Just keep it simple
Technology is amazing. But keep your common sense. While I do attempt to address a wide range of topics relevant to the used vehicle market in general, and the remarketing industry specifically, if you had to point to a key …
Category: Columns
Constant change is the order of the day
New vehicle technologies require highly-trained workers One thing that can safely be said about the automotive industry and our society in general is that the rate of change and the impact of change is unprecedented. For evidence of this observation …
Here we go again…
Ottawa must be prepared to intervene in economy Despite months of what’s consistently been branded a “recovery” in the wake of the recession of 2008 and 2009, we find ourselves once again in very uncertain waters. As of this writing, …
Build the three pillars of Internet success
Digital marketing guru Jared Hamilton shares his insights The Internet has hit the auto industry in a very big way. It touches virtually 90 per cent of all consumers and affects every single profit center within a dealership. There is …
Battery differences define hybrids and EVs
As with other aspects of vehicle design, battery selection is a compromise Just as the engine is the defining element in a conventional vehicle’s powertrain, the battery is at the core of the electric vehicle’s propulsion system. Which is why, …
Weighing merits of public auctions
Some dealers see public auctions as a threat. Do they have a role? The use of auctions by dealers has been a recurring theme in this magazine, and certainly in some of my own articles, which have discussed certain advantages …
You can’t manage what you don’t measure
Jim Bell’s 5 “must-have” worksheets Our best practices worksheets are a hot item. Here’s a recap of five of them you can download from the Canadian auto dealer website and why you need them. Both James and I started our …
Wish I’d said that…
Web 2.0 guru Jared Hamilton makes the complex seem obvious As a magazine editor, I sit through a lot of speeches and presentations. Because it’s my job to be there, I always try to listen intently. My natural curiosity usually …
Let the good times roll
The outlook brightens, but forecast remains cloudy With a nod to the pop band The Cars with their 1979 hit, is there a case to be made today for “letting the good times roll” in the Canadian automotive industry? According …
Leaders make all the difference
There are great managers and great leaders. Which are you? Over my 25 years as an observer and advisor to the automotive retail industry, the partnership between automotive vehicle brand owners (VBO) and their independent dealers has amazed me. From …
Jim Bell’s 5 Must Have Forms
These are a series of aids developed by Jim Bell, of Global Automotive Consultants, which will provide you with the tools to assess your operation of your service department. Their ease-of-use format was designed specifically for dealers and should, if …
Avoid deceptive tricks to build online reputation
Regulators and consumers are exposing fake reviews When I searched the phone number of a used goods store where I shop for guitars and musical gear, I read the shop’s only online review posted in Google. It was negative, and …
