...Idea Time: DEALERSHIP HELPS STAFFERS BUY COMPUTERS

With the increasing use of computer technology in automotive retailing, it's important for dealerships to employ computer literate staffers.

That's so they can handle work such as:

* Internet shopping by customers

* Dealership and manufacturer home pages

* Buying services

After taking a survey, it was amazing to discover how many sales employees we had with no computer skills, but had the desire to learn. It was decided to offer the employees a personal home computer purchase program with no interest and a minimal monthly payroll deduction.

We had several sales employees request to purchase a computer, and the dealership was able to negotiate a special price from a local computer company.

Not only did the company benefit from the added employee computer skills, but we also generated positive employee relations. We are in the process of offering the plan to the entire dealership staff.

Idea Time is a feature of NCM Associates, Inc., using ideas provided by dealers participating in 20 Groups.