Victor Horton’s Post

One day a friend was invited by another to go to a party, when they arrived at the party they were introduced to other people and in the group someone asked these two what they did in life, what their professions were. The first responds: “I’m a car salesman.” and the other responds: “I am a salesman for the most technologically advanced automobile manufacturer, in fact the brand does not build cars, it develops cars that offer their owners unique driving pleasures…” In summary: Both are car salesmen of the same brand, but the first will continue to be a salesman and the second was recently invited to become commercial director of a dealership of the brand because the person who had asked him the question was general director of that car group. Moral: when someone asks you what you do in life professionally, try to add value to your work so that others can see your contribution to the organization you represent.

Apparently there's a notch higher up the salesmanship ladder marked Do Not Disturb. At least that's the only sensible interpretation of recent events that unfolded in India. As reported by Carscoops, a disgruntled salesperson allegedly saw no better way to stage his 'burning' disagreements than to quite literally ignite a Lamborghini Gallardo, setting all notions of professional decency ablaze along with it. We have to start questioning not just the aggression escalator, but also ponder never-heard-before conflict resolution methods that land us on such fiery terrains. Here you have the Gallardo, an iconic hard-hitter representative of auto excellence and someone's potential Jet Set reality. -FanningTheFlamesInAllTheWrongWays But behold - there's a silver lining, or should we say, a diamond studded lesson in all this madness: • Employee engagement and conflict resolution are key for effective management: simple disagreements can turn into full-blown standoffs impacting organizational decorum and operations. • Double-check safety protocols: dealership or mechanic - everywhere with even a remote chance of a spark, it is crucial to always ensure safety and act responsibly. • Last, and not least, cherish the machines: The Gallardo is one of Lamborghini's most iconic creations that came to define a whole era of sports cars. Burning it over an argument seems disrespectful, not just to the engineering marvel that it represents, but also to the love that millions around the world share for these incredible machines. So car enthusiasts and professionals, we debate over mileage, tire pressure, modifiers, and remaps. We shouldn't need to debate the respect and protection every vehicle deserves. Just as our favorite wheels give us a sense of driving-inspired zen, let's respect the serenity that's beyond us and be mindful of powered beasts sculpted by human artistry and ambition. Don't be in too deep with fuel. Step back, detune the fiery tiffs and gear up towards mutual respect in your professional spaces. Even disagreements have their RPM limits! -TopGearNoMore -SupercarSpats -BeyondTheLimit - original source: https://lnkd.in/gXjkdPqC

Two crucial elements contribute to success: confidence and a genuine passion for one's work. I have been visiting this dealership since I was 10 years old, fascinated by the various vehicles, options, and colors available. Today, I have the opportunity to sell the same cars I once admired. Possessing in-depth product knowledge and sales experience fosters confidence in my daily responsibilities.

🔧 The Power of Service: Driving Success in Automotive Business 🔑 In the automotive industry, the service department isn't just a segment of our business – it's the heartbeat that sustains our success. As a Sales Leader, I've come to deeply appreciate the crucial role that service plays in creating a thriving dealership. 📚 Beyond providing maintenance and repairs, the service department creates a valuable book of business that keeps customers coming back to the dealership. It's an opportunity to not only meet their needs but exceed their expectations, creating loyal clients who become ambassadors for our brand. 🚗 Sales and service are two sides of the same coin. For every car sale, there's an opportunity to cultivate a long-term relationship with the customer through ongoing service and support. By working together seamlessly, we can ensure that every interaction – from the showroom to the service bay – is a positive and memorable experience. 🤝 Collaboration between sales and service isn't just beneficial – it's essential. By aligning our efforts and focusing on being of service to our customers, we can maximize opportunities for repeat business and referrals. It's about going above and beyond to create value at every touchpoint. 💡 At Westshore Honda, we understand the power of working together. Our sales and service teams are united by a shared commitment to excellence and a dedication to providing the highest level of service to our customers. Let's continue to drive success through service and collaboration! #ServiceExcellence #SalesAndService #CustomerExperience #AutomotiveIndustry

“From COVID Commanders to Car Lot Chaos: When the Easiest Job Gets Real” Remember the golden era of being a Sales Manager at a car dealership during COVID? It was the easiest layup in history. Cars were flying off the lot at MSRP or higher, inventory was scarce, and customers were lining up to buy whatever was available—no pitching, no haggling, no hard closes. It was the ultimate order-taker gig. Your biggest challenge? Deciding which customer got the one SUV you had left. Fast forward to today: the market’s normal again, and some of those COVID-era Sales Managers are struggling like it’s their first day on the job. Customers are negotiating, inventory is back, and the team actually needs coaching. No more blaming “supply chain issues” for sky-high prices—now you’ve got to sell. If you’re still running your store like it’s 2021, it’s time to adjust. COVID was the layup. Now it’s game time. How’s your dealership holding up? Or is your Sales Manager still wishing for the good ol’ “one car, ten buyers” days?

***SERVICE TO SALES*** The most underutilized resource in the dealership! Just last week, a sales manager came to me with a guest that was on 🔥🔥 about his 2019 F250 that’s broken down in service. Transmission issues, going to be a lengthy repair, possible backorder parts. The sales manager was genuinely looking for an expedited solution! I told the sales manager, “Bro, I got it!! You have a row of new F250s on the lot. Put him in a new one! Do what you do best and everyone wins!” Sales manager gives me a cheeky grin and says, “You right, we gonna sell him a new one” Last night, I find out that we did in fact help the guest get into a new F250!!! Take notes ya’ll! I can guarantee you are missing massive opportunities to connect with guests by not working the service lane! The most traffic in the dealership occurs there! I’m telling ya, when I build a dealership, service will be the focus not sales. If we shifted our mindset to realize we are all in the service (assisted buying) business, the result would be mind blowing!! This is exactly what Eric Barbosa is doing!! Great job team Cavender!! “Love people more than you love cars” ASOTU | More Than Cars ✅ Hire Properly ✅ Train Passionately ✅ Lead Perpetually #servicemanagement #servicedepartment #leadservant #thisiswhatwedo #hireproperly #trainpassionately #leadperpetually #automotiveindustry #fixedops #thisishowwedoit #lovepeoplemore #guestexperience #leadership

Why Automobile Sales Is Still The Best Career In Sales Not sure if you should stick with selling cars? This video will tell you why Automobile Sales is the Best Career in Sales! #CarSales #CarSalesTraining #TheBestShowInAuto #LIVEwithLOPES

Good strategy for the moment And the future 🔥

After COVID-19, selling cars became easy, like picking low-hanging fruit. But as things are changing back to normal, it's time to brush up on those essential sales skills that got a bit rusty. Before, car sales involved talking to customers about what they might spend on their current car for things like tyres and repairs, and then showing how buying a new car could actually save them money. Lately, we haven't needed to do this much because cars were just flying off the lot. Many salespeople who started during or after COVID, or got used to easier sales, missed learning this. Now, especially with more electric vehicles (EVs) being sold, it's crucial to go back to the basics: first, sell yourself and make a good impression, then the car, and finally the deal. We can't just focus on closing the deal. We need to slow things down and do the thorough, thoughtful selling. Take a listen...

People buy from people.... or do they?? You tell me. I saw an interesting post from David Kendrick regarding the agency sales model that franchised dealers have starting using and the news that VWG will be removing the it. My belief is that the agency model will drive away the best sales executives from their roles within the industry. Some people will wonder why that matters, but the best sales executives are the best for a reason. And the answer is they provide the clients/customers with the best possible service, so customers come back to them, refer them and wouldn't want go to anyone else. The reality is they're the best because they are great at their jobs. -They have a good relationship with their customers -They have good product knowledge -They are responsive and keep their customers updated throughout the sales process -They follow up throughout ownership and address any concerns or problems in a timely manner -They make their customers aware of any great offers No matter the of value, any car or van is a huge commitment and investment. Surely any customer would want the best service from a top professional?? At Vanaways, customer service it at the heart of everything we do. I'm not saying we're perfect... anybody is! But we have a huge amount of repeat business and referrals and it's down to the fantastic team of Sales Executives/Account Managers, Vehicle Administrators, etc that we're lucky to have here. It feels like manufactures believe the agency model will be more profitable... I think it'll be the opposite, and this news seems to suggest that! In this industry, customer service is an absolute priority! #agencysales #customerservice #automotive Cedric Ratnasingham Stephen Farrow Liam Nicholas Stuart Meale Robert ClarkeJake Wheelock Jacob DixonTheo Brown