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What if Vehicle Personalization became the foundation of the sales process, rather than something tacked on to the end of a lengthy negotiation? That’s exactly what Insignia’s upper- Midwest expert, Kurt Daugherty, is suggesting. The dealers Kurt works with know he’s a proponent of starting with the trade, seamlessly weaving Vehicle Personalization into the conversation--and with good reason.

Automotive industry professionals all over the country can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The myth has been debunked--millennials’ supposed disdain for cars isn’t shutting down the industry as we know it.

In recent years, the demand for certified technicians has ballooned as the number of quality workers in this field declines.  Experienced technicians are almost certainly guaranteed to find work. The technician knows it, and the dealership knows it. This creates an environment where the expert is looking for steady work to earn a good living, and the dealership is looking to provide steady work to talented people.

It would seem the flood of recall work for most brands over the last several years would fill this need. Yet recall work is redundant and, at times, not particularly challenging. Warranty work, which keeps many service bays busy, often falls in the same category. Couple these dynamics with the shortage of a talented workforce, and you’d have to ask yourself, why would anyone want to be a service manager these days?

I don't know about you, but I really like the NADA show timing so close to the beginning of the year. It feels like the right way to start the year running or hustling, with a feeling of urgency.

My perception in conversations with dealers and store managers on the show floor was a feeling that the clock is ticking and things needed to get done--a lot of things.

People love to personalize. We accessorize with things we love, and in the case of a presidential election, sometimes, even with things we hate. Where else, apart from politics, can you find people customizing t-shirts, stickers, greeting cards, and more, just to promote their opposition to an individual or party? It's fascinating. Everywhere you turn, consumers are personalizing. Enter a Google search for, "Donald Trump accessories," and you'll return over 1,000,000 results. Try searching for "Hillary Clinton accessories"--over 2,000,000.

These days, the overwhelming majority of automotive brands have gone global. Looking at just the top five brands of the first half of this year, you’ll find these industry leaders featuring sites from Belarus to Chile. This raises a common challenge. How can automotive brands cater to customers in different geographical locations with varying cultures, needs, and interests? Vehicle Personalization is a multi-billion dollar industry in America alone, so imagine the profitability worldwide. Profitability aside, custom cars transcend culture and location. Every automaker desires to create brand loyalty in every market. Vehicle Personalization makes that goal attainable.

A thriving dealership knows to never miss an opportunity with a captive audience. Automotive Broadcasting Network cites 400 million hours of wasted in-store time spent by Americans in a year. Too many dealerships herd these consumers, waiting on service or F&I, to solitary confinement with a cup of bad coffee and a fish tank to entertain them.

Even the small cars need a touch of pizzazz.

Compacts cut a metropolitan profile these days. In this market, it’s not enough to be fuel-efficient. Popular small cars such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, and Ford Focus sport sleek body lines. Those lines feature popping colors and racks to support all sorts of outdoor habits.

Which customization and accessories, dealer or aftermarket, will let you ride like a boss? Here’s a guide to a few.

Recent articles in The Automotive News (AN) address an age-old topic no dealer principal can ignore--lot rot, or, the costly practice of maintaining a large inventory in hopes of grabbing a buyer’s attention. Mega corporations such as GM and BMW have tried to transition buyers to the build-to-order model, without success.

AN news writer Larry Vellequette identifies the “legendary impatience of American car buyers”