Challenge Versus Opportunity -Sally Whitesell for AutoSuccess Magazine Tariffs will have a significant impact on the auto industry, influencing everything from production and parts costs to consumer prices and international trade. The long-term outcome is yet to be seen and there is a lot of speculation about how tariffs will affect sales, but have […]
Sally Whitesell, for AutoSuccess Magazine February 2025 Do you think a professional coach would be an exceptional manager in the car industry? An exceptional manager is not only able to manage their team effectively, but also coach individuals while leading by example. This may not include throwing chairs, shouting or stomping up and down the […]
Every day is a perfect day to train, right? After 30 years as a professional trainer, my answer is a resounding yes! However, some days are more optimal than others. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each day as well as some helpful tips so you can maximize your time, efforts and returns. […]
It is becoming more difficult to get our customers to fill out surveys. Let’s face it; we’re all over-surveyed these days. We’re usually not interested in wasting our time unless we are extremely irritated or extremely impressed. To increase the return rate, service advisors usually bring up their desire to make sure their customers are […]
By Sally Whitesell Founder and CEO of sw Service Solutions and Fixed Ops University for AutoSuccess Magazine September 2024 Would you ever consider letting a member of your sales team on the floor without any training? Could they sell cars without knowing the features and benefits, as well as your road to the sale? […]
A new way to recruit & retain professionals. According to Insider Intelligence magazine, the average attention span of Gen Z is less than 2 seconds, and thanks to a constant barrage of information via 24-hours news, social media and other internet sources, all generations’ attention spans are declining. This means we need to get very […]
By Ashley Durst BDC Training Manager and Facilitator for AutoSuccess Magazine July 2024 The automotive industry is highly competitive, and a key differentiator for exceptional service starts at the first point of contact: the call! Service BDC representatives play a critical role in shaping your guests’ experiences and creating the first impression of your […]
By Sally Whitesell- It’s a great time to be in automotive service. Everyone is busy! Customers finally understand that since new and used car inventory is low, they need to maintain and repair what they have. Yet many shops are not taking this opportunity to provide clients with the best service experience by providing thorough […]
~By Kristopher Hampton An overwhelming majority of service managers surveyed say they have at least one advisor on staff that they would like to replace. Many had more than one. This type of turnover is a huge expense to the store and creates major stress for the management team, who constantly must be in “rebuild” […]
-by Sally Whitesell for AutoSuccess Magazine. Terminating someone is never pleasant and not to be taken lightly. As a former service manager I only had to fire one service advisor -and it was a tough decision. However, in most cases it is the employee’s decision to get fired. What do I mean? Certainly it’s the […]
Prominent thinkers in the motivational and leadership fields are challenging the traditional traits of great leadership. Their research indicates that valued leadership qualities have changed. They believe that leaders should lean more toward authenticity rather than perfection. Most leaders feel that being professional in their position means being organized, focused and strong. Although these qualities […]
A Harvard Business Review shows that Boomers and Millennials are changing what constitutes a great place to work. (Keep in mind that each of these generations are roughly twice the size of Gen. X which lies in the middle, so it is critical that we listen.) When a group of 50 multinational companies spearheaded two […]
The Network partners with sw Service Solutions to provide online service advisor training The Network is eager to report they will provide professional service advisor training online through a new partnership with sw Service Solutions Fixed Ops University in 2020! The Network aims to provide services and tools that help members achieve next-level goals. By […]
-By Sally Whitesell for AutoSuccess Magazine Do you think a sports coach would be a great manager in the car industry? A truly great manager is able to manage their team effectively and coach individuals, all the while leading by example. Great coaching does not include throwing chairs or stomping up and down the sidelines […]
-by Kristopher Hampton, sw Service Solutions trainer Have you ever considered how many clients your service advisors work with each day? According to NADA, most advisors write-up an average of 15 customers per day and talk to many more on the phone. This makes them the most important customer service representative in your store. They […]
We have less than 8 seconds to grab and keep someone’s attention before their mind starts to wonder. We have so much information at our fingertips that our brains decide to shut down sooner if the information isn’t valuable, stimulating or just plain fun. Are you still with me? I am Sally whitesell, president […]
Sally Whitesell on the AutoSuccess podcast- Sally Whitesell, President of sw Service Solutions, joins us to discuss how dealers can ensure their service advisors have the foundation they need to build success in the service drive.
-by Sally Whitesell I have been hired numerous times to perform training in stores that are not mentally or physically prepared for growth. Mentally, because their advisors think they are doing well enough and don’t see the growth potential in their position. Physically, because the shop is already full, or scheduled work is backed up […]
-by Sally Whitesell for AutoSuccess Magazine Are you having problems getting your Fixed Ops team to pay attention and retain the information from your training programs? Are you conducting training sessions without getting results from your trainees? Are they insubordinate, lazy or just plain bored? Believe it or not, most of your people have good […]
-by Sally Whitesell for Fixed Ops Magazine MYTH: “Customers just want fast service. They want to be in and out quickly and they don’t want to be sold anything at the write-up.” Ever heard these statements before? I hear this from advisors all the time, and they couldn’t be more wrong in these assumptions. Of […]
As a female trainer who has been in this industry for 25 years, I am constantly asked this million-dollar question. Listen up, because I am going to give you some straight answers. Make no mistake; creating a gender balance on your team is worth millions. When female clients see a gender-balanced staff, they will be […]
Sally Whitesell, president of sw Service Solutions, joins the AutoSuccess Podcast to discuss how you can keep your team’s attention during training. Listen now:
-by Kristopher Hampton for AutoSuccess Magazine How would your clients feel if, while leaving your store, someone shared that their advisor didn’t tell them about all of the maintenance recommendations for their vehicle? Do you think they would be mad, disappointed, surprised? Would they ever trust your store again? Keep in mind that when we […]
-By Sally Whitesell For AutoSuccess Magazine Your phone is ringing. It’s your most important customer calling. Your dealership has spent a lot of money to get the phones to ring. Every poorly handled call is a lost opportunity that you can’t afford. When service advisors – who are already working at a frenetic pace – […]