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Back in my home country of Jamaica, at certain times of the year the caterpillars would go through the evolution process where they would conceal themselves in cocoons to be transformed into beautiful butterflies. During the final stage of this process, they would break the tip of the cocoon and squeeze themselves through a tiny hole and fly away. One year my friends and I found some dead on the ground because they were not able to pull themselves out of their shells. So, in our misguided attempt to help those we saw struggling, we made the holes larger to make it easier for them to get out. What we did not realize is that by squeezing themselves through the tiny hole, it removes fluid from their wings, which is the critical last step in their development process and necessary for them to fly. By us intervening, we condemned all those that we helped by stopping their development and they became food for the ants.

Young people are excited about accessories and car brands are taking note. Hyundai Motor America announced they would be rolling out about 30 accessories on their models, starting with the Veloster. Usually, each model only has about 12 to 15 accessories.

Cars like the Veloster, and the Hyundai Elantra coupe, have strong appeal to the younger generation who are intrigued with personalization.  Hyundai offers Veloster body graphics, interior lighting kits, bigger stereos, and more.

Take note of Hyundai and make sure you have a nice lineup of OEM accessories that appeal to the younger generation.  Here are ten car accessories that are popular among the younger generation.

Microsoft and West Coast Customs know what people fantasize about--how about your dealership? Today’s car enthusiast get excited about three things; cars, technology, and customization via accessories. A few years back, Project Detroit was created to appeal to consumer's love of personalization. Project Detroit is a fantasy 2012 Ford Mustang retro fitted with a 67’ Mustang  Fastback body. (One of the most popular Mustangs manufactured)  The car is loaded with Microsoft technology like the Xbox 360, Windows Phone and a Viper SmartStart app that can start the car using the phone. It’s not just a Gen yers dream but the body style appeals to an older generation as well!

In order to promote products and services in the dealership, many dealers invest heavily in elaborate displays like a kiosk.  In theory, it's cool. It probably even looks good sitting in your showroom--but as a stand-alone display, it lacks the valuable influence of a trained salesperson.

A couple of years ago, Chicago was riddled with potholes through a long winter.  After seeing customer after customer come in with blown tires and bent wheels we saw an opportunity-- and not just for the parts and service department. We saw an opportunity to better serve our customers.

So, you think you are a good General Sales Manager?  Numbers are up, you have an excellent sales record and your sales team is great. What else can you do? You may be thinking " what more could your dealership ask for?" Consider what it takes to go from good to greatness in the way of profitable car sales. As a GSM or SM that wants to achieve greatness, you have to embrace new technology and tools that help you do your job better. Here are two examples of a GSM and SM who have done just that and, as a result, increased their ROI to the dealership. Want to do the same? Read further.

When presented with a prospect, one of your first questions will be: “What are you looking for in your new car?” From there you’ll narrow down the type of vehicle, make, model, and list of features. Features on a vehicle used to not carry much importance, but today they can be a major sales solution. Today’s “A la carte” culture has placed an extreme level of significance on options in a purchase deal. Another factor weighing heavily on the car deal is a customer’s budget.  So, what do you do when a customer’s taste in features doesn’t fit their budget?

You let them order “A la carte.”

As another way to show our commitment to helping you make more by selling accessories, Insignia Group provides easy-to-use word track examples. The use of these word tracks can help you verbally transition from the sale of the vehicle to selling accessories. Getting to know your customer during the car buying experience will help you understand their lifestyle, making it easier to determine what accessories are the best fit. 

DVDs in the family minivan almost seem like a must have these days, particularly for families with young children. How do you convince customers to get their DVD players installed at the dealership, rather than purchasing on eBay? Here is a word track to point out the benefits of headrest DVD systems installed at the dealership.

If we've heard it once, we've heard it a thousand times. The buying habits of millenials seem to be throwing business' and marketers for a loop. A recent article in Atlantic Monthly, "The Cheapest Generation" has gotten a lot of attention from auto dealers lately.  The gist of the article is that Millennials/ Gen Y'ers aren't purchasing cars as frequently as previous generations, and that attitudes largely shaped by the Great Recession make selling vehicles to this demographic extremely difficult if not impossible.

The article makes some interesting points, but the conclusion is wrong.  True, the lingering effects of the Great Recession  may have made Millennials a bit more reluctant to open their wallet, there is money to spend.  The key is not to sell them another car, but to sell them an experience: buying the car of their dreams.