By Jerry Hirsch and Tiffany Hsu
March 5, 2010
In a move that could provide economic relief for hundreds of communities nationwide, General Motors Co. said it would reinstate nearly 700 dealerships that it had planned to drop from its sales network.
The automaker sought to shed what it considered excess dealers as part of a bankruptcy [...]

In business, image is everything. Your customers will make assumptions about you based on your image. If you look professional, they will see you as professional. This positive image sets the stage for sales success. Remember: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The same hold true [...]

Dealerships throughout the country are taking a more serious look at lease alternatives. Statistics show that approximately a fifth of all new vehicles—including cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans—are leased in today’s market. It is a venture worthy of serious attention. This is especially so, because vehicle costs have spiraled upward [...]

Sub-prime sales have a come along way in recent years. In the past, most franchised dealers couldn’t see the potential for profits from sub-prime business.  They dismissed it outright as “too risky.” They thought credit-challenged, lower income customers were someone else’s problem, rather than an opportunity for increased business. They virtually [...]

The automotive industry is changing.  Profit margins are narrowing as the marketplace becomes increasingly competitive – and complex.   For the consumer, this is the golden age of choices – not only in the myriad of products that have flooded the market – but in financing options, and the companies that offer them. [...]