I am looking at the Philly skyline from an RV in the parking lot of the Xfinity Live venue, where ASOTU CON is, in every sense of the phrase, in full swing. What was once a seed or an idea planted by covid's stream of uncertainty slowly grew roots, branches, and blooms has exploded with undeniable fruit. And it is sweet.
The day opened with Paul and Kyle taking a moment to invite everyone into the headspace needed to prioritize what makes the dealer model the best method for automotive retail.
The customer experience. Nobody reading this carries an illusion of knowing the future. Every time we trace the natural lines from what is to what will be, life interjects an opportunity for growth disguised as disruption. What can dealers do to prepare for any future in the retail automotive industry? Create, safeguard, and own the customer experience.
A big circle. From the lot porter to the owner, everybody has to be aware of the stakes and willing to push back from their position in the industry. The dealer principal cannot do it alone. It takes everybody.
Even bigger than that. It isn't just what happens within the walls and showrooms of the dealership but each relationship that makes the dealer model the best possible method for automotive retail. Each partner, developer, vendor, and point of community contact is critical to building a future immune to FTC guidelines, disruptors, and regulatory changes.
It requires everybody doing their part to ensure the customer trust is never misplaced, and the dealership model remains the best option for years and years to come.
So from my quiet retreat in a parking lot in south Philly, please hear the whole ASOTU crew say: The future of retail automotive is in the best possible hands - yours.