Had a very engaging discussion on the future of Britain’s dealer network today with a key contact in the industry.
I wanted to compare notes, as our research indicates that the most difficult times are far from over for many dealers.
While many have weathered the economic storm of the past few years very well, few have a strategy that has planned for the current economic climate.
After all, it is very difficult to plan for international conflicts driving up oil prices and falling business confidence caused by commodity price increases.
Many dealerships are looking for advice and information more than ever and our discussions were centred on the type of services dealers are likely to need and how suppliers can ensure they are first to market when a requirement is identified.
We are now working on a discussion document to assess the issues before looking at a more detailed research programme.
Whatever the result, it will be fascinating to see how dealers respond to such a tough market over the next few months.
