Blog Archives

Preferred Vendor… or Preferred Tee Time?

6/19/2025

After 35 years in the car business, working with OEMs and their ever-rotating carousel of “preferred vendors,” I’ll admit that the very first thing that pops into my head when I hear about a newly announced partnership isn’t excitement. It’s a question: “So, who sits on whose board, or who shares a tee time at Torrey Pines?”

I’m not trying to be cynical (well, maybe just a lil), but after decades of watching solutions come and go, I’ve learned to be skeptical when a new service or system is suddenly pushed as the next big thing, especially when the sales pitch comes with a heavy dose of “It’s 100% co-op’able!”

Now don’t get me wrong, I know there are vendors out there who have genuinely earned their spot at the OEM table and worked with many that prove why they are there consistently. Companies that deliver value, drive results, and actually support dealers, rather than just sell to them. But when a rep starts preaching about a product I’ve never heard of with a commission-like enthusiasm, my inner red flag waves harder than a Saturday blowout sale banner.

Dealers deserve more than buzzwords and boardroom handshakes. We deserve tools that actually work, have been tested, proven, and built for our side of the business. Call me old school, but I still believe performance should matter more than proximity to the OEM’s annual retreat. hashtag#JustSayin ;)

What are your thoughts car pros?

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Is Social Media Still Worth It for Car Dealers? Let’s Talk About It...

6/2/2025

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Is Social Media Still Worth It for Car Dealers? Let’s Talk About It.

Social media isn’t dead… but it sure isn’t acting like it used to.
In the latest episode of The First Pencil, your favorite duo Kathi and Mike pull no punches as they dive into the ever-evolving world of social platforms—and how it’s changing the game for car dealers trying to stay in front of today’s buyers.

~Is organic reach officially a ghost town?
~Are paid ads the only way forward—or just a money pit with better graphics?
~And most importantly, what is actually working right now?

Whether you’re managing a single rooftop or leading a multi-store group, this episode is your heads-up (and maybe your wake-up call) on why your old social media strategy might be costing you more than just dollars, it might be costing you relevance.
Tune in to hear what’s changed, what’s working, and what smart dealers are doing differently in 2025 to make social media work for them not the other way around.

Listen in HERE

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