The Dealer Playbook

During this rollercoaster of a year, car dealers have proven that they have what it takes to adapt and evolve.  Bill Zadeits shares that people (dealership employees) are why the market can recover from the pandemic-induced lockdowns of 2020.  That begs to ask an important question: What is your dealership doing today that will assist in the market recovery of buying and selling vehicles? What is...

2020 has undoubtedly been a year that the retail automobile industry will never forget. Our sector faced a lot of uncertainty early on in the year and demonstrated how quickly we could adapt when faced with pressure.  This year serves as a testament to our resilience and perseverance as a whole. We've shown that we have what it takes to change.  Bill Zadeits, President of Cherokee Media Group...

Customers aren't going to put up with a lot of friction, especially as they seek to navigate the impact of COVID-19. In this episode, Herbert Anderson shares his best advice about how dealers can make their service departments more flexible while addressing the demands of the market. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an honest review here . - - - Social...

Herb R. Anderson, CEO of DT Vendor Management, sees a massive opportunity for dealers worldwide. While many have either scaled back their marketing for new and used vehicles, Herb explains that there is much more predictability within the fixed operations.  Discover some creative ideas that you can implement to leverage the necessity of your fixed ops to generate recurring revenue for your store. ...

Is it possible to get results from social media branding? In this week's minisode, Jeff Hunter shares what it takes to put in an honest effort and see results. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an honest review here . - - - Socials: Follow on LinkedIn Follow on YouTube Follow on Facebook

Jeff Hunter, aka, “General Motors Jeff” has been gaining a lot of momentum with his personal branding efforts. As an active car sales professional at Prouse Chevrolet, Jeff has fully embraced the power of social media and video creation to help skyrocket his personal brand within the community of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, and beyond.  In this episode, Jeff shares his experience and tips working wi...

Consumers are more comfortable making big purchases online. It’s the next step toward an evolved and modern online car shopping experience.  While many car dealers are focused on giants like Vroom and Carvana, others realize that they have an even greater capability to own the market. As a local business, dealers have an advantage in building relationships and providing after-sales service and sup...

When it comes to buying a car, consumers have specific expectations. It's important now, in a post COVID world that car dealers pay special attention to the ways in which consumers which to purchase vehicles.  Max Zanan, founder of Max Zanan Dealer Services shares his wisdom about what dealers can do to sell cars the way consumers want to buy them. His vast experience in the retail auto indus...

It's time to start building out the tech behind the lead submission forms. Up to this point, digital retailing has been a clickbait title for a very disconnected process.  In this powerbomb, Andrew Lemoine shares why now is the time to adapt and evolve. Dealers need to innovate, and pay attention to car shopper wants and needs. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we&apo...

Andrew Lemoine knows what it takes to climb the ladder in the retail car business. He's done it, and is proof that others can do it as well. He's worked as a sales professional, and worked his way to becoming a General Sales Manager, General Manager and now, Technology Founder.  Case in point: If you're struggling to know what you can do to grow in your career in the retail auto ind...

A big challenge in the retail auto industry is that we tend to look elsewhere for answers that are right in front of us. Sean Welsh explains how you can practicaly observe your current car buying process through the customer's eyes, in an effort to improve the experience they receive from digital to physical. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an honest...

The Digital Retail conversation is getting heavier and heavier.  More dealers are wondering if they should jump on the bandwagon, or if the COVID pandemic has truly shifted us to a fully online model.  In today's episode, Sean Welsh, founder of Carbiz Done Better, shares the most important elements of selling cars that ring even more true in today's modern car shopping experience than ev...

Are you struggling because you know you're meant to achieve more in life, but can't seem to break through? It's like you feel that fire in your belly because you know that you can do so much more, but are somehow feeling held back?  Learn how Dean Smith recommends achieving your higher potential, and experiencing the satisfaction of living a fulfilled life and career! - - - Leave a...

Hear the compelling story about how Dean Smith was able to forgive the man who murdered his mother.  In this episode, Michael interviews Dean to learn about the importance of forgiveness and how it translates to your career in the retail auto industry.  As it turns out, each of us is being held back because of scenarios, circumstances, people, and emotions that we can't let go. The retail aut...

There are still many dealerships throughout the world that do not have business development centers. In this week's powerbomb, Michael asks Shawn Armorer why that is, and what dealers should consider when implementing a BDC at their store. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an honest review here . - - - Socials: Follow on LinkedIn Follow on YouTube Follo...

Shawn Armorer has committed his career's work to building BDC (business development) departments that function like a well-oiled machine. The result: a master at his craft - someone who knows exactly what it takes to make a BDC sing and generate millions of dollars in revenue.  Since his process is well-documented and clearly defined, Shawn is able to replicate it and has proven it's pos...

Dean Evans shares his experience working through various phases of economic struggles, and shares what car dealers can do when that happens. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an honest review here . - - - Socials: Follow on LinkedIn Follow on YouTube Follow on Facebook

Dean Evans is the CMO of Cars and has an impressive resume filled with vast marketing experience. In particular, Dean shares his digital marketing success recipe, aka "bottom-up performance marketing," which includes 5 steps that car dealers can take in a post-COVID retail environment. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an honest review here . - - -...

The retail automotive industry is adapting and evolving at an accelerated rate. What would have, perhaps, taken several years to theorize, implement, iterate, and polish, happened within a matter of months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dealers have demonstrated that they have what it takes to adapt to the demands of the market by pursuing virtual alternatives to a traditional in-person process.  O...

David Kain's experience in the retail automotive industry speaks for itself. As the co-founder of Forddirect.com, David has been both a general manager and managing partner of the Kain family, Jack Kain Ford. With the shift in business process post-COVID, David joins the show to share some creative ways that dealers can embrace remote retailing, and leverage existing technology to provide a s...

Scott Simons, Dealer Principal at CMA Valley Dealerships has a contagious optimism that acts as the foundation for how his dealerships serve in the community. In this episode, listen to Scott's story, and how it has played a role in helping him develop who he is today.  The big question from this episode has to do with exploring your past to identify the lessons that have helped or can help y...

Dealer Principal, Scott Simons, shares his inspiring story and how car dealers can make the best of any circumstance. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to alter their operations dramatically, Scott and his team at CMA Valley's dealerships continued to innovate and discover new ways of serving the community. - - - Leave a Review: If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love an hon...

If the obsession is always monetary, the fulfillment will never come. Why? When you're optimizing for something that, if not managed properly, can be a big stress and distraction, you won't get the feeling of fulfillment which serves as a larger measuring stick for success.  We hear it time and again from industry leaders. We learn from their experience that when they finally achieved th...

One of the most influential minds of our time, Elon Musk is responsible for much of the technology, software, and companies that are at the forefront of evolution. It's with that perspective that Elon has garnered the wisdom that leads us to today's Friday Fire episode of the show. Michael shares a quote by Elon Musk that, when applied to the context of your situation, will help you get...

When it comes to creating, optimizing, and managing Facebook ads, Molly Pittman is at the top of the game. In fact, many of the world's top ad buyers and strategists have likely learned from her. But today's episode of The Dealer Playbook is not what you'd expect. It's not about Facebook ads for car dealers at all. Rather, it's an enriching conversation that explores the i...