A polar vortex in the South didn’t slow down the engine that could from Wisconsin!
Energy was high and there were smiles all around, great signs that the industry is growing in leaps and bounds as 23,000 people in the automotive community took over New Orleans at NADA 2014 just a few weeks ago in January. These numbers released by conference organizers make up 10,479 NADA members in a breakout of 4,293 dealers, 3,483 managers and 2,703 allied.
WOW!
DealerFire was honored to be a part of the excitement this year as 1 of the 565 exhibitors selected. A team of 17 top staff members and leaders joined to represent a relatively small digital presence at the event. In addition to a new booth on site #4275, DealerFire also showed off an updated modern logo and redesigned and responsive corporate website. The NADA 2014 convention proved to be well worth the sacrifice away from its home office in Oshkosh in terms of new insights gathered, opportunities won and most of all, the chance to meet with and give appreciation to its valued partners and customers face-to-face.
Set among a backdrop of city buzz, industry parties, big label concerts and neighboring exhibits suitable for permanent dwelling, the DealerFire team was proud to break free from the trend to overspend by erecting a booth, built in-house with the help of local fabricators, made for getting down to business. By doing so, DealerFire is able to further invest in product innovation and putting the money back into the hands of the dealerships it serves.
Speaking of the booth, Matt Dorobek and Eric Bolster of the sales team began their Roadtrip to NADA three days prior to the official move-in date. Being overachievers, they not only delivered the goods to Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (and themselves) in one piece, they met Founder and Owner, Eric Hoopman, for a full installation with an entire day left to spare!
Taking advantage of the additional time, DealerFire sales and account managers wasted no time in working their magic with a friendly competition designed to sharpen their networking skills while drumming up new dealer business leads for onsite follow-up meetings the next day. The entire away-team met at the ultra glam-urban Fulton Alley to tally contacts made and work up an appetite in another battle for big numbers in a bowling tournament. We congratulate Eric Bolster, Katie Collins and Eric Giroux as winners of the challenge.
Did somebody say winners? Aaron Schinke, Christian Salazar and Gina Reuscher accepted the Pinnacle Platform award on behalf of DealerFire later that evening at the AWAs (Automotive Website Awards) held at the Hyatt and hosted by PCG Consulting. We are grateful for the recognition and give thanks to Brian Pasch for the nod and his work in the industry.
Day one of NADA kicked off with a bang, literally, as cymbals clashed and trumpets sang from a clown-faced float throughout Main Street of the exhibit hall in true Mardi Gras parade fashion. The team stayed crazy busy demonstrating DealerFire as a pioneer in responsive, custom websites and microsites, content, search engine and other digital marketing, and mobile applications and other technology.
No really, we were doing this stuff years before the pack!
Work didn’t stop as the sun went down. The team took to Bourbon Street with red logoed draft cups, good times and great new contacts made.
Day two. More expo crowds and press interviews with a break to celebrate the birthday of James Antos, National Sales Manager, with cupcakes and a song. Dinners were hosted at nearby hotspots for dealership clients in attendance.
Last day and it didn’t show signs of stopping, as the team closed the show down like a boss. But just as they were ready to end their journey and head home, the weather intervened, stranding many travelers in NOLA. Making lemonade out of lemons, DealerFire joined others over the course of the next two days in an impromptu Digital Marketing Roundtable, or the PCG Freeze Out, as it was later and suitably coined.
Takeaways? Providing good technology and great customer service are important to the overall efficiency of any car dealership. DealerFire is still the best bet to take online profitability to the next level. We are here to help our dealers “weather” what’s ahead.
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