ANAHEIM, Calif., July 22, 2008 — For many prospective car buyers, walking into a showroom is considered about as pleasant as having a tooth extracted. They anticipate being ambushed at the front door by an over-eager sales staff.
Industry veterans Clint Burns and Kirk Sladen – with decades of hands-on dealership experience at all levels – want to change all that. They have developed a software solution designed to make the sales staff more efficient, eliminating the need for salespeople to hover at the front door. The result, they say, is a more productive sales force – and a more satisfied customer.
Burns' successful development of a customer-satisfaction index for veterinarians led to the pioneering of a widely used CRM tool for the auto industry, and then to The Next Up(TM). This web-based solution manages the showroom floor by delivering real-time traffic information and productivity reports. The Next Up provides the industry's first true customer count.
"Dealerships are seeing increases in sales, even with a down market," said Sladen.
With The Next Up's web-based and text messaging features, the sales staff is aware of the dealership surroundings at all times. This allows the front of the dealership to have only the necessary sales staff needed and the others to be productive elsewhere. Sales staff will now have the time to contact previous customers to follow up, set appointments, act on referrals, and never miss the opportunity to meet new customers.
Many dealerships have embraced this service, including top dealership groups Penske, Sonic, Larry Miller, DCH, Hendrick, Group1, Fletcher Jones, Conant Auto and David Wilson. After implementing The Next Up system, Pohanka Lexus in Chantilly, VA moved up in national rankings from 16th to ninth in one year (2007).
"The Next Up is designed for any size dealership," said Burns, "from dealers who sell 40 cars a month to those that sell 1,000."
No contract is required for a dealership to use The Next Up; agreements are on a month-to-month basis. The Next Up provides all equipment at no cost.
For more information, visit or http://www.thenextup.com, or call toll-free, 866-673-1230.
About The Next Solutions Inc.
The Next Solutions is steered by the executive team of Clint Burns and Kirk Sladen. Burns has held numerous sales and management posts, which led him to his development of The Next Up. Sladen brings more than 22 years of auto-business experience – including work in sales and as a general manager – to The Next Solutions.
Contact:
Clint Burns
The Next Solutions Inc.
3301 E. Miraloma Ave., #195
Anaheim, CA 92806
714-408-4222 ext 101
fax: 714-249-1351
Email
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