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Monday, May 9, 2011

Best Buy considering EV sales?

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on May 9th 2011 at 3:31PM

According to Automotive News, Best Buy has its eyes on jumping into EV sales and service. The consumer electronics giant has been peddling Brammo electric motorcycles for years now and has recently parleyed that experience into garnering contracts to be a distributor and installer of EV chargers for the likes of the Ford Focus Electric and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Now the suits in charge apparently want to take the next step by offering full electric vehicles alongside Blu-Ray players and big-screen TVs.

The chain has over 1,000 stores that could effectively educate buyers on the products and service them should anything go awry. Right now, Best Buy is said to be in talks with a few EV startup companies, though the retailer hopes to expand those discussions to larger automakers, as well. The idea is that some dealers would rather outsource the hassle of instructing buyers on the intricacies of EV ownership rather than go through the trouble of educating their entire sales process on tasks such as pairing a smart phone.

Is this just another step in the inevitable march of the vehicle from transportation to appliance? Maybe, but it could also be a move toward a genuinely educated and capable sales staff that's invested in your comprehension of the product.

[Source: Automotive News ? sub. req.]

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

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Compare the automotive industry from only a year ago to today or from ten years ago to today

Digital Finesse

Posted by Lizelle Landino on April 28, 2011 at 7:07am
View Lizelle Landino's ADM blog

Compare the automotive industry from only a year ago to today or from ten years ago to today and we all will have the conclusion and understanding that this industry is ever changing and evolving. No longer is the car standing on the lot at a dealership a guarantee for a sale and no longer can you just stare out the window of a dealership waiting for business.

Digital shopping and digital living has created a very unique challenge for dealers. It now makes your competition a huge factor on your dealer success. Tools like social media, link building, seo, sem, video optimization actually takes much visibility away from a dealer because they now have to compete for online presence. The biggest mistake car dealers make is using the social media sites as a sales tool. Facebook, twitter etc are wonderful tools to connect and reach out to individuals but its not a sales tool. Why are you trying to sell a car on twitter? If you utilize these wonderful tools and finesse the art of social media correctly , you will gain the respect and trust that will make you a SUPER STAR! How is that? My advice for success and digital sales finesse is very simple and I call it Relationship selling 101. Change your thought process on what social media can offer you. All these tools have the most effectiveness and presence when all you are trying to do is build, gain and master relationship selling and conversational connections.

You are trying to gain and not lose twitter followers and facebook friends correct? Do NOT list your inventory or sales pitches on there but master the conversation and media presence in a unique but tactful way. What can you do on the social media aspect that will make you stand out and have people wonder " Wow I wonder who that person is or what that person does for a living". Its Tactful advertising that promotes a product nobody knows better than you - the product is YOU. Dare to be different and unique - Establish your "it" factor - Interest and intrigue people - gain the relationship because the SALE is next.

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can"

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

229.251.2462

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Ford wages average $8/hour higher than non-union and foreign rivals

by Aaron Richardson (RSS feed) on May 9th 2011 at 9:29AM

In the run up to the next round of negotiations between Ford and the United Auto Workers, the automaker has said it pays workers an average of $8 more per hour than its foreign and non-union rivals. By and large, foreign automakers with U.S. factories employ non-union labor, which helps keep labor costs reigned in.

According to the Blue Oval, its cost of labor has risen to $58/hour, while its competitors average $50/hour. The wage gap has persisted even after Ford negotiated concessions with the UAW that cut labor costs by $500 million in 2009.

Ford says it will be impossible to sustain a competitive business if it can't close the gap. Worse, Dearborn says the differential could eventually prevent the creation of new jobs. The company's $58/hour wage rate is a three-dollar hike over last year, thanks in large part to $5,000 profit sharing checks Ford cut each of its workers this year.

According to a company spokesperson, its wage rate would be closer to $56/hour without the profit sharing initiative.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

229.251.2462