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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.

Insignia Group has been working closely with dealerships since we were fortifying our bunkers for Y2K.

Since then we’ve seen the industry crisis of 2008, the Presidential bailout of the Big Three, the pandemic, and a chip crisis to name a few. 

Today, even the most seasoned parts managers are in danger of burnout.

Dealership parts backorders, a symptom of the ongoing inventory shortage, are creating more than profit loss. Interdepartmental tension, frustrated customers, and a stressed-out parts staff have only increased since 2020.

Some parts departments aren’t even getting an ETA for the parts and accessories they need. More loyal customers might be understanding, while most blame the dealership. 

For parts managers, an already difficult job has been exacerbated. Nobody wants to be sitting on their hands waiting on parts, yet that’s the very situation we find ourselves in today. 

What can management do to take hold of the dealership inventory problem and be a positive force?

Parts managers and Service managers face the biggest challenges in increasing profit for services and monitoring the ROI of third-party resources. 

Today, fixed operations are faced with an even more urgent need to increase revenue, while inventory shortages result in unmet needs and plenty of backorders. 

How can a dealership create a successful parts department and a thriving service lane under the current conditions? The answer is simple yet complex.

“Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” - Peter Drucker

To lead a dealership or dealer group as the General Manager is to consistently raise the standard for every department. From the cleaning crew to the finance department, General Managers have the ability to command excellence that sets the store apart.

Consumers Want to Connect

The world is increasingly impersonal, with self-checkout, automated answering services, social media, and online shopping. It would be easy to assume consumers don’t care about a personal touch anymore. It turns out that’s not true. 

An article from McKinsey & Co. states, “The Next in Personalization 2021 Report reveals that companies who excel at demonstrating customer intimacy generate faster rates of revenue growth than their peers. And the closer organizations get to the consumer, the bigger the gains.”

What does that mean for selling online? Here are a few things you can try:

• Connect with your customer with a welcome video. 
• Include parts staff directory with a fun fact and photo about each to make them memorable.
• Utilize live chat with a person, not a bot!
• Show accessories on the vehicle for better understanding and visualization. 
• Send personal follow-ups and thank you messages.

18 Adorable Instances of Puppies in the Parts Department 

Puppies riding along to get the car serviced is a thing. 

Where do they lounge while the oil gets changed? The parts department, of course. In some dealerships, customers dropping their pooch by the parts counter is a regular part of the day. Other stores let employee pets come in too. 

They’re terrible workers—though they do make the day a bit brighter. Enjoy these adorable instances of pups in the parts department.

Many people don’t realize what a stressful job parts managers have. 

Between the meticulous details, constant inquiries, cross-departmental conflict, and varying personalities on staff, it’s no wonder the parts manager keeps Goody’s Powder in their desk. 

It doesn’t have to be that bad. Parts managers, consider this a virtual hug. Take control of your department by overcoming these four headaches.