Houston Auto Market News
October 15, 2024Sports advertising is a powerful tool for reaching dedicated audiences
October 15, 2024Hello Fellow Dealers,
As we approach the third quarter, I have a question for you: Are you comfortable? If so, it’s time to get a little uncomfortable again. In this business, being comfortable can mean we’ve forgotten where we came from. Getting caught up in the day-to-day is easy, but we need to get back to basics. Take a close look at your operations and ask yourself: Are they running as efficiently as they should? Are we still focused on what truly matters, or have we let complacency creep in?
Technology is a game changer, but only if we use it to its full potential. During COVID, many of us scrutinized every contract and vendor—making tough decisions to streamline operations. Have you revisited those choices recently? It’s time to recheck your vendor list. Are you getting the most out of your tech investments? Have you implemented backup plans or fail stops where needed? We’ve all learned lessons over the past few years, but the question is—are we applying them today?
Integrating virtual desking tools is one of the best changes we’ve made in our dealerships. The efficiency gains in our sales processes have been huge, making deals smoother and faster. And honestly—why are we still printing everything? Docusign is right there, ready to cut down on paper use and eliminate the need to file cabinets full of contracts. We’re not a storage facility—we can get pretty close to paperless if we embrace the right technology.
Another key consideration is whether you are paying for duplicate services across your vendors. Long-term contracts are a thing of the past. Negotiate smarter, leverage your position, and ensure you get the best deal without locking yourself into something that won’t serve you in a couple of years. It’s all about spending wisely.
On the association front, I had the privilege of representing HADA at the NADA Washington Conference this past quarter, where we met with congressional offices to discuss critical franchise dealer issues. We focused on priorities like the FTC REDO Act, a vehicle shopping rule that would unnecessarily elongate the sales process, and the EPA’s EV Mandate, which we believe is moving too far, too fast, and doesn’t align with actual consumer demand. Congressman Babin was kind enough to invite us to the top of the Capitol Dome, where we took a 360-degree view of our nation’s capital. It was an incredible experience, but more importantly, I witnessed HADA in action—advocating for all of us to keep our industry strong and our legislature in our favor.
I also want to take a moment to highlight the success of our HADA Student Technician competition. We have an outstanding turnout planned, with 20 student teams participating on November 15 at San Jacinto College in Pasadena! This competition is a fantastic way to grow our technician workforce, support local education, and inspire the next generation of employees. The turnout of dealer support has been so impressive that we ran out of space for additional teams. Next year, we’ll be looking for a larger facility to accommodate even more talent!
Lastly, please mark your calendars for the return of the Houston Auto Show from January 29 to February 2, with our VIP Night kicking off on Tuesday, January 28. It’s a must-attend event, and I look forward to seeing you all there!
Thank you, as always, for being a part of this great industry and dealer community. Together, we’re driving forward.
Best regards,
Chris Gillman
Chairman, Houston Auto Dealers Association