Are your online vehicles ‘consumer optimized’?
Drive more traffic from the Internet by winning online while setting up for strong gross profits
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Get away from haggling and start ‘value closing’
Improve gross profit, closing rate and customer satisfaction by empowering your sales team to sell the real value of your pre-owned vehicles
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While new car sales stall, used vehicles fly off dealers' lots
Trade-In Nation. That's the headline in this week's Newsweek magazine, which takes a look at how, While GM and Chrysler hit the federal government up for bailout money and new car sales have been notoriously slow in the last few months, the demand for used vehicles is up. According to Auto Data Corp., sales of certified pre-owned cars in January 2009 were up 10 percent from the same time last year. The average consumer trades in a vehicle after two or three years, providing steady supply of low-mileage used cars. But these days, as household budgets and credit remain tight, drivers are hanging onto their cars longer and returning them to dealers when they're essentially junk.
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GM names Karl Chevrolet Certified Used Vehicles sales leader
Dealership cited for 3rd consecutive year
General Motors announced today that Karl Chevrolet of Ankeny, Iowa, is the country’s best-selling dealership of GM Certified Used Vehicles for the third year in a row. The honor comes just four years after joining the program in 2004.
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Auto dealer Russ Darrow to hire 55 more employees
It may be a tough market out there but Russ Darrow Group, one of the largest dealerships in southeast Wisconsin, said it has 55 openings and recently held a job fair next week to accept applications, The Business Journal of Milwaukee reports. Menomonee Falls-based Darrow Group is seeking employees in sales, maintenance and repair and administration and hopes to fill the positions by March 1. “I am optimistic about the economic recovery in the local markets in which we do business,” said Russ Darrow Jr., who is chairman and CEO of the Russ Darrow Group. The Russ Darrow Group has 15 statewide dealership locations, representing 21 new car franchises, a used vehicle finance company and a fleet and leasing company.
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U.S. economy seen starting recovery in second half of '09
The U.S. economy is set to contract sharply in the first quarter but a survey of 47 professional forecasters released by the National Association of Business Economists on Monday predicted the recession-hit economy would begin to recover in the second half of this year, returning to a potential growth trend in 2010, Reuters reports. "The steady drumbeat of weak economic and financial market data have made business economists decidedly more pessimistic on the economic outlook for the next several quarters," said NABE President Chris Varvares. "The good news is that economic activity is expected to turn up in the second half of the year and 2010 is expected to see modestly above-trend growth of 3.1 percent," Varvares said.
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Manheim aims for consistency in condition reports, arbitration
In an effort to bring a new level of consistency, accuracy and peace of mind to its customers, Senior Vice President – Customer Management Nick Peluso announced today that Manheim will begin a phased rollout of companywide standards for electronic condition reports (ECRs) on March 9, and adopt a single arbitration policy for all vehicle inventory purchased both in-lane and online on March 6.
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Half million recent new car shoppers steered to used cars
Edmunds.com reports
At a time when automakers are desperate for every sale, a remarkable number of shoppers are drifting out of the new car market and purchasing a used car instead, according to a new Edmunds.com report. Edmunds determined that approximately 511,000 used cars sold in the past three months would have been new car sales in a more normal economy. Projecting ahead, this could represent a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of more than two million vehicles, which equates to more than 15 percent of total new car sales. In manufacturing terms, that amounts to about two assembly plants' new car production, reported Edmunds' AutoObserver.com
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Black Book: Wholesale market becoming more stable
The wholesale vehicle market is becoming more and more stable, Back Book's Ricky Beggs reports in his lates 'Beggs on the Market' video report. During the last week, the number of vehicles per day that required Black Book value adjustments was 670, much lower than earlier this year. "That's the lowest daily average for a weekly period so far this year," says Beggs, Black Book's vice president and managing editor.
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Cars.com reports record used car activity
Picks best deals under $10k
With a national focus on cost-cutting, the used-car market has come roaring back into the spotlight for car buyers seeking value. Cars.com saw a record number of consumers contacting dealers for used cars on Feb. 16, and overall consumer contacts with dealers for used-cars is up 6 percent this year over last.
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Speakers Announced for The 6th Digital Dealer Conference!
How to Endure, Survive and Even Thrive in Tumultuous Times is the theme of the 6th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition held at the Mirage Las Vegas April 19th-21st. The bulk of the speakers have been selected and are posted on the conference website, www.DigitalDealerConference.com. Take a look and see the offering of sessions and workshops available. You will surely find 20-30 sessions that could help you make more money and cut expenses the day you get back. Plus there's the exhibit hall full of vendors to let you see what's out there, and as always, the invaluable networking opportunities with your peers.
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Don’t just get by: Get better
Tried and true survival methods for used vehicle management
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Taking one step back before you take that giant leap forward
Four simple techniques that will improve your dealership’s new, pre-owned and Internet departments
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times leaders can become immobile. They worry and wait. They wait for better news. They wait for the government or the manufacturer to do something. They try to hold onto their position and maintain what they have. They lose their killer instinct and begin playing not-to-lose. If this sounds familiar, you’ve got plenty of company. I witnessed this “wait it out” mindset at a large dealer conference recently where the primary activities of the afternoon centered on the wringing of hands, pointing of fingers and twiddling of thumbs. My past two columns in Dealer magazine, “The Five Foolish Mistakes Leaders Make During a Recession” and “The Recession’s Silver Lining”, have presented strategies for avoiding a downturn’s pitfalls, while you make the most of the opportunities it presents. I’ll continue this month with one last push for the proactive action and productive mindset to get you past “survival” and into success. 
