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Welcome to your new role as an integral part of dealership operations! 

Fixed operations are enhanced by the service manager working hand in hand with the parts department. The service lane can generate new revenue, boost CSI scores, and increase accessory sales when run properly. 

As the service manager, you’ll become the most indispensable aspect of a well-run store. You’ll wear many hats, and be required to change them often. Here are some tips to ensure your success!

The check engine light in a car is a warning sign of an underlying problem. Objections are no different. They’re a sign to point you to the actual problem.

Every day, car salesmen and women do mental gymnastics to get a car sold. At first, it can be strenuous and stressful—so practicing overcoming objections will make you more skilled. Before long, you'll be flipping over that balance beam with grace.

Selling accessories at the point of sale can also bring objections. Learning to bend without breaking in this arena offers enormous payoff. Within 90 days of purchase, 80% of your customers will accessorize their car. You can be sure that they’re going to buy accessories somewhere. 

Learn to overcome these common objections and get that cash back in your pocket.

The internet sales department got the surprise of a lifetime in 2020, becoming center stage overnight. 

The automotive industry is changed forever, and so is the role of the internet sales manager. As car sales continually evolve, internet sales managers can focus on the basics to remain competitive: getting more leads and an excellent staff to pursue them. 

Here are five tips for running a successful department in 2022.

Did you know the number one reason people quit their job is poor company culture? When you're in management, you can set the temperature in the workplace environment and lead by example. 

Whether you've just landed a job as a dealership sales manager or been in the role for a while, it's good to assess your leadership skills. So check out these ten tips to make you a better dealership sales manager!

Brent Mason graduated from the University of Georgia during the 2007 recession and picked up a job selling cars. While his degree was in Business Management, he enjoyed the competitive environment more. By the time the recession lifted in 2009, Mason had worked his way up from salesperson to New Car Sales Manager. 

A few months into the job, Mason began to have problems. The peers he once worked alongside had become his employees, and the power dynamic was difficult to navigate. He found himself being walked all over by some and despised by others. The paperwork was mounting, the stress was incredible, and ultimately, he quit before his 90-day evaluation. 

What caused the rise and spectacular fall of this ambitious young man? He stumbled into several common pitfalls of sales managers and never recovered. Don’t let it happen to you. Avoid these mistakes to take your career from barely surviving to thriving!

The efficiency of the parts department is only as good as the tools and systems you utilize. When you have the right software, your job is ten times easier. Take a look at what's available to you and see where you can make improvements. 

Brand loyalty has a longstanding tradition of being an excellent lead catcher for dealerships. While the appeal of the OEM remains for many customers, it’s become more complicated. Today, customers are better researched than ever before and lean heavily on reviews to make purchases. Throw in a historical inventory shortage and even your best customers are liable to jump ship out of necessity. This year, dealers have to pivot marketing efforts to capture every lead they can.

For the first time in automotive history, buying a car online is normal. From start to finish, customers can browse, accessorize, and checkout from the couch. 

If you bring up low inventory at family Thanksgiving this year, you're canceled. 

"Let's talk about the chip shortage over cranberry stuffing," said no one ever. We don't have a lot of inventory, guys. So let's bedazzle what we do have and slide into 2022 with a bit of pep in our step. Yes, this year was supposed to be better than the treacherous pandemic year and didn't deliver. Through these rose-colored glasses, however, 2022 is looking pretty good. There are steps you can take today and into Q1 to turn survival into thriving next year. 

Is anyone else sick of being cynical? The doom and gloom surrounding the automotive culture are getting too heavy to lug around. As we creep into November, it’s clear that low inventory will continue into 2022, so we’ve got to find a way to make lemonade. While OEM’s and the media are projecting a pessimistic outlook as the world tries to rebound, low inventory can bring opportunities you may not have considered. As we wait for something to change that’s out of our control, let’s make the most of this time.