hiring needs
When does it make sense to work with a recruiter? When is that the best strategy for hiring new staff? It all depends on the circumstances. While Steve Quinn (Quinn Automotive Group) has a firm policy of promoting from within, …
A is for Auction
The dealers’ perspective on auto auctions “The auctions are an integral part of our business,” says Fred MacNeil, president of the Steele Auto Group in Halifax, NS “We use them extensively.” Indeed, auto auctions play a pivotal role in most …
