Save $50 to $75 if you pre-register by this Friday, Jan. 15
McLEAN, Va. (Jan. 13, 2010) – Next month’s NADA Convention & Expo in Orlando (Feb. 13-15) couldn’t come at a better time to help dealers and their managers plan for the year ahead. It’s the perfect time for dealers to look for ways to improve their businesses and prepare for an economic rebound.
“It’s been a tough year for everyone. Now it’s time to focus on the future, and that’s where the NADA convention comes in,” says John McEleney, NADA chairman. “We’ve got a strong lineup of expert speakers and outstanding workshops. We already have 440 exhibitors and more are signing up every day.”
The convention is fast approaching, but there’s still time to pre-register and choose from nearly 100 workshops on topics such as driving profitability, managing cash flow, improving inventory ROI and increasing service productivity. Four new “Executive Track” workshops, geared to high-level dealership managers, will also be offered.
Be sure to arrive at the convention early on Friday, Feb. 12, to take advantage of three hours of “bonus” workshops beginning at 1:30 p.m.
To save $50 to $75 on convention registration fees, dealers and their managers are encouraged to pre-register by Friday, Jan. 15. Click here to register. For more information, send an e-mail to expo@nada.org. Walk-in/on-site registration opens Feb. 12 at the Orange County Convention Center.
Click here for the complete list of convention workshops with dates, times and locations. Here are just a few workshop highlights:
Update on Federal Regulatory Developments Impacting Automobile Dealerships
NADA attorneys Doug Greenhaus and Paul Metrey will present essential updates on a flurry of new federal government activities, such as the FTC’s new model privacy notice and upcoming risk-based pricing notice, looming above-ground storage and body shop emission deadlines, new labor and employment mandates and much more. Attendees will learn new compliance tips and even how to avoid legal trouble while saving money at the same time.
Appraisal Process: Best Practices to Boost Revenue
The used-car market has turned transparent. And research has revealed that more than 50 percent of consumers are dissatisfied with their last trade-in experience. That’s why a clear vehicle appraisal process is critical for dealers. Stu Zalud of NADA Used Car Guide and Les Abrams of the NADA Academy will teach participants a clearly defined process to interpret and apply market data using appraisal tools to reach a precise trade number. “We’ll explain to dealers that they should consider changing how they appraise vehicles,” Zalud says. “The appraisal influences about 70 percent of the consumer’s decision whether to buy.”
Advanced Online Thinking for Dealer Leaders
Jared Hamilton of DrivingSales.com will examine trends in online social networking, demonstrating how to evaluate and extract proven ROI from some of the most popular online destinations. Participants will learn how to create and execute an advanced online Web strategy without having to invest additional money. Hamilton will cover search engine marketing, Facebook, Twitter, micro-sites and more. Attendees will learn what should and should not be part of their dealership’s marketing efforts.
The Four Essentials to Achieving 100% Service Absorption
Don Reed of DealerPro Training Solutions will cover the four goals that a dealership must meet to achieve 100 percent service absorption: improve profit margins, increase sales per repair order, increase the number of repair orders, and control expenses. Participants will learn how to develop business plans to achieve these goals.
The Eight Critical Concerns on the Balance Sheet
George Grabowski of the NADA Academy will identify the four critical inventories and the four critical receivables that must be carefully analyzed and controlled because these accounts could tie up much of the dealership’s cash. “Cash is the most important asset in the dealership,” Grabowski says. “It’s critical that a dealership’s cash is not tied up unnecessarily.”
Contact:
Charles Cyrill
NADA Public Affairs
(703) 821-7121
(216) 870-8837 (mobile)
ccyrill@nada.org