Tim Jackson and the Colorado Automotive Dealer Association invited IM@CS out to Denver, CO September 8 to participate in the Innovative Dealer Summit (http://www.innovativedealersummit.com). The event and it's four-track format was set to bring CO dealers to the forefront of the digital shift in automotive retail. After attending Digital Dealer 8 in Orlando last April and seeing no more than eight store staff in attendance (no principals or senior management), Tim believed that the dealers in the mountain state needed all of the information possible.
With some of the industry's headliners in attendance, the event kicked off with a fantastic breakfast, emceed by GM's Mike Marshall. Jared Hamilton, www.Drivingsales.com, Jonathan Ord, DealerSocket, and Dale Pollak, vAuto, energized the crowd with the up-to-date challenges and opportunities faced by dealers.
IM@CS's own Gary May kicked off the general sessions with the topic "Putting It Together: Dealership, Brand, eCommerce" to a packed room. One of the dealer body's greatest challenges today is the shift from the franchise brand (or badge on the car) to the dealership brand (community involvement, reputation management, destination mentality and more).
The day promises to be an eye-opening experience for those in attendance, a 12-hour non-stop collection of topics and tools to move the automotive retail industry forward.
Thanks to Tim Jackson and the CADA!
