Future Visions of the Auto Industry and Automotive Advertising Based on What Was and What Is

Auto industry social networks all have different rules and protocols to create their unique identities in the auto industry and the inter-dependent automotive advertising industry. While there are differences in format, content and contributors they share the common goal to educate their community members by sharing best practices and insights with the concept that a rising tide floats all boats. To provide clarity and share my vision of the future of the retail auto industry and automotive advertising it must be framed it in the context of our changing geo-political and economic environment. Once the foundation of today is built on the broad picture of our world economy and politic, then the role of the Internet and related technologies can be applied to the one constant that we can all depend on — human nature — to help define tomorrow as I see it.

Any competitive business model must be built to accommodate tomorrow as well as today. Today is obvious. Sales volume, profit margins and inventory are down across all brands. Consumer confidence is falling as unemployment is rising even in the face of the expected temporary increase when the million plus census workers and various government employees — such as the sixteen thousand IRS agents to police our new health care system — are artificially added to the equation. Wholesale and retail credit lines are restricted by both natural business cycles and government intervention. Our economy is directly linked to the world economy along both monetary and political lines and the United States as well as our European trading partners are faced with excessive debt and unstable monetary systems. Our monetization of our debt — basically the fact that we loaned ourselves the money we needed to fund our growing debt by printing more money, since no one else would lend it to us — has insured the inevitable inflation of our dollar or some similar correction to our monetary system. This anticipated correction is already supported when observing the situation maturing in Greece, Portugal, Spain and other European Countries tied to the Euro and the International Monetary Fund, (IMF). No one has a crystal ball, so the only way to plan for tomorrow is to recap today’s critical issues that didn’t exist yesterday. It is these changes in — what was — vs. — what is — that will likely define — what will be and the actions that auto dealers and automotive advertising agencies must take to remain profitable and competitive in unchartered waters. Read the rest of this entry »

Image of Your Franchise Automotive Outlet is So Important

Image of your franchise automotive outlet is so important. Some say image is everything, well then if you buy a franchise you should be constantly thinking of image and cleanliness. If you read Ray Kroc’s book “Grinding it Out” (McDonalds Visionary) or Tom Monahan’s (Founder of Dominos Pizza) book or Dave Thomas’ book “Franchising for ?” or Howard Shultz’s book; “Pour Your Heart Into it” (Story of Starbucks) you will see they all built brand on image. Even for those of you who are the extroverted sales type, plenty of examples such as “Customer’s For Life” by Carl Sewel and “Exceeding Customer Expectations” by Jack Taylor (founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car). But as I travel the country and have literally been to every city in the country over 10,000 population in the US;

http://www.carwashguys.com/blitz.html

I cannot tell you how many franchise automotive outlets are run down, awnings faded and falling apart, trash areas look like a bomb went off, grease stains out the back door and stains on the sidewalks in front of stores. Of course these stains are there for years? Why? When you buy a franchise you need to follow the manual from the franchisor and no where in that manual, I guarantee it, does it say to make sure there are stains on the concrete out front of your store at all times? Read the rest of this entry »

Pilot Motorsports PM-573 Stainless Steel Weld-On Exhaust Tip, M Style, 2-3/4″ Outlet

  • M-style
  • Outlet diameter: 2 3/4″
  • Inlet diameter: 3″
  • Length: 8 1/4″

Product Description
Pilot Motorsports weld-on design tips are made of the highest quality, polished stainless steel…. More >>

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