Following on from our previous episode, we talk about five things you must do in a demonstration drive. These points are when you have parked up and before you let the customer drive. When you park, frame the car and butterfly it, i.e. open all the doors, bonnet and boot. Gives you and your customer space to for you to show features. Here are the highlights: {05:19} Seat back {05:47} Rear Vision Mirror {07:27} Adjust Fuel Consumption {11:46} Set up Sat Nav {13:51} Take keys out of the car About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the b ..read more

Maybe a controversial one, but we don’t believe that test drives work.  Demonstration Drives work - you demonstrate the right feature, to the right customer at the right time. Think about it, no one enjoys a test. The customer doesn’t want to feel like they are on their driving test. We discuss how to optimise you demonstration drives, how to make the customer feel comfortable and when to stop talking. Here are the highlights: {01:41} Right Feature, Right Customer, Right Time {02:50} Can you sell a car without it? {07:04} Who should drive first? {08:36} Demonstrate features {09:14} Car, p ..read more

In this episode we are joined by Ashley Wiltshire, a fellow training consultant and great advocate of the motor trade. We discuss how Ashley got started in the trade, his career progression and the importance of training in the agency model. He is also a firm believer in leadership development programmes, and their role in helping you hold on to your top talent. Here are the highlights: {09:02} F & I background {15:14} Starting a business {28:28} Training for agency {31:05} Role of the Business Manager {41:05} Trainers {46:43} Mentors About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 200 ..read more

When is the last time you tried to buy a car from your business? I tried to buy a car recently and the experience left a lot to be desired. It ranged from being ignored to a lack of process.  This wasn’t a mystery shopping exercise but a genuine need.  How would you know if this happened in your business? Here are the highlights: {03:10} Assume every customer is a mystery shopper {10:17} Ignored in Mercedes {14:52} The BMW experience {24:38} Hard work customer {32:00} Identify what’s happening in your business {35:46} Does mystery shopping work? About Symco Training: Symco Training w ..read more

In this episode Simon looks at how to coach your team without falling into the trap of criticising everything.  Its easily done, but we look at some techniques to help you show them what good looks like, and get the best out of your team. We want to avoid resistance, much like when we appraise a customer’s part exchange and get buy in. Here are the highlights: {02:11} Praise the effort {03:35} Coach themselves {06:09} Resistance {08:12} 4 Questions {11:33} How often About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to off ..read more

Colin McAllister, Group Training & Development Manager – John Clark Group, joins us to discuss recent developments with Gap. How do we fill the turnover hole from GAP? Is it coming back? Are there any benefits from not selling it?  So many questions, but we delve into them all in this episode. Some great ideas to share with your team. Here are the highlights: {08:59} Will Gap come back? {10:40} Same day delivery {12:29} Uplift in other products {24:02} Remote selling {46:05} Tracker About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that th ..read more

We are delighted to have Andrew Wakelin, Regional Operations Director -Stellantis &You,  with us for the next two episodes. Andrew started in the trade valeting cars, in the days when it’s fair to say the management style was very different from what we like to see now.  It was then, he vowed not to treat staff in the way he was treated and how important it is to know who is working for you. We discuss some of his successes along his career journey and his top tips for getting that promotion.  Here are the highlights: {06.07} Walk in through the workshop {11:17} Do yourself ..read more

Book Club is back! In this episode we review Atomic Habits by James Clear. Our habits create our lives and its little habits that can change our lives over time. This book is full of useful hints and tips that any manager could put into place instantly in their dealership to help with improvements in both results and culture. There are practical tips from habit stacking to making your habits obvious, attractive, easy and satisfying. All of which are very useful and relatable.  Definitely a must read! Here are the highlights: {04:35} Small Gains {10:29} Goals vs Systems {27:40} Practical t ..read more

AI is not going to go away, so let’s embrace it and see how it can help you in your dealership or job? We can use AI in so many ways, that the list is actually endless.  However, we do need to be clever with it, and tell it what good looks like, to get great results. Will it replace staff in a dealership?  Here are the highlights: {03:02} Deal for a $1 {05:06} Email Responses {08:42} Improve Marketing {11:55} Sous Chef {13:18} Will it replace staff About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its client ..read more

In the concluding episode of our two part interview with Jonathan Dawson from Sellchology we talk about management and sales skills that can be applied whatever your position is. Everything from empathy and looking for the good, to understanding your team and what motivates them. Jonathan also shares some of his best sales tips and techniques. Here are the highlights: {05:44} Fundamentals {13:02} How to Work with Weirdos {20:57} Leadership is not about you {28:56} Pattern Recognition {45:00} WAVES Technique About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was hi ..read more