As many of you know, I work inside a Honda dealership. These days, I’ve had more time to contemplate and less time to actually do things, since Honda’s inventory conditions have meant more and more dealer trades. Each week seems to bring more freeway time in Los Angeles, as I drive to some competing dealer to scoop up [...]
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In and Out with Dave Erickson
How Redefining “Local” Can Bring You Customers
“Think local” seems to mean different things depending on who says it. Near my place inLos Angeles, some restaurants serve locally harvested foods, and some take it a step further and serve foods grown in the neighborhood. A few days ago, I saw a Groupon deal for boxing classes. As a former boxer in need [...]
Read the rest of this entry »The Friday Meeting Redux
In our Friday meeting today, our Sales Managers stood up over the salesmen as they do in nearly every other dealership I’ve ever worked at; they cross their arms, neckties so tight you’re immediately concerned for their ability to breathe. Their faces had the same expressions you might find on fifth-grade playground monitors. Their speeches [...]
Read the rest of this entry »The Greatest Speech Never Given
Yesterday I was working a deal on a Honda Insight, and I was particularly excited. Before I explain, some background: March started out rough, which seemed to take everyone by surprise. Our inventory looked good, we positioned ourselves well by recently introducing a free Lifetime Power Train Warranty on all purchases, and we’d acquired some [...]
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