Blog

The Top 3 Places To Link Your Accessory Site

Posted by Whitney Williams on May 21, 2020 4:00:00 PM

As dealers across the nation adjust to selling vehicles online, it’s imperative that we don’t skip vehicle personalization. The easiest way to ensure customers and salespeople have a fair shot at a perfectly adorned vehicle is to make your accessory link easy to find. Trip and fall over it easy. “There it is again” easy. “I didn’t find the link, the link found me” kind of easy. When you strategically place your personalization link, you make your salesperson’s life easier, and your customer more likely to buy. 

Read More

Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Customer Retention, Increase Profits, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, sales, customers, Accessories sales, configurator, online catalog, Margin Compression, COVID-19

Meet the Data Team Driving Your Accessory Site

Posted by Whitney Williams on Nov 19, 2019 2:00:00 PM

Do girls really run the world? One thing is for sure—they definitely run the Insignia Data Department. Meet the dynamic team of women responsible for the information you rely on to sell accessories. This group of girls keeps the world of digital catalogue in motion, and it’s high time we make them known.

Read More

Topics: Accessories System, Vehicle Personalization, staff, Educate, customers, success, relationships, graphics, configurator, online catalog

Why OE And Aftermarket Should Rule Your Dealership

Posted by Whitney Williams on Apr 10, 2019 11:30:00 AM

When it comes to deciding how to stock your electronic accessory catalog, the name of the game is “both/and”. Yes, OE and aftermarket accessories are the new Ying and Yang, existing in perfect harmony within your parts department. As a best practice tip, strategically lay out your physical and on-screen display with OE’s most likely to succeed, and fill in the gaps with wisely sourced aftermarket.

Read More

Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, brand loyalty, Educate, Best Practice, Accessories sales, configurator, preload, Aftermarket, OE

Old Dog Young Dog Same Trick

Posted by Jason Ludwig on Feb 22, 2019 2:30:00 PM

As an Insignia VPE, I do a lot of training during my guided visits.  I emphasize the same lesson when training associates with proven success and those who have never presented Vehicle Personalization before: consistency of presentation.  To be victorious you have to show up first.

I don’t care what kind of experience you’ve had with the customer. Make a Vehicle Personalization presentation! According to industry statistics, 9/10 of your customers WILL personalize their vehicle within 90 days of purchasing it with anything from fuzzy dice to a truck cap. Why not offer them all the opportunity to integrate it into their purchase?

Read More

Topics: Sales Best Practices, Customer Retention, Improve CSI, Increase Profits, Customer Success, accessories, Showroom, staff, sales team, sales, Educate, customers, F&I, Best Practice, service, Insignia Group, configurator, increase sales

Meet Your Configurator Crew

Posted by Whitney Williams on Dec 11, 2018 11:45:00 AM

It’s hard to imagine it now, but there were once dim days in the world of configurable assets. Dedicated salesmen and women persevered, selling accessories at the point of sale with little more than a digital catalog at their fingertips. Customers closed their eyes and tried hard to imagine roof racks on their new car or truck.

Taking a leap of faith, customers added said roof racks to their cart and gazed out into the sunset over a looming stack of paper we-owes, just imagining. A tumbleweed rolled by as coffee was delivered via cart and donkey. Yes, they were desolate days.

Read More

Topics: Accessories System, Questions, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, staff, relationships, configurator

One simple step to fattening your budget for gross profit in 2019

Posted by Whitney Williams on Nov 21, 2018 10:00:00 AM

As the fiscal year begins to wrap up, dealer management is looking forward to a new year, new budget strategy, and shiny new numbers all in black. There’s not a dealer from here to Malaysia (beyond Malaysia, who knows) that’s not shooting for more profit in the subsequent year. The mantra we’re trying to get our dealer’s to follow in this season of new beginning is cease striving. You already have everything you need to increase gross profit for your store.

Read More

Topics: Educate, customers, Best Practice, success, service, relationships, Accessories sales, tips, creative, graphics, configurator, increase sales, content

Using Content To Acquire Customers Online

Posted by Jason Lancaster on Nov 15, 2018 11:00:00 AM

When it comes to marketing your accessories business online, content is king. Whether you have an off-road or performance shop looking to grow your local accessories business, or a dealership trying to increase new car buyer accessories sales, content is key to your marketing goals.

In this article, we want to share some successful content marketing strategies that are designed to boost visits to your website via organic search. However, the content described below will also help you market your business on social media, and give you some great info to share in an email newsletter.

Read More

Topics: Marketing, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, staff, sales team, sales, seasonal, Millenials, accessories installations, Best Practice, success, relationships, Accessories sales, tips, creative, configurator, increase sales, content, social media

4 Ways to Profit From Personalization

Posted by Whitney Williams on Nov 5, 2018 1:00:00 PM

Accessorizing at the point of sale taps into a multi-billion dollar industry.

Individualism is growing like kudzu and there’s no place for a well-meaning base model to hide. In our “have it your way” society, there are over 30 shades of white paint selections for your new bathroom, a monogram for everything you own, and one too many shows dedicated to making a consumer’s house “more you.”

Automotive is no exception with vehicle personalization clocking in as a $200 billion dollar industry (plus or minus a few billion, but who’s counting?). In 2018 there’s not a dealership in the country, from corporate mega complex to mama and papa’s discount Ford store, that can afford to ignore personalization and we’re here to help you pull this thing off.

Read More

Topics: Improve CSI, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, accessory program, F&I, drive, relationships, Accessories sales, tips, configurator, online catalog, increase sales, we-owe

Best Practice: Eliminating Paper We-Owe

Posted by Whitney Williams on Oct 22, 2018 11:30:00 AM

The we-owe document is a staple of the automotive world. This invaluable document originated out of a need to protect both dealer and customer, but stacks of paper documents leave both parties wanting.

Documentation is the key to professionalism and protection, so why take any risks when it comes to such an important step in the sale? Effectively protecting the dealership’s interest and providing that same comfort for your client saves time and confusion for all involved.

It’s time to bury the paper we-owe for good.

Read More

Topics: Accessories System, Customer Retention, Improve CSI, Process Training, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Educate, customers, eCommerce, Best Practice, success, Accessories sales, configurator, online catalog, increase sales, we-owe

Behind your configurator is a Renaissance man

Posted by Whitney Williams on Sep 6, 2018 1:02:40 PM

It was the 1970s in a suburban neighborhood in Shelby, North Carolina. Preschool paleontologist hopeful, James Brooks, was pouring over his newest dinosaur book from the local library when his highly detailed young mind zeroed in on it. National Geographic had clearly, unapologetically illustrated a dinosaur’s hand in the improper position and with too many fingers.

James couldn’t stand for it.

Read More

Topics: Presentation Tools, Process Training, Marketing, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, staff, Insignia Group, creative, graphics, configurator, online catalog