The Dealer Playbook

Katie Mares is an author, speaker, and consultant who empowers businesses to design experiences that resonate with female consumers. She is a bestselling author and her book, "CustomHer Experience" is a guide for businesses to close the gender gap in sales.

What We Discuss In This Episode

Katie shares her personal journey from a disastrous car-buying experience to becoming a leading voice in customer experience. Her encount...

Gabrielle (Gabi) Abinion is the General Manager at Fox Valley Volkswagen of St. Charles. With a rich family history in the automotive business, Gabi brings a unique perspective to her role, blending tradition with innovation to drive success. Her dedication to empowering her team and fostering a culture of growth has been instrumental in the dealership's continued prosperity. Buckle up for a conversation about hard work, navig...

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Whitlock, the president of Innovation Financial Services, to explore the fascinating journey of automotive entrepreneurship. We dive into Steve's unique background, starting from his days as a firefighter to his eventual transition into the car business. Steve shares insights into how his diverse experiences shaped his path, showcasing the unexpected twists and turns that led him to where...

Glenn Pasch, an industry veteran with a penchant for data-driven insights and a logical approach to marketing, brings decades of expertise in digital marketing and dealership strategies. As the brains behind PCG Digital, Glenn has empowered countless dealerships to optimize their marketing efforts and unlock hidden sales potential.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

We kick off our conversation by dissecting the enigma of marketing att...

Alex Lawrence is the CEO and co-founder of Ev Auto, a pioneering dealership specializing in electric vehicles. With a background in franchising and tech, Alex brings a wealth of experience to the table, along with a passion for creating exceptional customer experiences. His dedication to honesty, integrity, and innovation has propelled Ev Auto to success in the competitive EV market.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

We start by traci...

Are you leaving a massive chunk of the market untapped? Welcome back to another insightful episode of the Dealer Playbook podcast. Today, we're delving deep into the world of marketing segmentation, focusing specifically on the Hispanic marketplace.

Joining me today is Ally Pinon, the Digital Marketing Director for Chastang Ford, as we uncover the secrets to successfully reaching and engaging with this vibrant demographic.

What ...

When Adrian Gibbs, Marketing Director of Nimnicht Family of Dealerships, stepped into the world of automotive marketing, she brought with her the competitive edge of the plastic surgery industry and a knack for nurturing customer relationships. Our exchange is as insightful as it is humorous, revealing the unexpected connections between such diverse fields and underscoring the transformative power of innovative thinking. Adrian&apo...

Paul De Vries is the Founder of #DCDW, Spokesperson for Marktplaats Automotive, and Co-Owner of Carmen BDC. With an impressive track record in dealership ownership, BDC management, and online car sales, Paul is recognized as a trailblazer in the automotive space, revolutionizing marketing tactics and driving unprecedented success.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

1. Unveiling New Market Opportunities:

Discover Paul's unparalleled...

Rand Fishkin is cofounder and CEO of  SparkToro, makers of fine audience research software, and indie game developer Snackbar Studio. He’s dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through his writing, videos, speaking, and his book, Lost and Founder.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

Get ready to challenge everything you know about marketing attribution with Rand Fishkin, who brings his formidable expertis...

Have you ever wondered how a personal crisis might just be the catalyst for a profound transformation in how you lead your team? That's the story Scott Greenberg, author of "Stop the Shift Show," brings to our table as we unravel the potential of culture within organizations.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

Scott's journey from budding film student to a cancer warrior and eventually a motivat...

Matas Buzelis is the Head of Communications at carVertical.com

Matas Buzelis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, shedding light on the intricacies of the global car market.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

Ever wondered about the global impact of automotive fraud? Matas sheds light on the mission of the Association of Automotive Intelligence, an initiative aimed at combating fraud and...

Dave Spannhake is the Founder and CEO of Reunion Marketing, one of the fastest growing marketing companies in the country that specializes in using data and consumer behavior to create highly effective marketing strategies.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

Dave sheds light on the challenges businesses face when Google, once a reliable partner, undergoes drastic changes in its support system and ad platform. The di...

Subi Ghosh is the Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing at Stream Companies.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

We delve into the importance of first-party data and how it can be leveraged to create personalized marketing experiences. Subi emphasizes the need for dealerships to have a plan for post-cookie tracking and retargeting, as cookie deprecation is already happening. She also high...

Subi Ghosh is the Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing at Stream Companies.

What We Discuss In This Episode:

We delve into the importance of first-party data and how it can be leveraged to create personalized marketing experiences. Subi emphasizes the need for dealerships to have a plan for post-cookie tracking and retargeting, as cookie deprecation is already happening. She also high...

In this power-packed episode, I sit down with the brilliant mind behind Automotive Wealth, Rob Bacharach. Rob is the president and founder of Automotive Wealth, a seasoned financial planner specializing in empowering automotive professionals to secure their financial future. With a wealth of experience in the industry, Rob brings a unique perspective and a passion for helping individuals navigate the complexities of financial plann...

Ever wondered how the digital revolution has transformed the car buying process? Join us as we sit down with Kirk Preiser, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at LeadVantage. Formerly the Director of Retail Buying Experience at Audi of America, Kirk shares an insider's look at how the industry is syncing the online and in-store experience.

Together, we dissect the omni-channel approach, and debate the ways i...

Gary Graves co-founded InteractiveTel, now TotalCX, in 2008 and presently serves as CEO. Previously, he served as the company's first Chief Technology Officer. He developed the communications platform on which the company's proprietary products are based and has been instrumental in the company's dynamic growth trajectory. 

What We Discuss In This Episode:

Data-Driven Insights:

The common issues observed through data an...

It all began with automotive inventory management software.

I never imagined I'd end up in the automotive industry. Back in the day, my childhood buddy Dan Collingridge and I had this grand plan of starting a record label and radio station dedicated to alternative rock music, the dream we called 1500 am THE PITT. I went to school to chase my sound engineering certificate, and Dan pursued his master’s degree in computer science....

Ever get caught in the hustle, only to realize Christmas is knocking on the door? Yeah, I've been there, too, and what a year. I recently took to LinkedIn and Facebook to satisfy my curiosity about people's thoughts and predictions about what's coming in 2024 for us in the retail automotive realm.

I will be straight up with you.—it's a fascinating mix of outlooks. There are some doom and gloom thoughts, and there...