Categories
Recruiting

End the Year on a Hiring High

According to the most recent jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the United States job market continued to grow steadily, with 261,000 jobs added in October 2022. This shows a slight decrease in the jobs added compared to the previous month, while the unemployment rate increased to 3.7 percent. Conversely, many high-tech companies have signaled – or already implemented – layoffs or hiring freezes. Could this mean a larger pool of potential recruits for dealers to scoop up?

With continued signs of strength in retail automotive and strong revenue potential, dealerships have some strong selling points to attract the best candidates. But don’t rush to hire the first available candidate. Successful hiring at the end of the year should be strategic. Hiring the right candidate is very different today. Let’s look at some of the challenges and opportunities dealers face when hiring.

Hiring Five Generations Deep

For the first time in modern history, there are currently five generations active in the workforce. Each generation brings a unique perspective to their job, providing an employer with a rich, cultural microcosm that can relate to every type of customer. Although the pandemic accelerated changes to the traditional workplace, many of today’s workers have reassessed their relationships with work, placing a priority on work/life balance as well as company culture. Making those diverse perspectives work effectively can be challenging for any employer.

Categories
Electric Vehicles Industry Trends

Finding Value In The Electrified Infrastructure

According to analyst firm BloombergNEF,  just over half of the passenger cars sold in the US will be electric vehicles by 2030. This growth is spurred by actions taken by the White House and Congress through the newly enacted infrastructure law. Legislative steps in California to adopt clean air standards will likely be supported by several additional states within the next five years. And finally, every major automotive manufacturer in the US have announced plans to accelerate production of battery electric vehicles (BEV), with many planning to eliminate the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2050.

Clearly, BEVs are coming and more quickly than anticipated. Many dealers already have a smattering of these vehicles on their lots or are taking orders through their digital platforms. But, preparing to broadly support these new vehicles requires more than simply installing a charging station and creating some sales tools. Understanding the complete BEV infrastructure, means taking a deep dive into its impact on the physical lot, the service department and overhead expense.

Rather than being overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of these changes, savvy dealers will find the opportunities to derive more value – and revenue – by taking a strategic approach to implementing a BEV infrastructure. Upgrading the dealership in a planned, deliberate manner will deliver a competitive edge and a satisfied customer. Let’s break down the opportunities to generate revenue through purposeful infrastructure improvements.

Categories
Compliance

Take Action Now!

The retail automotive industry is buzzing about the Federal Trade Commission’s recent proposed changes to regulations impacting federal advertising laws and prohibitions on unfair and deceptive dealership practices. The 37-page document outlines six key areas the agency would like to address:

  • Full up-front pricing, costs and finance disclosures
  • Sales process disclosures
  • Add-on product benefits
  • Bait & switch
  • Surprise junk fees
  • Record retention

The public commentary period closes on September 12, at which time the agency will evaluate the responses and make a final ruling. Industry associations – including NADA – requested an extension to the 60-day review period proposal, which the FTC declined.