Think Your Customers are Loyal?
How one dealership earned an extraordinary display of devotion, and how you can too!
Vintage Marketing: Old Bikes Build New Business
If you ride your restored bevel drive Ducati, Panhead Harley or Black Bomber Honda on a regular basis, you are probably used to being mobbed at gas station stops and motorcycle hangouts. A nice looking vintage bike just naturally stops traffic. “I was going to a military vehicle meet,” explains Robin Markey, partner in Bob’s
P&A Numbers
Steve reviews the July P&A numbers for one of GSA’s member dealers and the related TBOC averages.
F&I Numbers
In today’s highly-competitive market, it is essential to have an effective F&I department to pick up the margins.
Smart Systems
The impetus behind the development and refinement of systems in any business is to streamline operations, increase efficiencies and, thus, increase profits.
Panic Is Dead
Business owners and managers become better suited at handling adversity over time, gaining the ability to listen to customers’ problems and respond with better solutions. This deadened sense of panic is, perhaps, the most important step in the development of any business owner/manager.
Tracking Sales Numbers
Having a solid business plan and sticking to it can give you positive results in the long run.
At Your Service: Your Service Department
Your sales department may get customers through your door, but your service department keeps them there. “In these economic times,” says Tim Buechele, parts and accessory manager of Hammond (La.) Harley Davidson, “customers are paying more attention to preventative maintenance. They are investing in what they have, which means taking care of their existing vehicle.
Buggies Light Fire to the Off-Road Market
Unlike the scooter industry, which I often write about, there is a lack of information on buggies. There is no DOT, consumer safety board or even a consumer reports magazine testing these units in the United States. It’s caveat emptor for the dealers when they are doing research on a particular brand they wish to carry.
At Your Service
Your sales department may get customers through your door, but your service department keeps them there. “In these economic times,” says Tim Buechele, parts and accessory manager of Hammond (La.) Harley Davidson, “customers are paying more attention to preventative maintenance. They are investing in what they have, which means taking care of their existing vehicle.
Total Store Gross Margins
Steve discusses a key indicator of survival in any dealership: total store gross profit margins.
Online Shoppers
The majority of consumers search for and research powersports products online before walking into the dealership to buy. As a result, the more progressive dealers are educating themselves on how to handle those Internet quote requests when they arrive.
Crime Stoppers: Get a Lock On Motorcycle Security
In the U.S., a motorcycle is stolen every 7.5 minutes. In 2005, 70,613 bikes were stolen, according to figures released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. In financial terms, motorcycle owners and insurance companies burdened a loss of $434 million in stolen motorcycles and components. Just as you take loss prevention precautions in your store,
Not Quite Perfect
What can your dealership do to thrive and survive in a challenging market?
Service Department Numbers
This column explores service department dealer data and benchmarks.
Sales Manager Makeover
Sales managers often end up as inventory control clerks or paper shufflers or any variety of things that have nothing to do with what they should be focused on – managing individual sales encounters with customers.