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As New Car Industry Faces Dangerously Low Productivity & Profits, Expert's New Book Exposes Revitalized Marketing Model to Turn Epidemic Around

Bob Witham’s ‘Building Visits’ addresses a growing and potentially industry-destroying problem that many in the automotive world refuse to address – the loss of customers and profit to independent aftermarket retailers. With fewer customers than ever before coming through dealers’ doors and work stalls/bays often lying empty, a drastic solution is required to keep the entire new car industry afloat. Witham knows that the problem lies in dealers’ lack of service marketing knowledge. His new book identifies the problem, lays out a fight-back plan of action and provides over fifty tools and resources to get the engines running quickly.

 

Saint Augustine, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2014 -- The new car industry hasn’t been immune to financial troubles, bailouts and negative press during the past six years, but the problem isn’t confined to just manufacturing plants. Frontline dealer sales are dwindling and service profits are rapidly being lost to independent aftermarket retailers. It’s all proven by low service productivity and, while many are either blind to the problem or refuse to accept it, industry expert Bob Witham knows that something has to be done to fix it – now.

Combining his fifty-years of experience in the industry, Witham is helping car dealerships and wider automotive organizations fight back with ‘Building Visits’ – a powerful book and collection of resources that can reverse low productivity through game-changing service marketing.

“The bottom line is simple -- every work stall/bay in each shop must operate at a minimum 100% productivity every day, every month, from a customer base they’ve built,” explains Witham. “If dealers created more customer visits, they’d dramatically increase service and vehicle sales income -- profit. But many don’t, and their manufacturers don’t demand it of them. This problem has been going on for years and it never gets sufficiently targeted.”

Continuing, “We have to turn this around before dealers find themselves forced to invent radical new marketing methods in order to maintain acceptable levels of business. This is where Building Visits comes in -- it walks readers through every step of addressing the problem and maximizing their customer visits. If they can get more people walking through their doors, all areas of their business will sky-rocket. Do they really want to allow the independent aftermarket guys to take over their business? I think not, but that’s the way we could head if people don’t put my book into action.”

Readers will discover a wealth of authoritative chapters, including: Building Service Visits -- Builds Vehicle Sales, Service Operating Reports, Productivity, Competitive Pricing, Service Department Organizational Structure, Facility Structure -- and its effect on customer and employee, Customer Retention -- service visits build loyalty, Customer Statement and much more. Everything can be put into action right away by deploying the book’s full page flowcharts, spreadsheets and report forms.

An industry book review leader has offered an abundance of praise. Rebecca Ross comments, “One would not typically think that a book written for car dealerships with the aim to increase sales would be considered particularly “interesting”, yet Building Visits author Bob Witham manages to present this potentially dry subject in a way that is both engaging and full of information. By addressing the question “Why are dealerships accepting the fact that customers are taking their cars elsewhere for service?”, Building Visits pinpoints just where struggling businesses can focus their efforts. But Witham doesn’t just drop this revelation in the laps of owners and sales reps, he provides extensive and detailed methods for bringing about positive change (read: increased sales). He uses a combination of personal experience, carefully collected data, charts, questions, and calls to action that will leave these owners and reps feeling confident and ready to form a plan for success.”

“I have a challenge for every dealer and manufacturer from coast to coast,” Witham adds. “To take all actions necessary to regain and retain sufficient customer visits to make every dealer workshop at least 100 to 150% productive every month, every year. Within this book, combined with the industry expertise, are the ways to make it happen.”

‘Building Visits’ is available now. For more information and to secure a copy, visit the book’s official website: http://buildingvisits.com

About Bob Witham
Fifty year background in the new car industry. New Car Manufacturer automotive marketing – service management on a regional, zone and national basis. New Car Dealer ownership -- operation. Automotive Retail Consulting -- nation wide. Publishing Service for new car dealers – promotional booklets, brochures and direct mail.