Category: Business Growth

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Max Out Productivity

We have had some much-needed good news over the past few weeks. Parts of the United States are opening to nearly full capacity. The number of unemployed workers declined a bit as businesses brought back furloughed staff or hired new team members. Powersports has seen a burst of good news with ATV and dirt bike sales exceeding expectations. While no one is popping any celebratory champagne corks, the positive headlines are a balm to our bruised economy.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a real threat. Hot spots continue to flare, sending record numbers of people to the hospital. A large percentage of Americans are still hesitant to visit businesses in person, instead relying on the online platforms that have sustained their lives since mid-March. As a retail powersports dealer, how do you maximize your opportunities to sell vehicles?

Digital options pay off in productivity

Since we have all been forced to rely on our online tools during the shutdown, more powersports sales are taking place on digital platforms. Proactive dealers who encourage customers to use online shopping tools, including online chat, virtual test drives, trade-in valuation, and financing calculators are capturing greater returns. However, simply providing online tools is not enough to differentiate your dealership from the competition for today’s consumers.

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Business Growth Powersports Market

Navigating the New Normal

Glenice Wilder Vice President EFG Companies
Contributing Author:
Glenice Wilder
Vice President
EFG Companies

Up or down? Good or bad? The compare and contrast analysis has become a daily past time as we navigate our COVID-19 pandemic world. The air might be cleaner, but there are fewer vehicles on the road supporting the economy. We are spending more quality time with family and loved ones while navigating online school and/or work and cabin fever. When it comes to the retail powersports market, we find pluses and minuses in this new normal as well.

  • Interest rates are at an all-time low, making financing a bike pretty attractive.
  • Plant shutdowns have helped push dealership inventory out the door while keeping prices in the black.
  • Shelter-in-place restrictions might mean more time to ride with family and friends.

But there are also some economic factors which reflect the ying and yang.

  • The unemployment rate has soared to 14.7 percent, but some industries are experiencing tremendous demand. Food and beverage companies, delivery services, pharmacy/healthcare businesses and cleaning services are eagerly hiring to keep up with consumer demand.
  • Nearly all states have eased some restrictions on businesses in an effort to jump-start the economy, with some seeing limited success.
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Business Growth

Now More Than Ever – Powersports Dealers Need WALKAWAY

Glenice Wilder Vice President EFG Companies
Contributing Author:
Glenice Wilder
Vice President
EFG Companies

Clearly, we are in the midst of challenging times. Due to shelter-in-place orders, many in the U.S. are either working from home or furloughed, and thousands have lost their jobs. And for those who perform essential functions that we rely on, it is business as usual with a whopping dose of added stress. Whatever the situation, everyone is burdened in some way.

In the powersports industry, we’ve been through hard times before. Most recently, the Great Recession taught the industry a lot about running a financially sound business through both economic ups and downs. Since then, the industry has drastically changed with the progression of online retailing. As dealers ramp up online retailing efforts to stay engaged with consumers stuck at home, EFG has once again brought to market its traffic-driving, market differentiator – WALKAWAY Vehicle Return Protection.

WALKAWAY allows consumers the option to return their motorcycle in the event any of these unforeseen life events occur:

  • Involuntary unemployment
  • Physical disability
  • Loss of driver’s license due to medical impairment
  • Self-employment personal bankruptcy
  • Accidental death
  • International employment transfer
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