Scott Raymer

Unlocking North America's SME Potential   Saw an intriguing tweet from @cardealershipguy about Mexico changing its stance on Chinese automakers in the country:   https://lnkd.in/gEe4nMnX This move exemplifies the deepening economic integration between the U.S. and Mexico, driven by geographic proximity and the USMCA free trade agreement. As the tweet highlights, Mexico is being careful not to upset the U.S. by allowing Chinese automakers to use Mexico as a backdoor into the American market while avoiding hefty tariffs. This protectionist stance underscores Mexico's commitment to safeguarding U.S. interests as the 2026 USMCA review looms. While the automotive sector provides an illustrative example, the real opportunity of a growing economic integration extends far beyond any single industry. The strengthening ties between these two nations create a conducive environment for U.S. SMEs to thrive across multiple sectors. With Mexico solidifying its position as a vital North American economic hub, SMEs can leverage this relationship's strengths: ✨ Access a skilled and cost-effective labor force by establishing operations in Mexico ✨ Tap into USMCA's tariff benefits by serving both U.S. and Mexican markets ✨ Streamline supply chains and enhance competitiveness through local partnerships or facilities ✨ Penetrate emerging industries like renewable energy as Mexico pivots toward sustainability As North American interdependence deepens, savvy SMEs can spearhead this continental economic shift by acting decisively. Strategic partnerships, new facilities, localized talent pipelines - the possibilities are vast. Mexico presents an unparalleled opportunity for U.S. SMEs to fuel their growth ambitions within this evolving regional landscape. The time is now to capitalize on the US-Mexico relationship and unlock your SME's full potential in the North American market. #USMexicoTrade #NorthamericanIntegration #Nearshore #Nearshoring #USMCA #SMEs #EconomicOpportunity  

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Don't Panic! Wholesale Used car prices dropped 8.9%. June reports are in and it's swinging down. Is it really though? CDK went down 3 weeks ago. Are the numbers real? No. Get ready for the July snap followed by the September sell off and the November bubble. My used car manager asked me if I thought CDK being down would impact us. It did, not much. I was more worried about inventory not posting and that I thought it would take a couple of weeks to catch up before we saw the impact. July is here and surprise, used cars are going back up. I'm not worried because this always happens. 2 years ago a pandemic threatened to wipe us out. Everyone was convinced that selling cars on the internet was the only way to exist. So convinced that Caravana skyrocketed in Stock prices and public held retail dealerships popped up online buying almost overnight. Brick and Mortar business was done. Not so fast. This lasted for almost 3 years. CDK lasted for 2 weeks. Surprise! Brick and Mortar is stronger than ever. Hold strong, stick to the basics. This was a blip. There is no need to go into panic mode.

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A good conversation about the ups and downs of managing what data means to a #cardealer customer... The video is a practical conversation about data since the word "data" can be a very blurry concept that doesn't always clearly connect to customers, following shoppers on buyer journeys, making accurate attributions, etc. Give it a listen! Laurie Halter, Jennifer Stanford, Jacci Grillo Noto, and Ilana Shabtay offer some very useful insights.

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URGENT CDK update: This communication that just was sent to dealers just a short while ago states that their restoration efforts may take until June 30th which will likely further impact the close of the June financial statement. My take is this - best to not set expectations for your team which are not certain to happen but rather just count on your current situation staying in place until you have the certainty needed to shift your and their approach to doing business. This, of course, will only come in the form of your system getting back online. Lastly, please consult with your in-house or trusted outsourced expert prior to fully putting your system back online with your team. Wishing the CDK team and especially their dealer clients the best possible outcome. I have no doubt they are doing everything possible at this time. They are clearly adding multiple resources to help their dealer clients in the meantime

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During the pandemic, some dealerships adopted questionable practices that did more harm than good. They added non-car-related add-ons, leaving consumers frustrated and forced to buy extras they didn't want. This shady tactic hurt honest dealerships by showing misleadingly low prices on platforms like CarGurus, disadvantaging those who played fair. Even used car dealers are now adopting these methods, selling non-cancelable installed products at exorbitant prices, like charging $1,300 for a $45 theft device. Such exploitation has made consumers distrust dealerships. Thankfully, the new FTC ruling kicking in by the end of this month aims to curb these practices. I fully support this regulation as it will enforce greater transparency and fairness, protecting consumers from deceptive add-ons and pricing tactics. It's time to prioritize transparency, honesty, and fair dealing to rebuild trust and ensure a level playing field for all dealers. Let's call out these shady practices and work towards a more ethical automotive industry. #TrustTheProcess,#automotive

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TEKION OFFERING SOME NO-CHARGE RELIEF TO DEALERSHIPS WITH THE CDK CRISIS .... Standing with the auto retail community Tekion Digital Processing access for affected CDK dealers. HERE'S THE LINK TO FIND OUT MORE ... https://lnkd.in/eG-nJG6P Dealers are showing incredible resilience in the face of the ongoing CDK outage, coming together to find alternative solutions to keep their businesses running and servicing their customers and communities. We salute their resourcefulness and stand by them to support in any meaningful way we can. Our team has been working on solutions to help dealers in this time of need and are offering free access to our Tax, Title, and License solution, Tekion Digital Processing (TDP), to all affected dealers.  This standalone tool will allow your team to accurately calculate tax, title and license for vehicle, heavy truck, trailer, RV, watercraft and powersports sales transactions in all U.S. States and the District of Columbia. You'll also receive access to a comprehensive library of state specific forms, which will be dynamically populated based on your deal. We are committed to helping dealers navigate this difficult time and hope that this support offers some relief. HERE'S THE LINK TO FIND OUT MORE ... https://lnkd.in/eG-nJG6P https://lnkd.in/eG-nJG6P

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Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke notes, “There is a lot of uncertainty in this market, leaving consumers and dealers alike unsure of the road ahead. In the auto business, uncertainty is the enemy – it negatively impacts sales, hurts consumer sentiment, and leaves auto dealers feeling troubled.” ….. but what if you’re creating a frictionless, personalized new car pipeline by pulling consumers ahead in their buying journey? Curious how CarSaver can navigate an uncertain market by creating Certainty, Loyalty and Driving Sales for our OEM and Dealer partners? Ask me How :) #automotive #carsaver #newcar #technology #adaptiveretail #upgrade #drivesales #increaseloyalty #letsworktogether

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So I got a flurry of emails yesterday regarding a compliance alert that NADA sent out. Yay for sending it out to make dealers aware. Half a yay for also letting people know more than half way down that all of the usual overtime exemptions for auto are still in place. (Sales, Part Counter, Service Advisor, technicians--(not LUBE TECHS), & employees who qualify for the 7i exemption) Wage & Hour can be tricky....and this is about OT exempt or not exempt. My first advice is to take a deep breath. Then pull a report of any employees who are paid on a "salary" basis. Then you want to make sure that these employees fit into one of the "white collar" exemptions for overtime. One of the most common misconceptions is that if you pay someone a salary you don't have to pay them OT. Their actual job ALSO needs to fit into one of the exemptions. This isn't likely to effect dealerships MUCH....by that I do NOT mean that you shouldn't do a wage & hour audit and see what you might need to prepare for or where you might not be exactly compliant. My last advice is to call me or Courtney Leyes for help.

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After over 30 years in the automotive industry... I have one strongly held belief... When you immerse yourself in the grind of the dealership life day in and day out... -You build resilience. -You learn how to manage uncertainty and adapt to ever-changing market dynamics. -You choose to thrive amidst challenges, turning setbacks into opportunities for growth. Is this easy? No. Is it worth it? 100%. In the end, all that matters is you're created the survival skills necessary to thrive in any venture. You should be proud of yourself

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90% of car buyers cannot remember who they bought their vehicle from just one year after purchasing it. This means only 10% of salespeople manage to turn customers into clients. Which is a huge problem for dealerships. A #customer engages in a transaction. It's a short-term relationship. A single interaction. Think buying batteries at a drugstore. A #client is someone who is under the care of another. It's a partnership that extends beyond a single sale. An ongoing relationship. Think real estate. Think insurance. Think professional services. Customers don’t remember your name. Clients will never forget it. Salespeople: Put in the work required to turn customers into clients. #automotiveindustry #dealership #sales

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When reviewing an automotive loan application, lenders consider a mix of: 🧍🏻‍♀️customer + 🚙 collateral + 💰deal structure Of these three things, the primary variable dealerships can control is collateral (aka vehicles). That means a dealership needs a sourcing strategy for used vehicles. Service lane. Lifecycle marketing. Wholesale auctions. In absence of this human driven effort, we are passively participating in the market. Proactive > Passive People > Everything ✌️ ❤️ 🔥

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Unlock Dealership Success: 3 Key Strategies 🚗💡 1. Centralize Communication   • Unify internal and customer-facing interactions   • Benefits:     - Streamlined response times     - Improved customer satisfaction Quick Tip: Map current communication channels, identify inefficiencies 2. Leverage AI for Internal Collaboration   • Implement AI-driven internal communication tools   • Benefits:     - Enhanced team coordination     - Real-time insights from customer interactions     - Automated task prioritization Quick Tip: Start with one department, then expand 3. Continuous Training on AI-Enhanced Systems   • Regular workshops on AI-powered communication tools   • Benefits:     - Improved employee engagement     - Enhanced sales skills Quick Tip: Create 'AI champion' roles in each department Implementing these strategies can significantly improve operational efficiency and customer experience. Ready to revolutionize your dealership's communication and decision-making? Let's explore how these strategies can transform your operations. #QoreAI #collaborationplatforms #AI #automotiveretail

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