I just had the honor and distinct privilege of being the guest speaker at the Southern Honda Dealers’ Association 2010 Annual Business Conference last week. What a class bunch of dealers. Never have I met a nicer group of individuals and their spouses anywhere.
I participated in various conversations with many dealers from the group over the three day event and surmised a few key observations. First, these folks really are forward thinking and are willing to change to increase their business. They understand that the future holds great opportunity for those who are willing to do the things that other dealers are not willing to do. They also understand that in today’s business arena a dealer must adjust constantly to the ever changing market and take new necessary steps to ensure that they remain fixed upon leading edge sales and service techniques.
What a pleasure it was to witness their receptivity towards flexibility, adaptability and the acknowledgement for new ideas to improve their people, skills sets, processes and leadership functionality in this ever adjusting environment. Key point; these dealers truly care about the individuals who work for them and want to provide them with every tool to become their best.
We heard from John Mendel the Executive Vice President for Honda Automobile Sales where he shared insight of his corporate vision to the group which incidentally included such topics as change and the future. John and I spent a fair amount of time caucusing on the changes that need to occur to press forward toward overall business increases. John gets the big as well as the small picture with extreme clarity and clearly recognizes that what got us here will not keep us here. John happens to also be a very sharp and personable gentleman.
We also heard from one, if not the sharpest Zone managers I have ever encountered. Joni Flynn who once was in charge of the Mid Atlantic for Honda now represents somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 dealers in Southern California. Joni has an uncanny sense for business, people, skills, processes, problem solving and how to improve the essential core elements of every store she encounters. I have a huge level of respect for her and acknowledge her ambitious strategies for business development as a winner. And, she is absolutely a delight to work with.
All in all it was like a refreshing breeze off the Pacific Ocean meeting and working with these fine, high quality minded dealers and the Corporate Honda folks. If only all dealers could experience what I experienced they too would just get it.
Chuck Barker is CEO of his two companies Impact Marketing & Consulting Group, LLC and Impact Summit, LLC both located in Virginia. His experience ranges from an executive with a Fortune 200 corporation, Harris Corp., to the automobile business where he has performed all management positions. His firms specialize in growing people and dealerships. He delivers Leading Edge Sales Training Programs, Customer Relationship Strategies, Management Leadership Workshop Programs and Dealer/Principal consulting assistance for the automobile industry. Chuck has recently published the first comprehensive ‘in-house’ sales training solution program for dealers entitled Dealership Success Guide at www.impactgroupcrm.com/impact-summit/ .