Chuck Marzahn's Dealership Dynamics Blog

Basics of Budgeting

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:44:00 GMT

Here's a short set of ideas about how to approach "budgeting." Every store should have a plan. Do you?

Traveling in Florida Christmas '08

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:22:00 GMT

It's the Holiday Season. We're in Florida visiting the kids. I always thought it was the old folks who were supposed to move to Florida. In our family, we got that part backwards. Carol and I have two daughters now grown and on their own. The older daughter is married to an attorney in the Orlando area. The younger daughter recently relocated to Orlando from NYC and is working in retail while searching for a position with a PR firm.

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Top 50 Dealers

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:17:00 GMT

Take nothing away from those identified as the Top 50 Dealers in the recent RV Business magazine and press releases. I know many of them and they have fine operations. In fact, I've sent notes congratulating several of them with whom I'm closest. But what does this list represent? One thought is that it's a marketing effort. Pure and simple.

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Isn't anyone else upset with Monaco?

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:24:00 GMT

Where there's smoke...

Too many sources are talking with me about Monaco's entering into an arrangement to sell product 40 or 50k back of invoice to Camping World/Freedom Roads.

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Are You Caught Up?

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:10:00 GMT

I’d like to pose a couple of questions to all the folks who have been in our industry for, say, the past couple of decades.

Don’t you recall how many times we’ve been compared to the car business? It must bother you when someone says, as if revealing an immutable and axiomatic truth, “Well – you know we’re about twenty years behind the car business…” I know it bothers me when I hear it. It’s as if we have accepted the position of second class citizen.

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Getting to the Real Problem in your Shop

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:20:00 GMT

What's the problem? Can't get the work through the shop? Delivery Scheduling always a hassle? Backlogged work in the shop?

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Buyer's in Today's Market

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:06:00 GMT

Are you finding it hard to sell today’s buyer? Well, it can be done and with acceptable profits. The requirement is to do your homework, be thorough and pay attention to the basic. The buyers are out there. A positive attitude is absolutely necessary. Be careful not to let another dealer’s negative attitude become yours.

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Grow Your Own Economic Stimulus

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:22:29 GMT

Want an economic stimulus package? Get the banks to cut the rates on good quality retail paper. We’ve seen several rate cuts in the Federal Discount Rate. When are those cuts going to show through? We can be grateful ...More...

Have we forgotten what we look like through the customer's eyes?

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:43:33 GMT

Maybe we've lost our way... Not just in our industry. In general. Does the customer drive your business? Lisa Ford's comments at RVDA's Super Session still ring in my ears. We have three kinds of service in our country. (Sounds like Tom Peters' message for those who have been around a while). The three kinds? 1. Poor 2. Indifferent and 3. Exceptional. Which one are you providing? Do you have a customer focus? Is the customer the reason for your business or does something else drive your business model?More...

Are you an HR Ostrich?

Chuck@MarzahnAndKing.com — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:03:10 GMT

In a recent seminar on human resource management, a participant came to a new understanding of the importance of the HR role. She works at a dealership with 14 employees and virtually no turnover. Her attendance in the seminar was preceded by some kicking and dragging of feet. “Why do I need to know about HR?” was the question. ...More...