Car Dealership Guy Podcast

Today I’m joined by JR Toothman, Dealer Principal at Toothman Ford. We break down how he’s quietly 4x’ing used car sales—his secret acquisition playbook, the hailstorm that led to his biggest sales day ever, and the behind-the-scenes strategy powering his used car empire. This episode is brought to you by: 1. OPENLANE - The world’s best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more @ https://www.openlane.com/ 2. CDG Recruiting - The Go-To Talent Partner for Dealers. Hire pre-vetted GMs, sales, F&I, fixed ops, C-suite, and back-office talent—ready to perform. Faster hires, better results. Book a call → ⁠http://www.CDGRecruiting.com⁠ 3. CarGurus - maximize your performance on the #1 most visited car shopping site in the U.S. With data-driven intelligence on what to buy, how to improve the visibility of your listings, and how to optimize pricing, CarGurus will help drive revenue at every stage. Learn more @ http://insights.cargurus.com/cdg. Similarweb, Traffic Report (Cars.com, Autotrader, TrueCar, CARFAX Listings (defined as CARFAX Total visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic), Q4'24, USA. CarGurus analysis of US dealers that changed a vehicle price based on NBDR recommendations compared to vehicles without an NBDR- informed price change from Nov 2023 through Dec 2024, finding that dealers that made NBDR-price informed change see a 42% median increase in VDP views per day.  Market Probe International, blinded survey of 600 dealers, Aug 2024. Based on 313 dealers who pay for at least two listings sites.  Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: ⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠ Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: ⁠https://cdgpartner.com⁠ Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Suismu Topics: 00:54 – How can dealerships embrace technology and data? 01:54 – How have dealerships evolved over time? 05:16 – What is your personal background and career journey? 08:09 – How does your family impact the business? 10:59 – What marketing strategies do you use, and how is your store set up? 19:49 – Why focus on the used car market? 22:09 – What are your strategies for buying cars? 26:29 – How do you optimize inventory and acquire vehicles? 39:23 – What do you see in the future of the used car market? Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: CDG News ➤ ⁠https://news.dealershipguy.com/⁠ CDG Jobs ➤ ⁠https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/⁠ CDG Recruiting ➤ ⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠ My Socials: X ➤ ⁠x.com/GuyDealership⁠ Instagram ➤ ⁠instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠ TikTok ➤ ⁠tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠ LinkedIn ➤ ⁠linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy⁠ Threads ➤ ⁠threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠ Facebook ➤ ⁠facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠ Everything else ➤ ⁠dealershipguy.com⁠ This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Yuriy Demidko, CIO at Fox Motor Group, and Matthew Muilenburg, CPO at Impel, dive into the challenges dealerships face with internet leads and the crucial role of AI in customer engagement. They discuss how slow response times can hurt sales and the importance of timely follow-ups. The duo highlights generative AI's potential to personalize customer interactions and improve lead management. They also emphasize the need for clean data and how technology can transform the customer experience, making it feel more like a concierge service.

Today I’m joined by Chase Channell, General Manager of Victory Honda Jackson.We get into how he went from college dropout to GM by 25, why mastering finance separates good GMs from great ones, and why he still personally desks every single deal at his store.This episode is brought to you by:1. DLRdmv – Dealers, are you still stuck using outdated interstate titling methods? DLR50 from DLRdmv modernizes out‑of‑state titling by providing 24/7 sales tax, title, and registration fees, pre‑populated state-specific forms, through an online platform that directly integrates with your DMS. CDG listeners get 30 days of free full-service access to DLR50 on unlimited out-of-state deals. Head over to @ https://www.DLRdmv.com/CDG , use code POD30 to claim your free month today.2. Copart – Are you looking to expand your dealership’s wholesale inventory? Finding front-line ready vehicles from finance, fleet, and rental consignors is now easier than ever. Copart Select gives you transparency that drives profitability and the assurance you need. Register as a Member to Get Started @ https://carguymedia.com/44x0XYn3. CDG Recruiting - The Go-To Talent Partner for Dealers. Hire pre-vetted GMs, sales, F&I, fixed ops, C-suite, and back-office talent—ready to perform. Faster hires, better results. Book a call → http://www.CDGRecruiting.com Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.comInterested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3SuismuTopics:02:10 What's Chase's early career background?02:50 Why transition to car sales?05:00 First car sales experiences like?12:36 Why is F&I knowledge important?20:23 How to build customer relationships?24:58 What defines Victory's company culture?26:39 How to empower service concierges?31:49 How to optimize used car sales?47:53 Why invest in young talent?Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/My Socials:X ➤ x.com/GuyDealershipInstagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealershipLinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguyThreads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguyFacebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.comThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market.Today, Sam sits down with Doug Obenhaus, President Texas Auto Sales, and David Kang, Chief Marketing & Analytics Officer, Copart.This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Copart:Copart – Are you looking to expand your dealership’s wholesale inventory? Finding front-line ready vehicles from finance, fleet, and rental consignors is now easier than ever. Copart Select gives you transparency that drives profitability and the assurance you need. Register as a Member to Get Started at https://carguymedia.com/44x0XYnNeed help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.comInterested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3SuismuTopics:01:59 Biggest challenges in the car business?05:00 Advice for independent dealers?06:16 Where to find used car deals?07:24 What is Copart’s benefit?11:40 Best strategies for today’s market?12:40 How does Copart handle arbitration?20:23 How is AI changing autos?31:08 International vehicle trade opportunities?33:22 Is Copart’s marketplace fair?Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/My Socials:X ➤ x.com/GuyDealershipInstagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealershipLinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguyThreads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguyFacebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.comThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market.Today, Sam sits down with Cody Hansen, Fixed Operations Director Ferman Automotive, and Matt Gonzalez, Sr. Account Executive, Automotive at Uber.This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Uber For Business:Uber For Business - With Uber for Business, dealerships create a seamless experience for their customers, while helping them get employees and parts where they need to go. Thousands of dealerships have implemented Uber for Business to bolster current offerings, with the goal to increase efficiency, optimize costs and create a superior customer experience. Learn more about how Uber can support your dealership's goals @ t.uber.com/CDGauto 🚨 Don’t forget to subscribe to Car Dealership Guy Bites, for quick, daily insights into automotive retail — delivered in less than 5 minutes:Subscribe on Apple: https://carguymedia.com/apple_bitesSubscribe on Spotify: https://carguymedia.com/spotify_bitesSubscribe on YouTube: https://carguymedia.com/youtube_bitesNeed help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.comInterested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3SuismuTopics:00:24 – What are today’s biggest fixed ops challenges?01:28 – How does service-sales collaboration drive retention?03:05 – What makes your technician training unique?05:27 – Why choose ride-sharing for dealership logistics?10:16 – How does Uber optimize parts delivery?12:38 – What liabilities do dealer trades introduce?14:58 – Can Uber Eats enhance dealership operations?16:36 – What measurable savings has Uber delivered?19:48 – How will AI shape automotive logistics?Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/My Socials:X ➤ x.com/GuyDealershipInstagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealershipLinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguyThreads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguyFacebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.comThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Today I’m joined by Christian Crain, VP of Operations at Crain Automotive — a 16-store dealer group based in Arkansas. We dig into a story that’s both unique and all too common in the car business: generational turmoil, how control can fracture a family, what it takes for the next generation to rebuild and much more.CDG's Automotive Tariff Tracker mentioned in this episode: https://news.dealershipguy.com/p/breaking-cdg-s-automaker-tariff-tracker-is-here-2025-04-03This episode is brought to you by:1. Qmerit - Selling EVs can have a lot of friction points. But home charging installation shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why dealers and automakers trust Qmerit—the go-to expert for home charging installations. Join Qmerit’s dealership partner program and start earning referral incentives on every installation. Visit @ https://www.qmerit.com/carguy to learn more.2. CDK Global - CDK Global is the go-to tech partner for car dealers and automakers. Beyond top-tier software, their Research and Insights team delivers powerful reports year-round—like the Friction Points study, revealing what slows down the buying process and why F&I still matters. Want the full report? Learn more @ https://www.CDK.com/insights 3. CDG Recruiting - The Go-To Talent Partner for Dealers. Hire pre-vetted GMs, sales, F&I, fixed ops, C-suite, and back-office talent—ready to perform. Faster hires, better results. Book a call → http://www.CDGRecruiting.com 🚨 Don’t forget to subscribe to Car Dealership Guy Bites, for quick, daily insights into automotive retail — delivered in less than 5 minutes:Subscribe on Apple: https://carguymedia.com/apple_bitesSubscribe on Spotify: https://carguymedia.com/spotify_bitesSubscribe on YouTube: https://carguymedia.com/youtube_bitesNeed help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.comInterested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3SuismuTopics:00:20 – How have tariffs impacted dealership operations?02:35 – What shaped this family automotive legacy?05:05 – How do family dynamics affect business decisions?10:16 – What leadership changes drove transformation?18:28 – Which technologies revolutionized your operations?23:18 – What were your first critical challenges?24:57 – How do you elevate customer experience?29:26 – Why are OEM relationships crucial?38:09 – What's your vision for strategic growth?Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/My Socials:X ➤ x.com/GuyDealershipInstagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealershipLinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguyThreads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguyFacebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.comThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Tom Bear, the Platform Used Car Director at Cable Dahmer Automotive Group, and Frank Zombo, Vice President of Sales at Auto Hauler Exchange, share insights from the evolving used car market. They dive into strategies for navigating market volatility and the impact of rising prices on profitability. Their discussion highlights how Auto Hauler Exchange revolutionizes vehicle shipping, enhancing efficiency with reduced costs and faster deliveries. Listeners will learn about adapting to trends and optimizing logistics in a competitive landscape.

Michael Wood, GM at Jaguar Land Rover Virginia Beach, shares his unique take on transforming luxury car sales through outstanding customer experience. He discusses Jaguar's return as a niche sports car brand and the necessity for dealerships to shift from transactional to holistic customer engagement. Wood emphasizes innovative strategies, including personalized services and even pasta-making classes, to foster loyalty. Additionally, he touches on adapting to electric vehicle trends and employing technology to enhance the buying journey.

Join Oliver Phillips, COO of Qmerit, as he delves into the hidden hurdles of electric vehicle ownership, particularly around home charging installations. He discusses why Florida is emerging as an EV leader and how various consumer preferences influence sales. The conversation highlights the importance of dealer education and transparent processes to combat charging anxiety. Oliver also sheds light on the economic benefits of EV adoption and the evolving support roles dealerships must take to thrive in this shifting market.

In this intriguing discussion, auto retailer Andy Wright and global Honda dealer Brian Benstock join a powerhouse panel to dissect the imminent auto tariffs. They analyze how these tariffs will influence vehicle prices, especially for luxury brands like Mercedes and Porsche. The experts delve into the strategies dealerships are adopting to navigate challenges, from inventory management to economic shifts affecting consumer demand. With insights from various industry leaders, this conversation reveals how the automotive sector is preparing for a turbulent future.