And we no longer operate in a closed, automotive-only environment A very few years ago, people in the industry were joking that the car would soon become little more than a mobile platform for the newest electronic gadgetry. It’s no …
Unfortunately, they are not an isolated opinion I had an interesting conversation last week with someone who is very familiar with the automotive service business in Canada. He has a long history of covering dealer fixed operations and the aftermarket. …
It’s a slippery slope that leads away from your store. Last issue I discussed the partnership Ford has put in place with Best Buy Canada and Future Shop. With this arrangement, the role of advising consumers on matching their electronic …
Positive media coverage will be a driving force for positive results It’s no secret that 2009 was a brutal year for the automotive industry all across the world. Nowhere was this truer than in North America, and the downturn, as …
It had a totally different vibe… Y ou can’t guage what’s going to happen during the year from the mood at one auto show. Or even two or three. If you recall the shows early in 2008, including the NADA …
A bit of extra time and effort can help set you apart Like many people, I keep my car clean. Don’t even think about bringing fast food into my car, and sorry kids, no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on …
Moving beyond temporary stimulus A new year is upon us and with it has come the annual tendency to reflect on the past and look with optimism to the future. The days are finally getting longer and soon the consumer …
And make sure you’ve got a ‘Plan B’ As you read through this magazine, you’ll no doubt recognize that its overriding theme is ‘the year ahead’. Nothing unusual about that. The New Year is a natural time to reflect on …
But most of the players remain the same By the time this magazine lands in your hands, the smell of paint in our new offices will be gone. For now, as I type this out, it is still very much …
Published test data are a treasure of useful information As I write this note, I’ve just returned from spending the better part of a week at the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s (AJAC) annual TestFest in Niagara on the Lake, …
Not everybody is a believer After more than a century of domination by the internal combustion engine, the age of the electric automobile is now upon us. Or so politicians and the mass media would have us believe. Increasingly stringent …
The local independent may go away, but you won’t necessarily benefit. It is often suggested that the increased technological complexity of modern vehicles will drive the service business back to the dealer, away from an aftermarket that can’t keep up …
