What is the Cure for the Common Employee Headache?
What is the Cure for the Common Employee Headache?
Two Aspirin OR an Employee Handbook!
Do you have an employee handbook? When was the last time it was updated or given to employees? I know it is a bit time-consuming, but trust us, it is well worth your time and effort.
An employee handbook will not make you more money, but it will eliminate a lot of headaches. Most small business owners dislike dealing with employee issues. A handbook helps.
Why a Handbook is Helpful
An Employee Handbook Speaks for You. An employee handbook answers questions about things such as time off, dress codes, …Read More
Destination: no-where?
Nearly half of all new businesses fail within the first few years. Not too encouraging, is it? What sets apart those who succeed from those who don’t? Well, there are several factors but some of the most important ones include having a plan, creating solid internal processes, hiring and retaining great employees and keeping your eye on the goal to generate profit and grow your business.
Even if you are a seasoned business or business owner, it might be time to reflect on your business plan. A business plan is an important roadmap for a dealership’s success. Make sure you and …Read More
3 Overlooked Sales Secrets
As you begin to move into the season, it’s a perfect opportunity to spend a little time tuning up your sales process. Here are 3 key items to keep in mind as we move into peak sales season.
Greeting
The first few minutes of your initial contact with a customer are crucial. Like building a house on a cracked foundation, it’s a lot more difficult to have a positive sales experience if you don’t start out on the right foot. Based on the initial moments of the greeting, impressions will be formed quickly, a tone will develop, chemistry will or won’t develop, …Read More
Winning At Management
Great managers have discovered that the secret to success in their departments is what they do during the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes of every day. As a manager, your number one goal is to produce strong profits and give your customers an exceptional experience with the dealership. Whether you are managing service, parts, sales or rental, you are going to achieve those goals by focusing on motivating and communicating to your team.
It starts and ends each day with a “coach in the locker room” talk with your team. As you think …Read More
Recovery Rates Explained
In your dealership, do you track your Recovery and Efficiency Rates? If you are like some of our customers, you are on the fence about putting in the work to pull these numbers together, but if you are willing to take the time these numbers will give you great insight into how to get your shop performing at a higher, more profitable level.
The Efficiency Rate is the time that the tech is clocked into the work order vs. the time that you bill the customer for that work order. Top technicians strive to have an efficiency rate of 126% …Read More
Working with a Different Generation and Not Losing Your Mind
Working with people who are different than you is tough, right? Especially if they are family! One of the things that we hear time and time again about the challenges of family business, and small business in general is the frustration of working with different generations. Currently, there are three different generations present in they workforce with a fourth getting ready to join. Understanding how each generation works together is vital to the success of small business.
With 3-4 distinct groups of people who each have a completely different understanding about how the world works, there is a lot of …Read More
How We Deal With Family Business
My dad started Bob Clements International over 30 years ago. Small business is all I have known since I was a kid. Like any small business, I have seen the ups and downs. We have had many vacations that were coupled with meetings; that was “normal” to me. If you would have asked me, up until about a year after I graduated from college, if I would have joined the family business my answer would have been a resounding “HECK NO!” After my husband and I got married and had our twins, my dad asked me if I would be …Read More
Showcasing Your Dealership
Last week we talked about setting yourself apart from the Big Box stores. One way to do so is by showcasing your dealership. The easiest and most effective way to showcase your dealership is through your businesses signage.
The most important aspect of an outdoor sign is to grab someone’s attention- almost like a magnet pulling a customer toward the store. The more recognized the name, the more people that will be attracted to your dealership. Branding your dealership will ingrain your name into the minds of your customers, making them feel comfortable when working with and purchasing products from you.
I have …Read More
Setting Yourself Apart from the Big Box Stores
With manufacturers jamming more and more dealers into a marketplace, your product lines are no longer a unique advantage. Big Box stores are now picking up lines of equipment that have in the past only been available at select dealerships. To set yourself apart from the business down the road, you can no longer rely on your brands. You have to work to create a unique experience that your competitors can’t easily duplicate.
1. Understand what makes you different and unique
People will pay more for what they perceive as different or unique. Why would a vase from the Ming Dynasty of China …Read More
Principle 4- Define the Process
An Excerpt from "The 7 Principles of a High Performing Dealership"
The more you can repeat an action the better you become at performing that action.
As an owner or manager, you do not want there to be variability in your processes. Take McDonalds, for example. When they hire an employee to make fries they are not asking for their interpretation on the process. They do not ask if Sally, the fry maker, would like to have a say in the fry seasoning process. They use pictures and make the process as simple as possible. Sally’s interpretation of the fry making process …Read More