Blog

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.

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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?

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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

3 Ways To Put Your Preload Program To Work For You

Posted by Whitney Williams on Feb 13, 2019 12:15:00 PM

In a fictional study never performed, 100% of dealers admitted their preloading program was one of their biggest factors hindering them from selling accessories in the showroom.

Jokes aside, this really is a common theme that dealers are often getting snagged on.  We all know that vehicle personalization is a multi-billion dollar industry, but with popular vehicles preloaded on the lot and showroom floor, dealers shy away from bringing up additional add-ons to their customer. The result? The customer just buys what they need somewhere else.

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Customer Retention, Word Tracks, Reducing Turnover, Increase Profits, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, staff, sales, accessory program, Best Practice, drive, Accessories sales, Insignia Group, Land Rover, Jaguar, increase sales, we-owe, preload

Learn How Dealers Can Leverage YouTube To Sell Accessories

Posted by Jason Lancaster on Dec 27, 2018 9:00:00 AM

YouTube offers tremendous opportunities for dealers. By observing a few Internet video best practices, you can promote vehicles, sell accessories, and build a fan base from this one platform. Here are two examples of auto dealers that promote vehicles and sell accessories with video that we can all learn from.

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Topics: Sales Best Practices, Customer Retention, Increase Profits, Marketing, Toyota, Dealership, Subaru, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Luther Brookdale, Adventure Subaru, creative, content, social media, YouTube

3 ways to personalize your personalization catalogue

Posted by Whitney Williams on Dec 6, 2018 11:45:00 AM

Our “have it your way” society is hungry for more monogram stickers, a broader array of window tint options, engines that purr in another language, and decoupage. Dealer principals all over America are behind closed doors pouring over staggering statistics about vehicle personalization. Some laugh with delight, others cry at the seemingly insurmountable behemoth.

Whether you find joy or sorrow in the multi-billion dollar “uniquely mine” industry, one thing remains true: this consumer trend isn’t going away. So how can a dealer effectively keep climbing a mountain that’s still growing? Stay active, grasshopper.

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Improve CSI, Increase Profits, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, sales team, Accessories sales, online catalog, increase sales

Top 3 reasons service writers are your best sales people

Posted by Patrick Blackburn on Jul 25, 2018 11:30:00 AM

When I visit a dealership to help them devise strategies that will increase their accessory sales, several common themes appear. All (well, most) parts departments are heavily focused on selling accessories. That’s their job. Fewer stores have their sales teams focused on this part of their business, though most agree that this is something they should be practicing consistently. Almost no stores focus on the department that interacts with their entire customer base—the service department.

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Increase Profits, Customer Success, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, staff, sales team, sales, accessory program, Educate, customers, Best Practice, service writers

The A.R.T of Automotive

Posted by Trey Bodwin on Jul 17, 2018 1:30:00 PM

Changes made to image. Courtesy of  Haiden Goggin. license information here

Car buyers like to feel good about their investment - and if you’re running a dealership you wouldn’t have it any other way. Customers in the market for purchasing a vehicle have more buying options than ever before. The convenience of the internet has led to streamlined transactions, rather than a car-buying experience.

Subaru of Clear Lake Parts manager Nick Heidaker expresses the importance of an accessories program at his store, “Our customers find value in personalizing their vehicles—it also gives us a chance in parts/service to meet the customer before their first service appointment.”

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Customer Retention, Increase Profits, Toyota, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, accessory program, Educate, customers, Best Practice, success, sans marcos toyota

3 Ways to Get Jazzed About Accessories and Leasing

Posted by Whitney Williams on Jul 9, 2018 2:00:00 PM

In 2018, my dad is even talking about leasing a car. This is the same guy that is adamantly opposed to renting a house, and until lately would have never considered a lease. My dad always said you should never throw your money at something every month that you won’t eventually own.

But even Dad is raising his eyebrows at the opportunity to bring home a really nice vehicle at a fixed cost and turn it right back in when (Mom) is ready for a new one.  You won’t believe this, but my dad isn’t the only one that is on to something.

Turns out basically all of America got the same direct mailer because leasing is on the up and up, and still upping. If you’re not fully versed in the ease, joy, and beauty of accessorizing a leased vehicle, then get ready to be dazzled, my friend. Presenting personalization can’t be any easier than to your lease guy (or gal). *

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Customer Retention, Presentation Tools, Process Training, Customer Success, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, staff, sales team, accessories installations, customers, leasing

The social media beast is hungry

Posted by Whitney Williams on May 10, 2018 11:00:00 AM

Just a few years ago, you could resist the social media temptress. No, it wasn’t popular, but you could pull it off. Swim upstream a bit. Dabble, but resist diving right in. No more. The social media beast is hungry and it eats a full time salaried position at your dealership for breakfast.

Society as a whole has embraced  the culture of social media and the ease of access to search, shop, and even sell from an online platform. Your grandmother has been on Facebook for two years and is ready to move on to Instagram. Your customer is no exception--and you’ll lose business if you don’t believe it.

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Topics: Sales Best Practices, Marketing, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, Showroom, sales team, Millenials, Educate, customers, eCommerce, Best Practice

4 Ways to Boost Your Accessories Sales Today

Posted by L.J. Lobsinger, Jr. on Apr 6, 2018 1:00:00 PM

 

Selling cars continues to become a challenge as many dealers have embraced a volume-based business model. The once consultant-style selling approach is now merely transactional. For a sales associate to get ahead they simply need to sell more units. Yet many dealers are getting on board with creative ways to pay the sales associate for selling accessories. So how do you work accessories into an already fast-paces sales process? Here are 4 tips to get you jump started today:

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Increase Profits, accessories, Showroom, accessory program, accessories installations, Educate, kiosk