Near-death experiences have a way of changing people’s way of thinking.
After surviving a punishing recession, Joe Cardinale, founder of the 15-dealership Cardinale Automotive Group based in Seaside, CA, told WardsAuto in an interview: “We didn’t go bankrupt, though we probably should have.”
Three hundred California dealerships did go out of business as car sales in the state dropped about 800,000 units between 2007 and 2009. As a survivor, Cardinale opted for a new approach to pursue customers. “That means taking destiny into one’s own hands.”
How Cardinale Automotive Group reorganized is a topic of a presentation entitled “Xperiential Retail – Learn Secrets to Develop a Culture Where Everyone Wins” at the 2016 Automotive Summit Series this month in Marina Del Rey, CA.
It consists of tandem conferences: the Automotive Customer Centricity Summit on June 21 and the Automotive Social & Innovative Tech Summit on June 22.
The overall program focuses on how OEMs, dealers, and finance providers are partnering to improve both online and in-store customer experiences.
At the first event, keynoter Erich Gail, Cardinale CEO, will tell how the group reorganized so that every manager and associate accepts 100% responsibility for individual and collective performance.
He’ll discuss best practices and how to use them in combination to carry out the company’s strategy.
Other presentation topics will include:
• DCH Auto & NFTSD – Creating Consumer Trust.
• IBM – The Cognitive Car’s Ability to Connect with Customers.
• Infiniti – Leveraging Technology to Revolutionize the Customer Journey.
• Kelley Buick GMC – Stop Selling Cars to Sell More Cars.
• Lexus – Delivering a Connected Customer Experience.
• Mazda – The Evolution to a Customer Oriented Culture.
The next day’s Automotive Social & Innovative Tech Summit covers social media as well as innovations affecting the industry.
Presentation topics will include:
• Beepi – Leveraging Trust and Innovation in Automotive.
• Kia – Real Retail Change Coming....and Fast.
• Nissan – Innovation for New Mobility.
• Pixability – How Consumers Make Their Driving Choices.
• Red McCombs Auto – Customer Buying & Ownership Trends Coming to a Dealership Near You.
• Sprinklr - Evolution of the Customer-Brand Relationship
“The pace of change in society in general and the auto industry in particular continues to accelerate,” says Jon Munzel, president of Thought Leadership Summits, organizer of the automotive conferences.
“TLS is including areas of innovation beyond the customer experience and social media in order to address the needs of progressive industry leaders to plan for and take advantage of the opportunities innovation creates,” he says.
Both events will be at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey. For more information click here or call 720-287-0145.
