The past few days I’ve been a few wisdoms further. A number of brand directors of new Chinese brands, but also of established brands, believe in fairy tales. The fairy tale that, after only 25 years of existence online, is suddenly a panacea! A powerful tool that suddenly presents itself as a tool with which you can sell cars. Those brand directors will sell their new cars via an online order button, without the intervention of dealers…

The concept of a Lead Distributor is a new trend emerging at many dealerships I have spoken with recently, primarily Asian brands. The Lead Distributor is someone who can see whether the lead is interesting and determines who best to forward that lead to. In my view, it is an expensive way to encourage a lower conversion and thereby destroy your marketing investments. In other words, a Lead Distributor does not work. I have several arguments to illustrate that.

How do you get the attention of the (online) customer? And I deliberately put ‘online’ in parentheses. After all, aren’t we all an online customer? Many researchers from reputable parties will tell you in the coming months: the online car buyer is coming.

We are currently living on the brink, not of the abyss but of a major correction that will take place in the profit and loss sector of the car business. At least, that’s my gut feeling.

What is going on? By all data, we are now at an all-time high in the used car price index. Whether you ask Autotelex or Indicata or Michel van Roon, they all say that prices have never been higher. Not only in the Netherlands, but also in many European countries and in the US, prices have never been so elevated.

What is going on? By all data, we are now at an all-time high in the used car price index. Whether you ask Autotelex or Indicata or Michel van Roon, they all say that prices have never been higher. Not only in the Netherlands, but also in many European countries and in the US, prices have never been so elevated. How is this possible? Read it in this blog!

Carvana is in tough weather, very tough weather! Yesterday, the company announced that 12% of its staff will be laid off and that the management team will no longer receive a salary. This is because their share price has fallen 90% from its peak. Also announced: Carvana acquired  ADESA’s physical auction business, #2 in America, for $2.2B to expand its used car capacity. How is this possible? Read it in this blog!

It is over! My 10th NADA, if I’m right, and it was back to normal! There was practically nothing to notice about Corona. This was also reflected in the energy of those present. You just felt that everyone was craving an event that for once is not taking place on a screen. But what was my experience? Read it in this blog!

You just felt that everyone was craving an event that for once is not taking place on a screen.

I started when State Secretary Wijn thought it normal that private individuals should pay 518% more road tax for their company cars. I felt this was a bomb under a business model, but I was wrong. I was guilty of focusing too much on a market that apparently wasn’t as steadfast as it first seemed. The lobby of the Bovag was so weak at the time and that was the reason for me to write my first blog. What was useful is that, then and now, I write more easily when I’m frustrated, and a habit was born. At the time, it wasn’t called content or influencer marketing yet, but that economic dip certainly gave me new opportunities.

My company’s existence was created around optimizing online leads. So, as far as I am concerned, there cannot be enough leads! I don’t want to discount the importance of an effective dialogue because that is another critical part of the sale. But the more online leads there are, the more I can help dealers prosper. Whether it concerns training, consulting, or the use of Calldrip, there are always advantages and advice I can offer through my business. But consider this question: are we living in an outdated world? Is directing the online customer to fill out a static lead form the best communication option we can offer?

When we go on long shopping trips, I always use Apple Maps for navigation to the stores. To get from Point A to Point B, I have different choices: Mercedes Navigation, Waze, Google Maps, Flitsmeister Maps but also Apple Maps. However, I use the latter option. The issue I have with Waze is that I can’t zoom out. This is possible with Apple Maps and Maps. If I also turn on Flitsmeister, I’m ready to go! But why is Apple Maps so important? Read more about it in this blog!

To properly manage salespeople, you have to work with them. Not only in a weekly meeting, but daily. You are their manager, coach, and their trainer. In my work as an external trainer/coach at dealerships in the Netherlands, and also in other countries, I am expected to convince the salespeople that they can perform better. Even after a few sessions with sales managers. I can still see that the attention is slackening, things are getting stale with the sales team and the issues of the day reign. Cause? The manager’s disinterest in working with salespeople on a daily basis.