MADA will host our annual Golf Outing and Crab Feast at Queenstown Harbor on the Eastern Shore on Wednesday, September 12, 2012. Registration forms were sent out earlier this week. Please reserve your spot on the course today and we will see you in September!

Download a Registration Form here  

If you haven't made the decision to send your sales staff to next week's Chip Thomas "Sail to Success!" Sales Seminar, then don't delay and send in your registration form today!

Chip's seminar promises to be spectacular and full of relevant information that is sure to get your sales staff motivated and improving their numbers on the showroom floor. Chip began his consulting career almost 20 years ago, but for the past 31 years, he's been the #1 salesperson at Bill Gatton Honda in Bristol, Tennessee. His techniques are proven and time-tested.

MADA has arranged for Chip to present two one-day seminars on August 6th and 7th at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City.   Chip's normal fee for his all-day seminar is $695/per person, but MADA has negotiated a special member pricing of just $350/per person, which includes all course materials, breakfast, and lunch.

Space is limited, so send in your registration form today to reserve spots for your sales team.   Download a copy of the registration form NOW and return it to MADA by fax, 410.269.1549.

A few weeks ago, we sent a request to all members to complete the Membership Satisfaction Survey: Convention and Future Planning. The survey concerns our recent 2012 Summer Business Convention and your satisfaction with the event. We request that all members complete the survey, regardless of whether or not you attended the event, as some questions pertain to planning future conventions. It is our hope that your input will help us to plan future events that will better fit the needs of our members, both dealer and associate.

Please complete the Membership Satisfaction Survey: Convention and Future Planning. You may return it via email, either by completing the requested fields and clicking on the "Submit Form" button at the top of the survey, or by saving it and sending it as an attachment.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation, your time, and for sharing your thoughts with us!

Online registration and housing for the NADA Convention and Expo is now open. NADA members (dealers and managers) who register by September 14 will receive a $100 discount off the onsite registration rate. The 96th annual NADA convention will be held in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center from Feb. 8-11, 2013.

Due to other events occurring at the same time in Orlando, NADA expects rooms to sell out quickly. To register for the NADA convention, including hotel reservations with discounted rates, visit the Convention website.

#1: Spender Control - Getting a Grip on Expenses by Controlling Who Does the Spending!

Date/Time: Thursday, August 2 at 1:00 p.m.

Presenter: Doug Austin, President of Strategic Source

Cost: $149.00 per person

Controlling the list of approved vendors and approved spenders in the dealership is key to eliminating wasted expense!

Our expert speaker's firm conducts "spend analysis" for auto dealers from coast-to-coast.  His work in this area has led him to conclude that the average dealership has to manage over 100 expense categories!

He has also found that these 100 categories can often be spread over 300 vendors!  Way too many for effective control according to Doug Austin.  Doug also estimates that the hidden costs of managing each individual vendor can easily top $1,000 per year!

Do the math - 300 vendors times $1,000 per year - OUCH!

The below-the-surface culprit in this maze of expense is often the fact that too many dealership employees are making purchasing decisions on their own!  Learning how to reduce and control the number of employees able to make purchasing decisions can go a long way to shrinking all these hidden costs of doing business.

#2: Dealership Body Shops - How to Fine-Tune for Maximum Growth and Profits!

Date/Time: Thursday, August 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Presenter: Greg Criss, President of Criss Consulting

Cost: $149.00 per person

During the last down-turn, dealers with profitable Body Shops were very glad they decided to stick with the profit center.  For these dealers, the Body Shop became a hedge against the ups and downs of the new car business.

But it does not manage itself!  Join us for this Webinar as we focus on the cost controls and common-sense marketing needed to help you make a lot of money in a recession-proof business.

The ideas presented will help you improve your Body Shop operations regardless of your shop's size or current performance.  This program can also provide a blueprint for those considering re-entering the business.

You will Learn:

• How to become part of the insurance company's Direct Repair Program (DRP)
• How to develop and implement a non-DRP marketing plan
• How to identify and plug common body shop profit leaks
• About the good and bad of supplier alliances
• How to pay painters and body shop techs
• Money-saving ideas from successful body shop operations
• Keys to improving productivity

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!