As automotive retail evolves, staying ahead of rising trends and the latest technology is important. On this episode of The Walk Around podcast, Cliff Banks of The Banks Report shares his thoughts on the future of this space in the modern dealership. As an “industry insider,” Cliff’s unique background in journalism has helped him grow and become a pioneer in automotive news. In this episode you’ll hear:   How non-traditional sources are changing automotive journalism   Industry insights and trends that dealers are thinking about   Tips to identify the ri ..read more

In this episode we spoke with a well-known automotive entrepreneur creating disruptions in the technological and training sectors of the dealership – Marco Schnabl. Discover the need he saw in automotive when he worked to create automotiveMastermind and RockED, and what led him to join the industry in the United States after living and working in Germany’s motor world. In this episode you’ll hear: Differences in the German automotive industry vs. American What drove Marco’s entrepreneurial spirit to launch various companies Biggest lessons learned and the importance of people supporting your ..read more

Our third season of The Walk Around podcast starts now! This episode is full of the latest data on market trends and information on the environment of buying and selling dealerships. Our guest, George Karolis, talks F&I in earnings profiles, evaluating dealership costs and key focus areas for dealership valuations. This episode is great for dealers looking into the M&A market, as well as automotive professionals looking to one day own a dealership. In this episode you’ll hear: Industry insights from Presidio’s Quarterly Report What dealers who are planning to sell should be thinking ..read more

Technology enables dealers to reach their customers in a targeted and personalized way. Social media, websites and email are all important ways to market your business, but if you really want to attract and engage future customers, local listing solutions like Google and Apple Maps can significantly optimize your digital presence. Learn from an expert – and former Googler – how you can adapt your dealership to modern advertising techniques as privacy laws change, what map platforms people prefer and more ways to help you attract new customers. In this episode you’ll hear: The best ways for de ..read more

We’re honored to be joined by a seasoned and well-respected automotive legend in this episode of The Walk Around podcast. Discover valuable advice for all areas of the dealership from Mike Maroone, who has dedicated over 40 years to the automotive industry. From leading large teams to investing in technology, this is surely a not-to-miss discussion for any person in the automotive world. In this episode you’ll hear: The state of modern retail today Mike’s biggest worry in the business The key to driving the auto retail process Discussion on who owns the guest experience (OEMs? Dealers?) Why i ..read more

The next generation of buyers has a lot to teach us, and we got the chance to speak with them, particularly about their thoughts on the automotive industry. In this episode we discuss how Gen Z views the car buying experience, opportunities for dealers to better reach this growing segment of their audience and more thoughts on the industry from three college students (and JM Family interns!). In this episode you’ll hear: Whether owning a car is important to younger generations If the car buying experience is something they look forward to or dread The importance of relationship building in th ..read more

Get ready for a thrilling ride in this episode of The Walk Around podcast. We explore the amateur racing circuit and discuss how the organization Out Motorsports is supporting an inclusive community for LGBTQ car and motorsport enthusiasts. Plus, don’t miss some helpful tips for dealers to better create authenticity in business from an experienced automotive editor and reviewer. In this episode you’ll hear: The creation of Out Motorsports and how the organization seeks to create community for LGBTQ car and motorsport enthusiasts How dealers can be a part of the community Whether you’ll find e ..read more

As we navigate the middle of 2023, we continue to adjust to the evolving industry and changing market. In this podcast episode, we dive into what inventory levels are prime for dealerships, continue discussions of vehicle affordability for your consumers, and discuss what the future role of dealers will be as technology increases and consumer purchasing habits change. In this episode you’ll also hear: The ideal inventory level at dealerships More lessons dealers can learn from online retailers What dealer relevancy/roles may look like in the future Making vehicles affordable for consumers in ..read more

A common theme echoing this year in the automotive industry is constant change. Predicting where we will be in terms of affordability, inventory and sales? Tough. But thankfully, the economists specializing in this industry keep us informed with an understanding of what the data means and where the industry could land in the future. In this podcast episode, we talk to a top automotive economist about questions dealers and dealership staff may have, what dealers can do to address economic concerns for consumers and more. In this episode you’ll hear: What is going on in the car industry right ..read more

Training programs are a value-add for individuals at dealerships looking to advance their careers and teams aiming to reach higher levels of success, but courses are often seen as a luxury item for many dealers. In this podcast episode we explore how thoughts on training are changing within the automotive industry, the correlation between employee retention and customer satisfaction, appealing to different generations and more. There’s even talk on the role of artificial intelligence in modern training! In this episode you’ll hear: Why continued training is important for dealership success ..read more