"We increased our sales volume by 43%."

- Nelson Automotive Group

In 2017, Robert Nelson and his team at Nelson Auto Group were in search of a more efficient consumer-centric model. They were looking for a top-to-bottom strategy. A strategy that would improve both the customer and employee experience, while also growing the dealership. A trip to Denver, Colorado changed their business.

Case Study
Nelson Automotive Group

Starting Position

Selling 140 new and used cars every month (2019)

  • Successful OEM Gold Cup winning store
  • Traditional negotiating multiple-person sales process and F&I department
  • Values driven, not satisfied with their in-store customer experience

 

The Spark

In need of a customer centric experience

  • Brandon Murphy, Managing Partner, was in search of a more efficient and customer-centric buying experience
  • Looking to grow market share and bottom line
  • Brandon’s search led him to A2Z, where he was introduced to the One Person℠ Sales Model

 

The Goals

Create a best-in-class customer experience

  • To provide the best possible customer experience
  • Enhance the role of the salesperson
  • Retain as many people as possible
  • Create new operating efficiencies
  • Grow market share

 

The Approach

A commitment to making change

  • Expect a short-term dip in profits
  • Improved performance would lead to higher overall profits in the future
  • An established vision expressed the need for a full commitment by the dealership
  • Initial focus was put on the process change, not on financial results
  • Nelson dismantled their BDC and F&I departments with most existing staff reassigned to new roles

 

Keys to Success

Total dealership transformation at every level

  • Leadership – “An absolutely unyielding adherence to the process of change.”
  • Intense focus on training, F&I boot camps, role-playing, and launch of Nelson University
  • Created new team leader roles to train, coach, and mentor salespeople
  • Changed compensation plan to reward participation in the new sales process
  • Immediate sales results with comp guarantees during the transition
  • Close coordination with A2Z on technology integration and training

 

The Learnings

A transformation that requires full buy-in

  • It’s okay to lose sales and F&I staff who don’t support the change
  • Stay committed to the training process, this can’t be rushed
  • It’s important to set high expectations for hiring salespeople – it’s now a very proactive job

 

The Results

Plan ahead for early adversity

     

   

 

 

Insights from the leadership team.

“For the first time, we saw with our own eyes the ideal sales model that we had been looking for and dreaming about. The way Schomp was implementing the One Person℠ Sales Model very closely matched our core values of wanting to do the best thing for our customers and employees, and it also produced really strong financial results, which was very exciting for us to see.”
-Brandon Murphy, Managing Partner at Nelson Automotive Group