A simple “thank you” can work wonders in cementing both a deal and customer relations. And there are several places along the sales path to express your appreciation. They include:   
1) Incentives/rewards that bring folks into the store;2) Promotions that help close that deal today;3) Rewards for referrals; 4) Customer loyalty programs; 5) The straightforward,  “Thank you” for your business. Numerous studies have tried to identify the...

It is not surprising that there has been significant discussion about the implementation of the Ontario Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (2002). As most readers know by now, this legislation went into effect January 1st of this year with a goal, according to the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) website, to stipulate “clear requirements for advertising, pricing, vehicle disclosure, contracts and consumer remedies.”

It was previously noted in this space that even though the...

Unfavourable demographic changes, including the retirement of the baby boom generation, will dampen vehicle demand over the coming decades, according to a report by Canada’s Scotiabank.

While generation Y will become increasingly more important for the auto industry, growth in the vehicle buying population is set to moderate to the slowest pace in more than 50 years, according to Scotiabank chief economist, Carlos Gomes
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Baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1963, have had an enormous...

Our industry is certainly not isolated from change. In fact, you may be hard-pressed to identify elements of the business that have not seen pretty consistent evolution over the years. In the wholesale market, one such area is in the manner in which used vehicles are remarketed. In recent articles we have talked about the impact of technology on how used vehicles are sourced. We have indicated that an increasing number of vehicles are being purchased through various online channels, but we...

There is reason for optimism in October’s Canadian new-vehicle sales results. At 121,500 units, sales were down just 1.0 percent from last October – the best year-over-year result since November 2008 – and were the second best for the month in the past five years. Indeed, October’s sales surpassed the five-year average for the month by 1.8 percent. Both Scotiabank chief economist, Carlos Gomes and DesRosiers Automotive Consultants president...

Did that date get your attention!  It should.

 

The reality for the large majority of the 8400 registered dealers in Ontario is that you have very little to worry about. But if you are one of the few dealers that stretching the limits and misrepresent the facts to the consumer, then you better buy a large SUV, hitch it up to the sales office and move south –  far south!

 

If you’re not an Ontario-based dealer, you’re off the hook – for now. But...

The imminent implementation of Ontario’s revised Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA 2002) and attendant publicity surrounding it has heightened the awareness of both dealers and consumers in the levels of disclosure that must be provided when selling, in particular, a used vehicle. But, whether required by the new Ontario Act or other provincial regulations, full disclosure of used-vehicle history data is simply good business.

 

As Russ Morrison states in his article about the MVDA...

Canadian sales of 129,503 new vehicles in September, while still 3.4 percent below the same month last year, represent the best monthly result so far this year, relative to year-ago. And they’re within one percent of the September average over the past five years. Continuing a general trend of improving performance since the market bottomed out in February, the results bode well for the prospect of a better second half, barring any new setbacks.

As has been the case for several...

The love affair between young people and cars that has helped fuel the industry since the end of WWII may be on the wane. That’s the conclusion of a new study of auto-related online commentary among teens and young adults by J.D. Power and Associates.
Power analyzed over 775,000 "conversations" on auto-related sites such as Autoblog, personal blogs and social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to assess the perceptions of young people towards the auto industry in general...

According to a report titled, EventView 2009: Global, “events and the Web (are) the marketing disciplines that provide the greatest return on investment.” There’s always been a place for event selling within the wide range of marketing tools a car dealer uses. The Giant Tent Sale is a still a favourite, and the Private Sale has become something of a staple.

 

Different approaches

 

The two differ primarily in their focus. The Giant Tent Sale casts a broad...