If you read our last issue (January) recently, you probably came across the cartoon titled “The Walking Wounded Come To New Orleans” on page 12. It depicts a long line of ‘wounded’ dealers stumbling into the front entrance of the NADA Convention. The reality, unfortunately, is that this depiction is not far from the truth, we continue to hear about increasing numbers of dealers closing their doors, shedding jobs, and community ties. It’s true, not all is well with our industry, but we continue to focus on our readers, their success, and profitability.
Despite what may occur with the so-called “bail out” by the Feds, vital advocacy organizations like NADA, continue to forge ahead with events such as this month’s NADA Convention and Expo in New Orleans, which are perhaps more relevant and vital than ever. Yes, the time and expense of travelling to the show isn’t chump change, but for those dealers that can swing it, investing the time to attend with your fellow peers could well make the difference between staying in business or not. As incoming NADA chairman John McEleney said when interviewed by Dealer Marketing Magazine last month, NADA’s focus is to help “recession-proof business operations that are vital to every dealer in the country.” His role and the challenges ahead are immense, but by providing dealers with a forum to learn new ideas, products, and exchange business development ideas, dealers can be confident that the strategies they learn at the show will not be “pie in the sky” broad stroke solutions. From VAuto’s Dale Pollak’s (please forgive our misspelling last issue Mr.Pollak) session on “Vehicle sales—Performance and Profitability” to Mark Tewart’s session titled, “Creating Superstar Salespeople,” there is a strong emphasis on training and education, perhaps more so than previous years.
Dealer Marketing Magazine will again proudly have a booth at the show and will be staffed with associates that would love for you to stop by to say “hi,” pick up a copy of this issue, and let us know how your business is doing and what types of stories you would like to see more of in this magazine. We would not be here without your readership and continued support of our advertising partners and we look forward to the journey towards better times in the auto industry and our own businesses. Cheers and happy New Year! Oh, and see you in New Orleans.