Selling In The Motor Trade

This week Stuart Wallbanks, one of our own consultants joins us talk all about sales process, the key to sales success and training. Stuart started hie career in Platts Longton, before working with Reg Vardy and then moving on to training.  He explains in his view what makes a good trainer, sales person and manger. We discuss how some sales mangers can get fearful of second facing a customer, as they haven’t kept their sales skills fresh, but it can be very easily rectified. Here are the highlights: {02:42} Reg Vardy {07:37} Paul Cummings {10:25} Credibility {14:40} Process and Rapport {27:26} Buying a Rolex {33:52} Scared to Second Face {45:25} Erase Negative Language About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its clients something different. That difference was clear to Simon from his days in the dealership when he experienced many sales trainers who had all the answers, but were unable, unwilling or both to actually show the delegate how they could be implemented. It remains the ethos of the business today. You see, Symco only employ trainers that are committed to delivering not only in spiring and insightful training, but are equally as happy to demonstrate these skills and techniques with real customers in your own showroom. We believe in order for sales training to be effective and in Simon’s words ‘real world’, it needs to be tried and tested in the only place it matters the showroom floor. There is no room for theory when your goals are for your team to sell more cars, hours or parts and retain more profit. In dealerships around the world the focus applied by many of the sales executives is to try and sell a deal. Symco specialise in getting your teams to focus on selling themselves, the product and then supporting this with the deal. To find out more visit: www.symcotraining.co.uk

We continue our interview Jono O’Byrne, Sales Director for Endeavour Automotive.   Starting off with being a mentor and learning from Billie Jean King. Jono has also worked in a couple of different agency modules, so he shares the benefit of his experience. We also look at how you move up the career ladder from sales to management, and making the job yours to lose. Then closing with Jono’s top tip. Here are the highlights: {01:54} Billie Jean King {08:40} EV Targets {17:48} Value of traditional car dealer {20:43} Agency with Volvo {23:43} Best Customer Experience {30:55} Sales to Management {32:48} Energy is the currency {34:08} Get your job on merit {38:12} How tight is your sales process About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its clients something different. That difference was clear to Simon from his days in the dealership when he experienced many sales trainers who had all the answers, but were unable, unwilling or both to actually show the delegate how they could be implemented. It remains the ethos of the business today. You see, Symco only employ trainers that are committed to delivering not only in spiring and insightful training, but are equally as happy to demonstrate these skills and techniques with real customers in your own showroom. We believe in order for sales training to be effective and in Simon’s words ‘real world’, it needs to be tried and tested in the only place it matters the showroom floor. There is no room for theory when your goals are for your team to sell more cars, hours or parts and retain more profit. In dealerships around the world the focus applied by many of the sales executives is to try and sell a deal. Symco specialise in getting your teams to focus on selling themselves, the product and then supporting this with the deal. To find out more visit: www.symcotraining.co.uk

We are delighted to welcome Jono O’Byrne, Sales Director for Endeavour Automotive.  Jono tells us about his journey in the motor trade, experiences and mantras. Simon trained Jono when he was first starting out, so it was lovely catch up again.  There such a lot to discuss, and so much inspiration given, that we have had to split this interview into two episodes.  In this part we look at Jono’s background, how to manage 23 sites, points to assess when looking at your business and his mentors. Here are the highlights: {03:57} Working at George Corbett Motors {06:51} Moving to the UK {10:10} Working for Marshalls {11:20} Difference in the Irish Market {19:30} Sweat the Small Stuff {20:45} Communication {27:25} Priorities {32.05} George Corbett and Daksh Gupta {39:25} Ask Why About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its clients something different. That difference was clear to Simon from his days in the dealership when he experienced many sales trainers who had all the answers, but were unable, unwilling or both to actually show the delegate how they could be implemented. It remains the ethos of the business today. You see, Symco only employ trainers that are committed to delivering not only in spiring and insightful training, but are equally as happy to demonstrate these skills and techniques with real customers in your own showroom. We believe in order for sales training to be effective and in Simon’s words ‘real world’, it needs to be tried and tested in the only place it matters the showroom floor. There is no room for theory when your goals are for your team to sell more cars, hours or parts and retain more profit. In dealerships around the world the focus applied by many of the sales executives is to try and sell a deal. Symco specialise in getting your teams to focus on selling themselves, the product and then supporting this with the deal. To find out more visit: www.symcotraining.co.uk

Umesh Samani - Owner of Specialist Cars Stoke,  and Chairman of the IMDA, joins us to chat about selling used EVs. We focus on used electric vehicles from an independent dealer’s point of view. The challenges buying and selling them initially creates and the opportunities afforded once mastered. At the moment approximately 6% of vehicles on Auto Trader are EVs, but this is growing all the time and gaining knowledge and confidence to sell them early is the key to ensuring future success. We discuss some best practices and pitfalls to avoid, that can help with the transition. Here are the highlights: {02:25} Biggest Opportunity {06:12} Confidence {07:22} Educate Consumers {10:21} Frustrated Used EV Customers {10:38} Charging {16:59} Pricing {22:34} Battery Degradation {31.27} Servicing {36:13} Sourcing {40:00} Sell by Date About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its clients something different. That difference was clear to Simon from his days in the dealership when he experienced many sales trainers who had all the answers, but were unable, unwilling or both to actually show the delegate how they could be implemented. It remains the ethos of the business today. You see, Symco only employ trainers that are committed to delivering not only in spiring and insightful training, but are equally as happy to demonstrate these skills and techniques with real customers in your own showroom. We believe in order for sales training to be effective and in Simon’s words ‘real world’, it needs to be tried and tested in the only place it matters the showroom floor. There is no room for theory when your goals are for your team to sell more cars, hours or parts and retain more profit. In dealerships around the world the focus applied by many of the sales executives is to try and sell a deal. Symco specialise in getting your teams to focus on selling themselves, the product and then supporting this with the deal. To find out more visit www.symcotraining.co.uk

We  are delighted to welcome back Jason Cranswick with another instalment of our book club.  In this episode we discuss a selection of books that are brilliant to have on your reading list for 2025, if self-improvement is one of your goals for the year. The nine books we are recommending, cover everything from effective habits, to using AI, understanding behavioural science and managing the direction of your career path. These books can really increase your skill set, help you manage and understand your team and manage your business and personal finances. Here are the highlights: {03:36} 7 Habits of Highly Effective People {06:52} Unreasonable Hospitality {15:06} Show Me The Money {19:53} Co Intelligence {28:10} Thinking Fast and Slow {30:51} Elon Musk {36:39} The Squiggly Career {41:35} Rich Dad Poor Dad {43:27} Atomic Habits About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its clients something different. That difference was clear to Simon from his days in the dealership when he experienced many sales trainers who had all the answers, but were unable, unwilling or both to actually show the delegate how they could be implemented. It remains the ethos of the business today. You see, Symco only employ trainers that are committed to delivering not only in spiring and insightful training, but are equally as happy to demonstrate these skills and techniques with real customers in your own showroom. We believe in order for sales training to be effective and in Simon’s words ‘real world’, it needs to be tried and tested in the only place it matters the showroom floor. There is no room for theory when your goals are for your team to sell more cars, hours or parts and retain more profit. In dealerships around the world the focus applied by many of the sales executives is to try and sell a deal. Symco specialise in getting your teams to focus on selling themselves, the product and then supporting this with the deal. To find out more visit www.symcotraining.co.uk

Dive into the crucial role of trial closing in car sales, where asking the right questions can feel like a marriage proposal. Discover how timing and phrasing can ease customer hesitations and lead to smoother transactions. Learn to identify minor objections and turn them into negotiation opportunities, enhancing commitment. Master the art of tailoring questions for diverse customer profiles to ensure their satisfaction before sealing the deal. It's all about creating a connection and ensuring the car is the perfect fit!

Discover how to effectively handle the classic customer question: 'What’s your best price?' with practical strategies that shift the focus from pricing to vehicle suitability. Learn about getting the numbers right, optimizing trade-in values, and the surprising tactic of speeding customers up to actually slow down their decision-making. Ideal for sales teams wanting to enhance their skills, this discussion provides actionable insights to motivate and elevate sales conversations in the motor trade.

We return to our ‘5 Key Touch Points’ in service with Darren Bedford. In this episode we focus on the VHC Call.  When it comes to this,  planning is everything and structuring your call will increase your chances of success, whilst ensuring you give all relevant information to the customer. We discuss various techniques to aid with tyre sales and being mindful of the language used to describe red and amber work. Darren also explains how to present amber work in way that gives the customer the choice of convenience. In closing we leave you with some top tips for service managers. Here are the highlights: {03:20} Structure the call {05:45} Credit Card {18:55} Percentage worn {26:38} Language {32:46} Presenting amber work {41:21} Top tips for Service Managers About Symco Training: Symco Training was founded in 2000 by Simon Bowkett and it was his belief that the business had to offer its clients something different. That difference was clear to Simon from his days in the dealership when he experienced many sales trainers who had all the answers, but were unable, unwilling or both to actually show the delegate how they could be implemented. It remains the ethos of the business today. You see, Symco only employ trainers that are committed to delivering not only in spiring and insightful training, but are equally as happy to demonstrate these skills and techniques with real customers in your own showroom. We believe in order for sales training to be effective and in Simon’s words ‘real world’, it needs to be tried and tested in the only place it matters the showroom floor. There is no room for theory when your goals are for your team to sell more cars, hours or parts and retain more profit. In dealerships around the world the focus applied by many of the sales executives is to try and sell a deal. Symco specialise in getting your teams to focus on selling themselves, the product and then supporting this with the deal. To find out more visit www.symcotraining.co.uk

The podcast dives into tackling the common customer remark, 'I'm just looking.' Innovative techniques like the Columbo method and signposting are shared to encourage customer engagement. Listeners learn how to create a low-pressure environment, fostering open conversations that can lead to sales. The importance of preparing for objections is emphasized, with insights on adapting approaches in a showroom context. It's all about enhancing those essential objection-handling skills in the world of auto sales!

Meeting customers at a car dealership is like a job interview, and first impressions matter! Discover techniques to break the ice and start meaningful conversations. It’s crucial to introduce yourself to everyone involved in the buying process. Explore the art of reading customer cues, like when they’re ‘just looking,’ and how to effectively engage through active listening. The focus is on connecting personally to enhance the sales experience and make every interaction count.