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At Insignia Group, our pets are basically our co-workers. 

They pop up unannounced in video calls, steal our lunch, nap in our chairs, and undoubtedly make the workday a whole lot better! Whether it’s a dog snoring at our feet or a cat climbing across the keyboard again, pets have become a regular part of the work-from-home vibe. 

Introducing a few of our favorite supporting characters: the pets of Insignia Group.

Tariffs on parts and imported cars don’t mark the industry’s demise.

The pandemic gave us a brutal reminder that the automotive industry has always been at the forefront of large-scale disruptions. When the first lockdowns hit, manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers scrambled to predict the future. Would supply chains ever recover? Would consumer behavior permanently change?

Automotive industry experts were eager to predict the future of car-buying after the pandemic. Would it become fully digital, a new process, or return to normal?

Today’s reality is a chaotic mix, with customers split between online, in-store, and a foot in each realm. Dealerships are struggling to keep pace. Consistency is a common problem, and there’s plenty of margin for error when a customer abruptly transitions from your website halfway through the process. 

The year was 1997. 

Blockbuster looked down from its throne to scorn the new court jester. The jester danced with enthusiasm and grit, smiling warmly at the King of Video Rental. Blockbuster rolled its eyes and signed off on a late fee for Titanic. With few details to spare, the King later died a tragic death. The jester took the throne, and quadrupled the kingdom. The jester was Netflix, and his legend is clear: don’t get too comfortable or the joke will be on you.

Automotive accessories are a multi-billion dollar industry largely unaffected by the constant ebbs and flows in the car business. 

Still, dealerships are often hesitant to present and sell accessories at the point of sale. In some stores, customers have to ask for the accessories to access them. In others, there are haphazard approaches that use accessories as a closing tool or an afterthought, often doing more damage than good. 

Is there a better way? Of course!

And don’t simply take our word for it. We’ve also asked an industry veteran of twenty years for their insight.

Buying a new car isn’t always filled with giant red bows and excitement. Car buying can be out of necessity. For some customers, the prospect of a new car with the latest features can’t dislodge loyalty to a beloved automobile.

Leah, a mortgage lender from Charlotte, reminisces on buying her new car before Christmas. “I don’t hate my new car necessarily. It’s just that my old one took me everywhere and always brought me safely home. There’s a lot of memories in that car and I was used to it. I spent more time in that car than in my house these last few years. Unfortunately, it had 370,000 miles on it, and it was just time to move on.”

"Tracking orders and communication between departments is great—it holds people accountable with the new reports that are available."

- Peter Boothe, GM at Wild East Town Honda

When you think of selling accessories at the point of sale, your first thought may be dollars and cents. While profit is a major benefit of selling accessories, there are other aspects of an accessory process that can benefit your dealership at a high level. 

Accessories do more than increase front-end gross, boost CSI scores, reduce turnover, and create repeat business. And they're more than a resource for making customers sticky or benefiting fixed operations.

In today’s dynamic automotive industry, car dealerships are no longer only about selling vehicles; they’re the gateway to an experience and avenue of self-expression. 

Enhancing the car buying experience with accessories isn’t a secret sauce. It’s a proven process, and anybody can do it. Drivers crave a vehicle that integrates with their lifestyle, offering cutting-edge features that go beyond the ordinary. Car dealerships have a golden opportunity to cater to this demand by strategically presenting and selling accessories. The truth is, if dealerships don’t meet the demand, customers will seek out aftermarket accessories somewhere else. 

Being a salesperson often means playing an exhaustion game. The final “X” on the board at the end of the month is liberating and brings a sigh of relief, only to usher in the beginning of a new month with a fresh slate. 

Car sales, in particular, can be especially stressful because the number of cars a person can sell is subject to fluctuations in the market. Even the best salespeople have months where their numbers are down and their pocket takes a hit. 

Yet there’s a way to increase your monthly income as a car salesperson, without selling one more car.

The festive season is upon us, with car enthusiasts and gift-givers alike gearing up for the celebration!

While the holidays traditionally evoke images of snow-covered landscapes and cozy family gatherings, there's a unique and exciting way to spread cheer beyond the usual gift exchanges and seasonal decorations—by exploring the world of car accessories. 

Dealerships that knock the holidays out of the park offer accessories for every automotive aficionado. Here are eight reasons to put the spotlight on accessories this season and will end 2023 strong.