Archive for May, 2010
What is proper sales etiquette?
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Everyday our Business Development Center (BDC) receives inquires from people that indicate they are interested in purchasing a vehicle. It is the job of the BDC to then follow-up with a customer until they purchase a vehicle or indicate they are no longer interested. Sometimes, this can mean months and months of unreturned emails and unanswered phone calls.
Last week I noticed that 7 people, that came through the Automotive Advantage program, had yet to return a single contact by the BDC to simply indicate whether they were still interested. I personally emailed all of them to ask for a simple yes or no on whether they wanted us to stay in contact with them. Surprisingly, all seven responded, which really got me thinking.
The BDC had spent hours upon hours to try to get in contact with these people. The people had received the messages but simply decided to not respond. To me, that seems like a waste of their time and ours. If they were not interested, a two-minute phone call would have stopped the inquiries. If they wanted to wait a few months, a quick email would have had us follow-up when it was more convenient. If they bought elsewhere, a heads up would have prevented us wasting our time.
What I want to know is why do people not return the calls? What is the expectation or how often a company should contact you, once you have indicated an interest? How could we better contact our potential customers that will make them want to respond? I want to make sure we are creating a shopping experience that is enjoyable to all. Your help is greatly appreciated and if you would like to respond in private, please feel free: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car buying, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc
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What do you owe your network?
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Life is about who you know, not what you know. The old saying seems to hold pretty true in today’s business world. Even as we face an ever-flattening global market, it still seems like the network you create can have the largest impact on your success or failure in business. Knowing this, I make it a priority to constantly grow and nurture my network.
Since my network is so important to me, I make it a priority to pass them references or business whenever possible. If I meet a new contact that I know would help someone in my network, I pass along his or her contact information. If I’m in the market for something I turn to my network to find the product I need. The way I see it, I would rather do business with people that I know than work with complete strangers that will never see me again.
Recently it has come to my attention that not everyone treats his or her network with the same amount of loyalty. Within the last week I have had two people that I know well purchase vehicles from a direct competitor. I then noticed that during a week I’ll give out several leads to people and do not see a single one in return.
Now, I fully realize that these people are in no way obligated to do business with me or to send me leads. This post isn’t meant to complain about my network or to say that everyone should treat their network the same way that I do. I’m sure everyone out there has their own way of treating their network. What I’m trying to figure out is if I am doing something wrong or if other people simply treat their networks differently than I do. I see myself giving out a lot more than I am getting back and I’m not sure why.
What do you believe is your obligation to your network? Do you owe them referrals and leads if they send them to you? Should you try to do business with the people you have met? Is it considered standard practice to pass along kind jesters that people show you?
I’m really interested to hear what everyone has to say about the topic. I firmly believe that a network is something that should be grown and nurtured, I’m curious to see if everyone else agrees with that. If you would like to send me your response in private, please feel free to do so: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, business, Ewald, Milwaukee, networking, Oconomowoc
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The top five summer travel safety tips
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Several times a summer I load my family into our car and we hit the open road. Whether we will be driving for a few hours or a few days, I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way to ensure we get there safely. I ran some of these by our technicians at Ewald and they agreed they were important to safe summer travels. Here is what I have learned:
1. Cleanliness is next to Godliness: Although cleaning your car may seem like a vanity thing, it actually helps protect your vehicle. You should even consider breaking out the wax once or twice a year to ensure you protect the paint of your vehicle. A clean vehicle is a quick first step to making sure it will get you where you need to go this summer.
2. Don’t run on empty: I used to have a tendency to wait until the very last minute to refill my gas tank, however, this is a bad habit that is a bad habit. Try to refill your car before it gets below a quarter tank. This will help prevent dirt, debris and rust from entering the fuel system. As you make your treks this summer, try to stop sooner than later to prevent any damage.
3. Stop to smell the roses: It may be second nature to hop in your vehicle and take off. But try to avoid this. Make an effort to look over your vehicle on a daily basis. If daily does not fit into your schedule, at least look her over before any long trips. Start on the outside and look at your tires to ensure they are properly inflated and have plenty of tread and then look under the vehicle to ensure there is nothing hanging down. Go under the hood next to ensure all your fluids are properly filled and are the appropriate color. If you are not sure what these should look like, consult your owner’s manual. Finally, jump in the driver’s seat to ensure all lights and electronics are working properly.
4. Don’t always pinch pennies: I have written plenty of posts about saving money and living on a budget. However, the one place you don’t want to skimp on things is your car. For the most part, cheaper parts are cheaper for a reason; they’re not as well made. Whenever purchasing something for your vehicle, always ensure you are getting a quality part that will not break.
5. Life is about who you know: As important as it is to know how to upkeep your vehicle, it is also important to have a trusted professional that can handle the larger maintenance issues. When looking for that trusted person, be sure to check both their education and work experience. Also, look for a shop that can work with different makes and models so you can take all your vehicles to the same place. Finally, visit the shop before it is time to take your car in to ensure you are happy with the people and service you will be working with.
These tips were simple ways to help keep my family safe on our summer travels. I hope they help keep your family safe as you enjoy a great summer! If you have any tips that have worked out great for you, I would love to hear them: cihde@ewaldauto.com
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car, car service, car wash, Ewald, gas, inspection, maintenance, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, parts, Safety, service
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Supporting safe teen driving
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
There may be nothing more exciting than getting your driver’s license for the first time when you are a teenager. That is, unless you are the parent of that person! For anyone that has children, it is easy to understand what a terrifying time this can be. While nothing can completely calm the fears associated with this time, one such mom has taken it upon herself to help those in a similar situation.
As someone in the automotive industry, I am always looking for resources for our customers, some of which are parents whose children are getting their driver’s license. When I was in high school, learning to drive was a part of the curriculum and everyone was mandated to take defensive driving courses. Unfortunately, those days have passed us by and are now replaced with graduated licenses. In order to help parents through this graduated phase, Anne Scallon created Before the Wheel (beforethewheel.com).
Before the Wheel is a resource for parents that are facing their young ones learning how to drive. It provides best practices to ensure teens learn how to become safe and competent drivers. Whether it is your first time dealing with such a situation, or you have gone through it before, Before the Wheel exists to support you and your family.
One of the best things about Before the Wheel is that it is from right here in the Milwaukee area. When I met with Anne, to discuss the new project, she told me about her reason for starting the site. She talked about her first time going through the experience and about how she wished for a place of support. Instead of waiting for someone to create something for her, Anne took it upon herself to create the resource that she wished she could have had.
Ewald Automotive Group is proud to stand behind Anne and Before the Wheel. We invite anyone that is, has or will be dealing with teen drivers to visit the website at www.beforethewheel.com . It is a great resource to help parents ensure their teens stay as safe as possible while learning to drive. Thanks for the great work, Anne!
Tags: automotive, Automotive Advantage, car dealership, car sales, Ewald, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, Safety, Teen Driving
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Race the Klements Sausage Racers this weekend!
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
Join us this Saturday, May 8th from 11am to 1pm as we grill out and race the Klements Sausage Racers! We invite everyone to bring their children to enjoy all the fun! The event is meant to help Oconomowoc Youth Baseball win a baseball diamond make-over courtesy of Chevrolet.
The event will take place at Ewald Chevrolet Buick on Highway 16 in Oconomowoc. We are proud sponsors of Oconomowoc Youth Baseball and hope you will help us support them.
Tags: automotive, baseball, Chevrolet, Chevy, Ewald, Oconomowoc, youth
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