Blog

Best Practice: 3 ways to educate, not sell

Posted by Whitney Williams on Mar 28, 2018 11:30:00 AM

Your customer relies on you for many things: your expertise, flexibility, free coffee, and detective skills.

It’s not up to the person walking in the dealership to know all the personalization options available that make their car driving experience safer, more fun, more fancy, more attractive, or more social media post-worthy. As a sales person, changing your mindset from pitching another product to educating the customer on their options will make a world of difference.

Truly, you’ll do your customer a disservice by not presenting them with useful and exciting accessories for the second largest purchase OF THEIR LIFE. No pressure--but how might one know what to suggest?

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Topics: Accessories System, Sales Best Practices, Presentation Tools, Increase Profits, Process Training, Questions, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, staff, sales team, sales, Best Practice

3 Rules to Jump Start Your Accessory Sales

Posted by Trey Bodwin on Mar 16, 2018 2:00:00 PM

Getting started with accessory sales can be overwhelming. You want to capitalize on the profits Vehicle Personalization offers, but you don’t know where to start.  We’ve got good news--there’s one simple technique that will tackle your major focuses and gain big results from all departments: the rule of three. Stocking accessories in threes reaps three major benefits. 

As a general manager or dealer principle, you’re all about increasing gross profit for your dealership while keeping laser focus on great CSI. Today’s customers are happy when they get what they want, and quickly. With Vehicle Personalization, your dealership can deliver on both demands with the rule of three.

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Topics: Sales Best Practices, Increase Profits, Marketing, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, staff, sales team, sales, accessories installations, customers

Your dealerships success depends on this 2018 new hire

Posted by Whitney Williams on Jan 4, 2018 2:31:04 PM

Vehicle personalization enthusiasts from every corner of the world went to bed on December 31st dreaming about accessorizing their flying car. As we ring in a new year, we can’t help but wonder when George and Jane Jetson’s idealistic utopian future might come to fruition for the automotive world. Though it may be 2062 before your accessory catalog features space rails, there is productive and innovative focus for 2018 to take your dealership to the next level. We believe what’s going to be the most cutting edge in the personalization game this year isn’t a product, but a person--your accessory manager.

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Topics: Customer Retention, Increase Profits, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, staff

3 spooky myths that keep dealers out of the accessory game

Posted by Whitney Williams on Oct 31, 2017 1:30:00 PM

Are you easily spooked? As we consult with dealerships nationwide, common threads emerge from management staff trapped in a fear.  They know vehicle personalization is profitable and bordering on unavoidable--after all, if your customer can’t get it from you, they’ll get it somewhere else.

Unfortunately, misconceptions often hold dealers in place. We’ve debunked the most common objections to vehicle personalization in the showroom. Here are three fears that keep dealerships frozen in place. We encourage you to step into the light.

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Topics: Customer Retention, Presentation Tools, Increase Profits, Marketing, Customer Success, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, staff

Train insane or remain the same

Posted by Whitney Williams on Oct 19, 2017 12:00:00 PM

Imagine walking to the back of your lot and discovering a new vehicle from your inventory, literally picked up and put IN the dumpster. You stare in amazement trying to figure out how one of the most expensive cars on your lot is literally in the trash. Your blood pressure rockets as you realize that’s about $70,000 your dealership is about to write off to salvage...gone.

Now, apply that reaction to watching another sales person quit. According to recent studies, dealerships literally lose $70,000 to $100,000 per year on expenses related to sales staff turnover.

A study conducted by Cox Automotive found employee turnover rate in the showroom is a staggering 67%. The research, published by Auto Remarketing, found dealerships spend an average of $10,000 per new hire, and about 7 out of 10 of those new hires throw in the towel shortly thereafter. With those figures in mind, dealerships with a modest staff of just 10 salespeople torch upwards of $70,000 every year. Auto Remarketing makes the solid point that a lack of training leads to this astonishing turnover rate. We believe there’s a way to stop this runaway train.

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Topics: Customer Retention, Improve CSI, Increase Profits, Customer Success, Dealership, Showroom, staff, sales team, sales, Educate

5 Accessories to Pumpkin Spice Up Your Dealership

Posted by Whitney Williams on Oct 12, 2017 1:39:34 PM

Pumpkin spice is in the air. With the changing of the seasons comes differing needs to protect and prolong your customer’s vehicle. As we float into fall, winter weather should be on the dealership’s mind.

The month of October is the perfect time to switch your lead-in product.  Summer’s favorite window tint gives way to accessories made to ease the transition to dropping temperatures.

Dealers from Jacksonville to Juno (and everywhere in between) can take a tip from these popular winter weather lead-in products to maximize accessory sales in the fall.

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Topics: Presentation Tools, Increase Profits, Dealership, accessories, Showroom, sales, seasonal

Ken Garff Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Receives 2016 Challenge Coins

Posted by Insignia Group on Aug 10, 2017 2:05:35 PM

Watch Insignia’s David Stringer present Insignia Challenge Coins to Jonathan Murray and Jessica Thompson of Ken Garff Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

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Topics: Accessories System, Presentation Tools, Increase Profits, Dealership, Challenge Coin, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom

OnTrack 1.0 is Here;Toyota Dealers Upgraded First

Posted by Whitney Williams on Aug 1, 2017 3:28:05 PM

Insignia customers, you are about to be upgraded.

Insignia's OnTrack 1.0 will release on August 7 and you’re going to love what you see. A sleek, modern new interface that’s easier to navigate because you deserve it. We’re proud to introduce OnTrack to our Toyota dealers who number close to 20% of TMS stores. This is our first step towards a complete revamping of the system to more closely align with your showroom process.

You read that right--when our customers give us feedback on what isn’t working in real-life accessory presentations, what would make vehicle personalization sales that much better, and what this system looks like in a perfect world, we listen.

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Topics: Accessories System, Presentation Tools, Accessory News, Increase Profits, Marketing, Toyota, accessories, Showroom, sales, Millenials

5 Accessories that will set off fireworks for the 4th

Posted by Whitney Williams on Jun 27, 2017 10:03:54 AM

The Fourth of July brings its own unique set of challenges and opportunities to the dealership world. Though hitting sales goals isn’t typically targeted for the first week of the month, the upcoming July holiday is known for big business. Many dealers advertise rock bottom prices on base models to bring consumers in for the sale. It’s a tactic that’s worked for stores both big and small, regardless of brand, for years on end.

The problem with these slashed prices is the shrinking profit margin, and the fact no two customers are alike. The good news is vehicle personalization solves both. Not only will you add front end gross by selling personalization in the showroom, you’ll also cater to drivers looking for luxury, upgrades, or lifestyle accessories to fit their needs.

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Topics: Increase Profits, Dealership, Vehicle Personalization, accessories, Showroom, sales

What You Need To Know About Personalization In The Showroom

Posted by Whitney Williams on Jul 28, 2016 3:24:00 PM
Have you ever had too much of a good thing?

As good as something may be, there’s always room to overdo it. When personalizing in the showroom, remember there’s a fine line between a conversation starter and a loss for words. Accessorized vehicles on the showroom floor are a must—but with taste. Every customer that buys from you won’t ask about personalization options. Because consumers are all different, many won’t even know what an OE or aftermarket accessory is. While offering personalization at the point of sale to every person is the number one way to close on it, your showroom should be selling personalization before you ever get to the presentation.

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Topics: accessories, Showroom