A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how dealer groups seemed to be split between those that had fully shut down, including aftersales, and those that had kept their service departments open, either...

This won’t go down well among many but I have to ask the question, are all sales staff really up to speed with the technology in today’s cars and what customers are looking for in them? It is...

Is the trade in a bout of self-denial over the Q1 registrations and trying to put on a brave face on what appear to be some pretty dismal registration figures? Or are dealers actually holding up...

The new year firework displays were spectacular but are already fading from memory. So, for many, it’s back to work – if you’re not already there and one topic which looks poised to be a big...

Figures showing that registrations in Western Europe are outstripping the UK do little to raise Christmas cheer and, in particular, expectations for the New Year. There is no doubt that Brexit has...

Halford’s Autocentres will be working with technology manufacturers, Nextbase and Roberts Radio, to provide customers with a range of digital radio adapters and a new fitting service. So what, you...

Is your aftersales division the jewel in the company crown? Or has it become stuck in a rut, with a dearth of fresh ideas and those working in the division feeling undervalued? The most recent ARN...

So, the chief information officer and chief security officer are to ‘retire’ from Equifax, leaving a trail of devastation behind them in terms of one of the worst ever data breach incidents. The...

About a month ago I had a call from the retailer that had sold me my car. It was a sales call asking if I would like to test drive the all-new version of my car because they had some great deals on...

Car scrappage schemes are becoming so ubiquitous that buyers would benefit from a comparison tool to show which are offering the best value. Fiat Chrysler is the latest, following hot on the heels of...

A recent webinar from Auto Retail Network on hitting Q3 targets picked up on the fact that used cars were holding steady and in fact, many retails were reporting strong sales. Our switched-on pundits...

The launch of a new fund targeting entrepreneurs who want to run their own dealerships sounds like a highly positive development so let’s hope Tempus Automotive Investments takes off. News that South...

News that VW Group is considering a scrappage scheme, with BMW already offering one, may provide a small stimulus to autumn registrations, if it goes ahead, but undoubtedly far more could be done to...

It’s fortunate retailers are a resilient bunch. The media is swamped with stories of negativity from the ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2040, to a purported fall-out from PCP deals to the impact...

Through the first six months of this year the level of acquisitions by large groups of smaller groups was significant. The deals just kept on coming and group statements kept pushing the ‘growth...

Over the past couple of weeks the falling price of petrol has been cited by ‘experts’ as one of reasons for increasing sales of petrol cars. Now, at first glance, this sounds fine. But take more...

The phone rang.  It was an auto retailer I’d bought from, a year ago. “Hi, it’s Paul here. In our January sale, we’re shedding the pounds and fighting the price flab so you don’t have to....

Mistakes happen. And saying ‘sorry’ when you do something wrong is good for business. Have you thought, though, about how you and your staff apologise to customers? Merely saying ‘We made a...

This is a short unashamed plug, but don’t worry (and don’t stop reading), I’m not after your money. In fact, what I’m after is, hopefully, to promote the automotive retail industry to a wider...

In next week’s Auto Retail Bulletin – the monthly sister-title to Auto Retail Agenda – we interview Tim Tozer, the new boss of Vauxhall and a man with plenty of retail (as well as manufacturer)...