Category: Editor’s note

Dealers have a used advantage

June 15, 2025

One challenge dealers have is that most have spent a lifetime inside the auto industry — they drive dealership demo vehicles, and don’t have a current sense of what it’s like for a consumer to shop for or purchase a vehicle, …

Dealers have a great hand

May 22, 2025

As the circus surrounding tariffs, counter-tariffs, annexation threats, and concerns over the collapse of Canada’s auto industry swirl around them, car dealers are faced with the same dilemma they always face.  Many of these issues are simply outside of their …

Don’t be the sub guy

April 9, 2025

As an occupational hazard, and it truly can be hazardous to my health, I can’t just turn off the news.  For the better part of 30+ years, I’ve had to stay abreast of current issues, report on them, and even …

Be the “I” in DEI

March 10, 2025

These are scary times.  I’m not impossibly naive enough to believe that progress on social issues, like diversity, equity and inclusion, will always move steadily upward, and that any gains that are realized will be maintained.  The truth is, human …

Are you the next Brian Benstock?

December 1, 2024

There aren’t too many people who can be the last presenter at a two-day conference with eight hours plus of speakers a day and can still energize and light up a room.  Mix in all the networking, social events, late …

Get an AI information edge

November 4, 2024

There has been a lot written about how the auto retail world will be impacted and disrupted by artificial intelligence, or machine learning.  With so many overly-hyped predictions, amid some self-serving promises of tech vendors hoping to make a quick …

The people challenge

October 1, 2024

Getting the right people in place, and keeping them happy and productive is the surest proven path to dealership success, better customer satisfaction and profitability.  But why do so few dealerships get it right? Why are so few dealerships able …

Just communicate better with customers!

July 29, 2024

As an editor who covers the auto industry, sometimes I have an experience with a dealership that reminds me what it’s like being a typical consumer. Sadly, sometimes, the experience isn’t that great, and it reminds me our industry still …

Community building

June 3, 2024

I’ve worked as an editor in the business press for a while. Ok, a long while, like 25+ years, and have worked in many different markets. One of the things all magazine publishing teams will try to do is build …

One for the ages

March 29, 2024

I’ve been attending the CADA Summit ever since there’s been a CADA Summit. That’s been a while, as the first one was held February 13, 2013. Now, of course there’s a recency bias in everything we do. Some say Patrick Mahomes is …

Full circle

February 27, 2024

Funny thing about time, it marches on regardless, and sometimes you find yourself in a dèja vu moment. I had the opportunity to do a video interview recently with a really dynamic young industry leader, Shannon Willsher, the General Manager …

Nice guys can finish first

December 27, 2023

Every year since 2006, the national association representing car dealers, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, has awarded three CADA Laureate Awards to dealers in three distinct categories: ambassadorship, retail operations and innovation. By my simple math that means there are …