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Here’ s how it works:
• We’ ll meet with industry thought leaders and innovators.
• We’ ll share those conversations publicly on The Dealer Lab Podcast( available on YouTube and Spotify).
• Then, we’ ll take those ideas and turn them into real processes, real systems, and real software— testing them live, right here, in this dealership.
If an idea works, we’ ll show you exactly how. If it fails, we’ ll show you that too. Because the only way we move the industry forward is by experimenting in the open.
JOIN THE EXPERIMENT If you’ re as curious about the future of dealerships as we are, follow along. Watch the
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• Assess competition: Determine whether the new AOR increases competition with existing or future dealerships.
• Communicate concerns: Raise any objections with the OEM in writing. If the OEM does not address your concerns, you may have a statutory right to protest under your state’ s franchise law.
LEGAL REMEDIES AND CONSIDERATIONS
If you believe an AOR change will harm your dealership, you may have legal recourse under your state’ s franchise laws. These statutes often prohibit OEMs from
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episodes. Join the conversation. Or better yet— be part of them.
We’ re inviting a small group of forwardthinking dealerships to participate in Ownex Cohorts— teams of operators testing these ideas in their own stores, learning together, and shaping what comes next.
making arbitrary or unreasonable changes to a dealer’ s territory. Remedies can include filing a protest with your state’ s motor vehicle board, seeking injunctive relief, or pursuing damages for lost business opportunities. Consider proactive these strategies:
• Data analysis: Quantify the impact of the AOR change on your sales performance metrics.
• Customer outreach: Strengthen relationships in areas you may lose and expand marketing in new territories.
• Operational adjustments: Evaluate staffing, inventory, and marketing plans to align with the revised AOR.
KNOW YOUR DEADLINES Most state franchise laws impose strict
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This industry doesn’ t need another motivational slogan. It needs a movement— one grounded in data, empathy, and the courage to rebuild from the customer outward.
The work will be hard. The results will be real. And the time to start is right now.
timelines for filing a protest— often as short as 45 days from the date you receive notice. Missing that deadline could mean forfeiting your rights, so act quickly.
BOTTOM LINE Changes to your AOR are not administrative details, they can reshape your dealership’ s competitive landscape and performance metrics. Stay vigilant, analyze every change, and consult legal counsel promptly if you have concerns. Protecting your dealership starts with paying attention.
Hilary Holmes Rheaume, Esq., Attorney at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P. A., Manchester, New Hampshire. She can be reached at hrheaume @ bernsteinshur. com.
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needle.” Whether it’ s revenue growth, margin improvement, expense control, or staff development, measurable impact reveals the real story.
We ask our candidates to document their“ needle movers” before presenting them to clients. This practice separates achievers from participants and ensures you’ re hiring someone who delivers results, not just effort.
BEYOND THE HIRE DATE Don’ t ease off the throttle. The first 90 days are critical. Schedule regular check-ins, offer coaching or leadership training, and recognize early wins. Continued communication strengthens engagement and helps solve small issues before they grow. When you invest in your new hire’ s success, you’ re also investing in your company’ s long-term stability.
FINAL THOUGHTS Hiring combines art and science, often influenced by luck and timing. The most successful dealerships see talent acquisition as a strategic effort rather than an afterthought.
Ultimately, hiring smarter isn’ t just about filling a role; it’ s about fueling your organization’ s growth with the right people, in the right positions, at the right time.
Jan Plessner is the founder and CEO of Action Recruiting. Her client roster includes small and large individual powersports and motorcycle dealerships, as well as large multilocation dealership groups and networks. The firm also caters to aftermarket companies, service and support-oriented agencies and select manufacturers from coast to coast.
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