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 …
Total attendance at the 2011 Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) in Toronto in February topped 300,000 – up 17.4 percent over last year – making it the third-best year in the show’s history and the best-attended since 2008. Following a …
Setting the bar and how to get there We know that 2010 has been a tough year for many service managers, but we’re somewhat concerned to find service departments that either forecasted a zero-percent increase for 2011 or worse, decided …
Stakeholders’ perspectives on the year ahead At the end of 2010, the used vehicle market was on a bit of a rebound following a lackluster start to the year. According to the ADESA Canada Used Vehicle Price Index, used vehicle …
Off-lease shortage will be short-term According to online auto auction company OPENLANE, 2010 marked a slow but steady road to economic recovery — a welcome change following the troubles the automotive industry experienced in late 2008 and throughout 2009. For …
But the sustainability of incentives raises questions about 2011 December’s sales results are not yet in, as we go to press. But barring a complete sales collapse in the final weeks of December, full-year sales will likely exceed 1.56 million …
Make meetings at NADA give dealers a look into their future With NADA taking place in San Francisco in early February, I have been doing some thinking about what might be the topics discussed in the various make meetings. Depending …
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 …
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 …
And a time of change and opportunity A new year is often viewed as a new beginning for many: a fresh start; out with the old and in with the new. For me, the New Year is a fresh start …
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 …
Strip the technology away and it’s all about people Meet Ontario dealer Ernie Dean, of Ernie Dean Chevrolet Buick GMC in Alliston, who is mixing his social media efforts with his community service to raise awareness and money for a …
