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Automotive industry professionals all over the country can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The myth has been debunked--millennials’ supposed disdain for cars isn’t shutting down the industry as we know it.

To preload or not to preload? That is the question. Except that isn’t the only question. There are about a dozen others, including what to preload? Should we just order port-installed options? Does the dealership make any money with port-installed options? Does anyone have an Excedrin?

In recent years, the demand for certified technicians has ballooned as the number of quality workers in this field declines.  Experienced technicians are almost certainly guaranteed to find work. The technician knows it, and the dealership knows it. This creates an environment where the expert is looking for steady work to earn a good living, and the dealership is looking to provide steady work to talented people.

It would seem the flood of recall work for most brands over the last several years would fill this need. Yet recall work is redundant and, at times, not particularly challenging. Warranty work, which keeps many service bays busy, often falls in the same category. Couple these dynamics with the shortage of a talented workforce, and you’d have to ask yourself, why would anyone want to be a service manager these days?

I don't know about you, but I really like the NADA show timing so close to the beginning of the year. It feels like the right way to start the year running or hustling, with a feeling of urgency.

My perception in conversations with dealers and store managers on the show floor was a feeling that the clock is ticking and things needed to get done--a lot of things.

What if you could offer an elderly driver or the parent of a new driver an extra level of protection when they buy a car from you? Imagine the impact of revealing the driver to the outside world by a simple expression of personalization. Japan has done just that.

The digital age made us all highly opinionated. There’s just something about being behind a computer screen that’s spurred even the most introverted of consumers to share with the world their opinion, feedback, praise, complaints, and what they ate for lunch that day. Ahh, online reviews. They can build your business or destroy the Roman empire. So how can you be proactive in using what people are saying about you to make more profit?

People love to personalize. We accessorize with things we love, and in the case of a presidential election, sometimes, even with things we hate. Where else, apart from politics, can you find people customizing t-shirts, stickers, greeting cards, and more, just to promote their opposition to an individual or party? It's fascinating. Everywhere you turn, consumers are personalizing. Enter a Google search for, "Donald Trump accessories," and you'll return over 1,000,000 results. Try searching for "Hillary Clinton accessories"--over 2,000,000.

Dealers in the Vehicle Personalization game keep a fully-loaded electronic accessory catalogue year round. A profitable store showcases custom packages, standard OE, aftermarket selections, and a variety of accessory options to meet the needs of a multitude. There are accessories that never go out of style, fads that come and go (bring back the dashboard dancing hula girl!), and seasonal personalization programs.

Becoming a successful salesperson requires thorough training. While many pursue a sales career to complement natural people skills, even the best salesperson requires training specific to the dealership’s process. Think about your new employee training. What’s the length of the training, and what does it entail? How do you invest in your new sales staff to ensure a return on investment? Who supports new hires as they acclimate to the job? Most dealers can agree on a few key points when it comes to inducting staff, particularly on the sales floor. Proper training is essential, as well as support and follow-through from the employee’s manager.

Much like Vegas itself, the SEMA Show represents an amazing display of human endeavor and once again the folks of the Speciality Equipment Market Association (staff and management) executed another amazing show #SEMA16. Well done!