CrossCheck Blog

A study by the Center for Automotive Research demonstrates dealerships across America have a profound effect on their state and local economies. “Contribution of New-Car Dealerships to the Economies of All 50 States and the United States” offers compelling narratives, statistics and graphs while providing dealership owners and employees with just cause for pride and optimism. “New-car dealerships are found in nearly every community across the country,” states the abstract of the 38-page publication. “Auto dealerships employ more than one million people directly and support over 1.18 million private sector jobs nationwide. These jobs result in more than $143 billion in compensation each year and nearly $19.3 billion in personal tax revenues.”

Furniture is more about the experience than it is about being utilitarian. People are looking for statement pieces with meaning, and nothing is more in than sustainable, do-it-yourself (DIY) furniture projects. There’s even a DIY network. Home furnishing stores in tune with that trend have a competitive advantage.

A J.D. Power U.S. Tech Choice Study shows that consumers are placing greater emphasis on the inclusion of onboard technologies when they shop for new cars. According to the study, “there has been an 11% increase in the proportion of consumers who say the lack of the latest technology features is one of the most important reasons why they avoided a specific model or brand.”

Charles Darwin didn’t anticipate this, but marketers have been assimilating his theory of natural selection into their strategies since the middle of the 20th century. Thus, the "survival of the fittest" among species may be applied to the marketing of auto parts where competitors large and small are jockeying for position and developing new methods of increasing sales. Brick-and-mortar stores in particular are feeling the pinch as they witness consolidation among some of the largest players in the field. Nevertheless, a window of opportunity exists, providing potential optimism for any parts dealer willing to make the effort in finding a viable niché.

Pet owners across America vary in lifestyles and personal philosophies, but most would agree that their dogs and cats, and for some — horses, goats, sheep and potbelly pigs — are in fact, family members. The love and protective instincts shared by pet owners provide one degree of separation between them and those who believe “they’re just animals.” Love of pets is simultaneously a blessing and a curse to clients and veterinarians alike. Pets can bring enormous joy to humans, but their relatively short lifecycles place caring people in the position of having to make tough decisions.

The current warm, dry weather in many parts of the country strikes a stark contrast to the record cold and snow of the 2014–15 winter, giving heavy equipment operators in those areas extra time to finish projects before the inevitable. Here in Sonoma County, however, the predicted precipitation from El Niño has parked big machinery until spring. Whether one is a heavy equipment dealer in an area that is presently undergoing wet or dry conditions, now is the time to prepare for next year’s busy season.

With much of the country about to face the sharp blade of winter, motorcycle dealerships across America will have time to fine-tune their marketing strategies for next year’s riding season. Sooner or later, it will be wet and cold with snow and ice, and the number of customers walking into showrooms will dwindle down to a trickle. Consequently, there will be time to reminisce about last summer’s rides and tackle those long-overdue plans for the future. Looking ahead is great, but don’t lose sight of today because there’s still time to place warm bodies on those cold seats in the showroom. Start with the low-hanging fruit.

The rift between Americans having health insurance versus those having dental insurance is huge. Nearly 90% of those surveyed have healthcare policies, but only 60% have dental coverage. Nevertheless, all is not doom and gloom, and most dentists can simultaneously provide their patients with stellar healthcare while increasing profits. According to an August 2015 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, only 29 million Americans did not have health insurance during the first quarter of 2015. Those numbers represent an improvement of 7% over the previous year.

With furniture industry growth continuing to outpace the U.S. economy, the time is ripe for all home furnishings dealers to join the party. According to Mike Hudgens, the southeast regional manager of CIT Commercial Services, the upward trend is attributed to “strong performances in bedroom and dining room furnishing sales.” Hudgens believes the “U.S. furniture markets have seen an uptick due in large part to new home sales and an increase in consumer spending as they look to furnish homes.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is committed to preventing vehicle theft in the US by issuing the results of its ongoing studies. The latest guidelines were posted on its website in June 2015, containing data from the previous three years. That web page and a downloadable Infographic (see below) and Fact Sheet provide safety and prevention tips; descriptions of bolt-on products such as audible alarms, immobilization devices and vehicle recovery systems; and if all else fails, what to do if a vehicle is ever stolen. Dealerships should consider downloading and printing the infographic, and racking them at the main service desk. Another way of providing exceptional service would be to apprise regular customers about the latest safety technologies available via your service department. They will thank you for being concerned about them and their loved ones. While you’re helping them, connect the final row of dots to payment solutions for purchasing the new safety devices.