CBT Automotive Network Podcast

The Latest Trends in Digital Retailing and How Your Dealership Can Prepare - Jessica Stafford, Autotrader & Denise Chudy, LivePerson | Is the Smoke of Falling Auto Stocks an Indication of Impending Fire? | Best Practices for Scheduled Appointments

Today on CBTNews.com - March 28th, 2019:

The Latest Trends in Digital Retailing and How Your Dealership Can Prepare - Jessica Stafford, Autotrader & Denise Chudy, LivePerson

On today’s show, we welcome back Jessica Stafford, senior vice president, and general manager at Autotrader and Denise Chudy, General manager at LivePerson Automotive. Jessica and Denise are here to discuss the latest trends in digital retailing, and how your dealership can prepare.

Is the Smoke of Falling Auto Stocks an Indication of Impending Fire?

Auto stocks have been experiencing a downturn as of late. Last week, BMW may have only exacerbated the problem by revealing slow sales and a melancholy outlook for the future. "Political and economic developments in Europe remain increasingly uncertain," BMW said in its annual report Wednesday. It specifically cited the "unforeseeable impact of Brexit" and U.S. trade tensions with the European Union and China.

Best Practices for Setting and Maintaining Scheduled Appointments

Today’s consumer look to streamline all the processes they undergo. Making larger purchases, such as vehicles, is included within that. The quicker the process, the better it is for consumers. What many don’t realize though is that the car buying process has the ability to be streamlined by simply setting an appointment.

On today’s show, we welcome back Jessica Stafford, senior vice president, and general manager at Autotrader and Denise Chudy, General manager at LivePerson Automotive. Jessica and Denise are here to discuss the latest trends in digital retailing, and how your dealership can prepare.

On today’s show, we welcome back Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive, the fourth-largest U.S. dealership group. In this segment, Jim and Jeff discuss downsizing, the state of the used car industry, disruption from Tesla, and what's on the agenda for EchoPark.

Jeff Dyke on Used Car Sales, Tesla, and the Future of EchoPark | Tesla's "Start" Program Begins Training the Next Generation of Service Techs | Here’s What’s Coming Up in the Auto Industry

Today on CBTNews.com - Wednesday, March 27th, 2019:

Sonic Automotive's Jeff Dyke on Used Car Sales, Tesla, and the Future of EchoPark

On today’s show, we welcome back Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive, the fourth-largest U.S. dealership group. In this segment, Jim and Jeff discuss downsizing, the state of the used car industry, disruption from Tesla, and what's on the agenda for EchoPark.

Tesla's "Start" Program Begins Training the Next Generation of Service Techs

It’s not just how we think of driving that Tesla aims to change, but how we think of mechanics and education as well. As the industry shifts more towards electric vehicles, it’s going to take a new set of skills to service the cars of tomorrow. Instead of getting hands dirty under the hoods of cars, mechanics will be more likely to give their wrists a workout checking code on a laptop. With an increasing focus on software, it’s crucial to have teams trained for the unique needs of electric and autonomous vehicle maintenance.

Here’s What’s Coming Up in the Auto Industry

Mark Your 2019 Calendars: Here’s a list of conferences, expos, and other events coming up this year in the Auto Industry!

How to Create a Truly Unique Selling Experience at Your Dealership - Paul Potratz | The Next Generation of Dealership Showrooms | Quick Changes To Make That Can Increase Your Lead Generation

Today on CBTNews.com - Tuesday, March 26th, 2019:

How to Create a Truly Unique Selling Experience at Your Dealership - Paul Potratz, Dealership Branding Expert

Every dealer knows that in order to disrupt your competition and stand out in the market, you have to be unique. Here to tell us how your dealership can create a truly unique approach to selling is expert branding strategist Paul Potratz, owner of Potratz Partners Advertising.

The Next Generation of Dealership Showrooms

As we move into an era of self-driving cars and pervasive e-commerce, it seems that the current iteration of the automobile dealership is due for a makeover. With Tesla’s recent announcement about store closures and e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart closing in on the reality of buying cars online, what does the next generation of automobile dealerships really look like?

Quick Changes To Make That Can Increase Your Lead Generation

Without leads, the likelihood of your business failing skyrockets. Leads are qualified prospects that have the ability to run into customers, but more than that, they can become ambassadors of your brand. Many companies, dealerships included, have various important goals set out, but roughly sixty-six percent of their organizational goals tend to focus on lead generation.

Every dealer knows that in order to disrupt your competition and stand out in the market, you have to be unique. Here to tell us how your dealership can create a truly unique approach to selling is expert branding strategist Paul Potratz, owner of Potratz Partners Advertising.

Shawn Hays on Personal Branding, Setting Goals and Managing Salespeople | Manage Your Dealership and Your Time | Ford's Big Investment In EV's and American Jobs

Today on CBTNews.com - Monday, March 25th, 2019:

Shawn Hays on Personal Branding, Increasing Closing Percentages, Setting Goals and Managing Salespeople

On today’s show, we welcome back Your Car Guy Shawn Hays, co-founder of Sales Hustler and sales manager at Dan Cummins Chevrolet and Buick in St. Augustine, FL.

Manage Your Dealership and Your Time

You invest many resources in your dealership. Out of those, perhaps the most valuable is time. For this reason, time management is critical for all businesses. Without it, time is squandered on misplaced priorities, and money flows out instead of in.

Ford's Big Investment In EV's and American Jobs

Ford is going all-in with electric vehicles. On Wednesday the company announced plans to sink almost $1 billion into electric and autonomous cars, with an expansion to a Michigan assembly plant and another in Cuautitlan, Mexico.

On today’s show, we welcome back Your Car Guy Shawn Hays, co-founder of Sales Hustler and sales manager at Dan Cummins Chevrolet and Buick in St. Augustine, FL.

Week In Review: Cody Lusk & Chairman Howard Hakes of AIADA Talk Tariffs, Trends, and the Future of the Retail Auto Industry | Evaluating Your Dealership's Marketing Team and Advertising Spend | 7 Common Leadership Challenges that Managers Face and How to Overcome Them

CBT News Week In Review for Friday, March 22nd, 2019:

Evaluating Your Dealership's Marketing Team and Advertising Spend (Part 2) - Glenn Pasch, CEO of PCG Digital

On today's show, we continue our conversation with Glenn Pasch, CEO of PCG Digital where they have recently done over 50 audits with dealers to get a true and accurate sense of how they utilize their marketing and lead handling strategies. We explored the findings with Glenn and got his insight into what successful dealers are doing right, and how to see bigger returns from your marketing budget.

7 Common Leadership Challenges that Managers Face and How to Overcome Them - Bruce Tulgan, RainmakerThinking

CBT welcomes back Bruce Tulgan, Founder and CEO of RainmakerThinking, popular author, and management consultant. On today's show, Bruce discusses what he calls 'the undermanagement epidemic'. He breaks down the seven common leadership challenges that managers face, how to identify under management at the dealership and practical strategies to improve your leadership skills.

Chevy Dealer Tim Roberts Discusses the Challenges Ahead and Becoming a MotorTrend CPO Dealer

According to numerous projections, the retail auto industry is on track to face some tough challenges this year. Which means it’s more important now, than ever, to utilize every department in your dealership to its fullest potential. On today’s show, we have Tim Roberts, partner at Champion Chevrolet of Avon. We discuss how dealers can maximize gross profit in all areas of the dealership, and the importance of offering a certification on non-brand vehicles. 

Cody Lusk & Chairman Howard Hakes of AIADA Talk Tariffs, Trends, and the Future of the Retail Auto Industry

On today's special edition of CBT News, we're happy to have Cody Lusk, President and CEO of the AIADA and the newly installed 2019 chairman, Howard Hakes. Cody and Howard discuss challenges facing the auto retail industry, including tariffs, consumer confidence, and trade.

Cody Lusk & Chairman Howard Hakes of AIADA Talk Tariffs, Trends, and the Future of the Retail Auto Industry | Five Ways to Develop Your Staff into the Automotive Industry’s Future Leaders | How This Feature is Changing The Automotive Experience

Today on CBTNews.com - Thursday, March 21st, 2019:

Cody Lusk & Chairman Howard Hakes of AIADA Talk Tariffs, Trends, and the Future of the Retail Auto Industry

On today's special edition of CBT News, we're happy to have Cody Lusk, President and CEO of the AIADA and the newly installed 2019 chairman, Howard Hakes. Cody and Howard discuss challenges facing the auto retail industry, including tariffs, consumer confidence, and trade.

Five Ways to Develop Your Staff into the Automotive Industry’s Future Leaders

You should always hire individuals with the mindset that they can eventually become a leader with the right training and instruction. Leadership development requires intentionality and strategic thinking, so always think of how your current leaders can influence those with potential.

How This Feature is Changing The Automotive Experience

Just when you got used to social media, things are changing up again. While it’s not time to close out your Facebook account or delete Instagram just yet, the way humans communicate is once again showing signs of reorganization. For a while social media was king. Now, it’s looking like people are gravitating more towards messenger apps to interact, which means chatbots are becoming a stronger presence in all modern enterprises and may be the key to flourishing in the auto industry of tomorrow.