Create a High Performance Dealership with Bob Clements

3 Tips for Getting Ahead of Inflation at Your Dealership

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 06:27:00 -0500

Sara Hey and Bob Clements of Bob Clements International walk through three main areas dealers need to pay attention to help they get ahead of inflation at their business. Clements say he expects we'll see 10-12% inflation number in the U.S. and in Canada it will be about 5-6%.

How a Triage Process Can Reduce Chaos in the Service Department

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 13:46:00 -0500

What is triage and what does it have to do with your service department? In this video, Bob Clements and Sara Hey from Bob Clements International explain how having a triage process in place can help reduce chaos in your dealership.

What Should I Be Marketing If I Don’t Have Inventory?

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0400

You can’t get units to sell, but you have customers calling, emailing and waltzing into your dealership, asking you to take their cash. What’s a dealership owner or manager to do? Should you stop marketing if you can’t get wholegoods inventory to sell?

Now is the Time to Reevaluate Service Pricing

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:49:00 -0400

Bob Clements believes there’s never been a better time for service managers to take a hard look at their pricing strategies.

Is Marketing Worth It When Dealers Can't Get Inventory?

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 15:02:00 -0400

In this video, Sara Hey shares specific steps you can take to market your service department and your parts department while sharing how to bring units in on consignment. In addition, she shares how manufacturers can come alongside their dealer channels with marketing right now.

Looking for Technicians? Keep These Tips in Mind

Mon, 31 May 2021 15:52:00 -0400

Looking for skilled technicians? Sara Hey shares 3 tips to keep in mind when recruiting technicians — from pay rate to where to look.

3 Strategies for Dealing with Inventory Challenges

Mon, 24 May 2021 13:02:00 -0400

Sara Hey and Bob Clements address how dealers can work through the challenges the industry is facing with getting inventory from suppliers.

Are You Overlooking These 3 Sales Secrets?

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 12:38:00 -0400

There is still time to tune-up your selling skills before season slows down. Here are three overlooked secrets that can have a big impact.

How to Easily Grow Your Marketing List

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 11:30:00 -0400

If you are looking for an easy place to start, that costs you nothing, let’s focus on growing your marketing list by utilizing your own customers.

3 Tips on Developing a Marketing Strategy

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:32:00 -0400

So many dealerships only spend marketing money when they are forced to by their manufacturer or when they feel like sales need a quick boost. In those moments, your hard-earned money won’t be fully utilized.

How to Approach Marketing for the Parts Department

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 12:01:00 -0400

When we think about what we are marketing in our parts department, we have to focus on what we hope our customers will say when they leave the dealership.

3 Keys to Finding Success with Commercial Accounts

Fri, 22 May 2020 09:28:00 -0400

For many dealerships, the commercial accounts that you service lack a dedicated and effective process. Your commercial accounts may include a golf course, a landscaper, a larger farmer, or a local government or municipality.

Phone Basics in Your Dealership

Mon, 18 May 2020 12:25:00 -0400

With each state, county and city having their own individual rules on social distancing, showrooms being open, or parts being delivered curbside, the phone has become once again the lifeline we have to connect with our customers.

Be Calm. Be Informed. Be Proactive.

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 06:55:00 -0400

As you lead in the coming days, we encourage you to remain calm, stay informed, and be proactive. We must plan to define 2020 not by COVID-19, but by another term — strength, resolve, ingenuity, or perhaps triumph. How will you define 2020?

3 Questions to Ask Customers About Service Issues

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 10:55:00 -0400

The first breakdown in communication is the first contact with the customer. Dealerships and employees are getting better with attaining the customer's contact information, but I find most documentation stops there.

Adjusting Your Service Check-in Process

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 14:12:00 -0500

As season begins to heat up, it’s a perfect time to make some adjustments to your service processes that might have gotten a little rusty during the winter months.

Don't Undervalue Your Knowledge

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 11:26:00 -0500

If you are like many dealers, the product knowledge you and your team have may be one of the best kept secrets in your dealership.

Focus on Setting Goals in These 3 Areas

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 00:01:00 -0500

When you think about setting goals for your dealership, my guess is that you, like most of the dealers we work with, don’t even know where to start.

How Not to Get Overwhelmed When Developing Documentation

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Tackling all areas simultaneously may seem appealing at first, but will be a sure track to put you and your team on a quick road to burnout.

3 Questions to Measure Your Dealership's Professionalism

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 13:05:00 -0500

Most of the dealerships we work with are able to charge a premium price for the services they provide. However, many dealerships struggle with keeping the professionalism of their team at the level it needs to be to justify that premium price.

Embrace Your Mistakes

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Most of what you have learned in life and in running a dealership did not come from your successes, but from your mistakes and your willingness to learn from the experience and drive forward.

Take Time to Evaluate Your Insurance

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 10:44:00 -0500

Insurance is one area that most owners fail to evaluate properly each year based upon ownership changes or changes in increased or decreased levels of risk.

Back to the Basics: The Employee Handbook

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:54:00 -0500

An employee handbook is an important part of your HR process. It gives your employees the answers to the questions they need answers to without coming to you.

Back to the Basics: Meetings

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Sure, you know you need to have meetings with your team, but how in the world are you supposed to do that in the crazy world of a dealership?

Your Sales Focus Over the Next 90 Days

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 12:46:00 -0500

Focus on one or more of these areas: sales stability, sales growth or sales accountability.

6 Ways to Create a Successful Service Department

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 00:01:00 -0500

Measure your team’s performance on these critical service department fundamentals.

Setting Off Season Goals

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Take a moment and give some thought to how well your service department functioned during the off season. Were things flowing well? Did you have a quick turn-around time for your customers?

Bob Clements Intl., EDA Launch Dealership Certification Program

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Dealership Certification is a standardized industry certification program that includes a series of training courses aimed at creating a benchmark of excellence in dealership operations.

3 Common Pitfalls in Hiring

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 15:58:00 -0400

As you approach slow season, you may find yourself questioning the decisions you have made around adding the additional people.

3 Ways To Be A Great Manager

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 08:00:00 -0400

When I think about a terrible manager, I think of someone who micro-manages, lacks communication skills and motivates with fear.