Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 3

Nationwide and in West Virginia, dealers are shifting to digital auto sales—ready or not.

As dealers prepare for the day that they can reopen their showroom doors post COVID-19 shutdowns, many may feel uncertain about where to begin. As a follow-up to our 36-Point Checklist If Your Dealership is Mandated to Close, we have compiled a comprehensive checklist to run through if you receive approval to open your showroom back up for business. We encourage you to create your own action plan using these suggestions now, so that you will be ready to take quick action when the time comes.

What are your thoughts about the auto industry and COVID-19?
I’ve been in the industry for the lion’s share of my career. No one has seen anything like COVID-19 before. It has been an unforeseeably trying time and has changed us in a way that I think is forever.

Although the U.S. economic climate is now far different (and far worse) than anyone expected at the beginning of the year, the ability to pivot and adjust to the current situation has never been more critical. Restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are loosening up in the U.S., but the crisis is still fluid.

Everyone can see the trends in the automotive industry by watching a car commercial. Gone are the days where buyers are excited about power windows and locks. Today, new buyers are motivated to buy a car with Bluetooth sound systems and lane assist technology. But what are some of the trends in Utah’s automotive dealership design?

At this writing, the coronavirus pandemic continues in full swing, multitrillion-dollar relief packages are en route from our federal lawmakers, and small businesses from Maine to Malibu are hunkered down, feverishly working to balance safety and service for their customers, co-workers and community. Not exactly another day at the office.

Traditionally, when an individual or organization fears change, it has something to do with digital technology disrupting their status quo. Will something autonomous replace my job? What if something is created that puts me completely out of business?

Robert H. Garff, like his father Ken Garff, believed in listening. The company website for the Ken Garff Automotive Group has a page specifically called We Hear You. The title is emphasized by the image of an ear on the “About Us” page. As the website explains, all businesses are about people. Although the Ken Garff dealership does sell and service cars, its relationships with employees and customers are what the company has focused on.

Do you feel unsettled by everything that is currently going on? It’s no wonder if you do. Many of our dealers are facing unprecedented obstacles, and they are working to ensure the survival of businesses that provide livelihoods for many people.