Portland, OR October 1, 2008 — ProfitRunners, providers of leading dealership technology solutions, today introduced WideStorm™, a division of ProfitRunners and a revolutionary platform that enables auto dealers and website visitors to negotiate a vehicle deal solely online. The system can be used in conjunction with any existing website and DMS. WideStorm™ goes well beyond standard enegotiation systems by enabling dealers and consumers to work together and negotiate the entire purchase online, including vehicle selection, add-on features, trade-in value and financing.

“We want to give forward-thinking dealers a competitive selling advantage by empowering their customers to negotiate the deal from home,” said Jock Schowalter, CEO of ProfitRunners and DealerPeak. “We believe this approach will attract and engage the most advantageous group of prospects, serious car buyers well down the sales funnel, and deliver them to dealerships like no other tool currently on the market.”

WideStorm™ is a screen-driven, step-by-step process that walks the car shopper through a purchase as if he or she is sitting across the desk from a dealer. Customers have the option of self-evaluating their trade-in and may apply for financing directly online. When ready, the customer submits the requested contact information and deal terms to the dealer.

It is at this point in the negotiation where most online efforts end. With WideStorm™, the negotiation is just beginning. The customer’s request appears on the dealer’s computer in the Dealer Control Panel. The dealer uses the tools in the Dealer Control Panel to structure the most lucrative deal and emails a “presentation” to the customer that gives the customer a series of payment options to consider. Each customer has a secure, personalized microsite for viewing their personalized terms and for storing details of their negotiation. The process repeats itself until a deal is reached or is taken offline.

ProfitRunners, parent company to Dealerpeak, developed WideStorm™ in response to a growing demand by early adopter car shoppers for more Web-based transaction capability. The platform is based on CRM, desking and website technology that has been serving hundreds of dealers for over 8 years. The company is currently accepting forward-thinking dealerships to participate in a beta test of the technology. According to a recent report by J.D. Power and Associates, two-thirds of new vehicle buyers and three out of five used-vehicle buyers used the Internet at some point during their purchases. A survey by AutoNation reported similar results with two out of three consumers finding a “start-to finish” Internet car sale process appealing.

“We envision WideStorm being used by only the most progressive dealerships. The target customer for our solution is the early-adopter car shopper who has already done the research online, has completed a test drive and knows the price they’re willing to pay. All they want at this point in the game is a fairly negotiated price and the vehicle is sold,” said Schowalter.

“The beauty of Widestorm is it delivers on its promise – to bring serious car buyers into the showroom, ready to purchase. Even if the buyer arrives at the dealership and decides at the last minute to select a different vehicle, the dealer has a chance to up-sell and keep the deal under their roof. Ultimately, it’s a better experience for both buyers and sellers,” said Schowalter.

For more information, visit www.widestorm.com or email info@widestorm.com. Visit booth #19 at the Digital Dealer Conference, October 6-8.

About ProfitRunners:
Along with Widestorm, ProfitRunners is the parent company to DealerPeak, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and has created trend-setting customer relationship management and website solutions since 2000. Since its launch, the company has attracted hundreds of loyal dealer clients, including major auto groups such as Ron Tonkin Auto and Dick Hannah Auto Group dealerships.

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I’m a huge UFC follower, so when when I received this ad in my inbox today from DealerSocket, I thought it was worthy of a quick post.

Dealersocket is sponsoring Rameu Sokoudjou in his UFC fight again Luiz Cane this saturday night UFC89. How cool is that? Props to the DealerSocket crew for thinking outside of the box with some off the wall marketing. Of course if I were not a UFC fan, I’d be like WTF?

I’m really looking forward to Keith Jardine going up against Brandon Vera! I Actually thought about breaking into the MMA scene myself. HA!

I’ll be sure to look out for the DealerSocket logo during Rameu’s fight! Nice job DealerSocket!

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Liquid Motors Inc., a provider of comprehensive inventory management and marketing solutions for automobile dealers, has enhanced its Pricing Analysis System and Vehicle Marketing Systems with the addition of Kelley Blue Book Retail and Wholesale Values. Kelley Blue Book is a leading provider of vehicle information to consumers and the industry. Dealers across the country subscribing to Liquid Motor’s services now have the ability to incorporate Kelley Blue Book Retail Values into their eBay Motors and CraigsList vehicle listings. Dallas, TX (PRWEB) October 16, 2008

Liquid Motors Inc., a provider of comprehensive inventory management and marketing solutions for automobile dealers, has enhanced its Pricing Analysis System and Vehicle Marketing Systems with the addition of Kelley Blue Book Retail and Wholesale Values. Kelley Blue Book is a leading provider of vehicle information to consumers and the industry. Dealers across the country subscribing to Liquid Motor’s services now have the ability to incorporate Kelley Blue Book Retail Values into their eBay Motors and CraigsList vehicle listings.

“Effective pricing and disposal decisions have proven to improve sales results and the financial performance of automobile dealers” said Michael Daseke, president of Liquid Motors. “We are excited to extend are existing partnership with Kelley Blue Book to give our dealers a competitive advantage in this challenging market.”

This new edition to Liquid Motors Pricing Analysis system allows dealers to utilize the Blue Book Wholesale and Retail Values to effectively price inventory and make more informed vehicle pricing decisions when marketing and selling vehicles online.

“Recent Kelley Blue Book data shows that consumers have more trust in dealers that display Kelley Blue Book Values,” said Mike Romano, Kelley Blue Book, senior vice president of dealer sales and strategy. “By providing consumers with the information they need, levels the playing field and allows both the consumer and the dealer to start negotiations on the same page.”

With more than 80 percent of car buyers starting their search for their next vehicle on the Internet, dealers can build consumers trust and confidence, a critical component in converting online listing viewers into leads and eventually into sales.

About Liquid Motors: (www.liquidmotors.com)
Liquid Motors Inc., a Dallas, Texas based corporation, offers automobile dealers a comprehensive Internet marketing solution designed to maximize lead generation. We provide a variety of software and services that create competitive advantage for automobile dealerships by generating and capturing more cost effective Internet leads using no-cost Internet classifieds, eBay auctions and listings, leading pay classifieds and dealer websites through the implementation of strategic pricing analysis, search optimization and marketing, and compelling multimedia.

About Kelley Blue Book: (www.kbb.com)
Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new and used vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence. The company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book® Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars. The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book® Official Guide. Kbb.com is rated the No. 1 automotive information Web site among both new and used vehicle shoppers, and half of online vehicle shoppers visit kbb.com. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, car reviews and news, used car blue book values, auto classifieds and car dealer locations. No other medium reaches more in-market vehicle shoppers than kbb.com.

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You have to just about be walking on water to get financed but even with our prime customers, banks are looking for a reason to say no.” – AutoNation CEO Michael Jackson, The Wall Street Journal, October 2008

Are we really in an Auto Credit Crisis?

Why does everyone use AutoNation as the benchmark to what is happening in our industry?

A recent article in BusinessWeek online compared several AutoNation dealers to others. Example: Bankston Chevrolet (AutoNation dealer), 10 miles from Classic Chevrolet. Bankston Chevrolet delivered 85 new Chevy’s last month. Both Classic and Bankston Chevrolet use GMAC to finance their vehicles AND share the same demographic customer, yet AutoNation’s store came up 354 sales behind Classic’s.

Does this example along with a few others suggest that maybe it’s not as bad as reporters suggest?

An interesting article from BusinessWeek dives into 6 TRUTHS why there really might not be an auto credit crises.

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I would recommend NOT missing out on this FREE Webinar hosted by Avinash Kaushik on October 15, 2008 RSVP Today! Sorry about the short notice.

2008 has been a year of unprecedented change in the automotive industry: with declining new vehicle sales, tightened credit markets, and rapidly rising oil prices, it’s clear that consumer demand has shifted. These changes require a renewed focus on managing your marketing resources effectively – in particular, your media dollars – in order to maximize ROI.

In conjunction with Automotive News, Avinash Kaushik will lead a discussion on how to use Google Analytics to help address the fresh challenges facing automotive brand marketers. Learn how to improve marketing efficiency, drive insights into consumer behavior, and generate greater returns on your marketing investments.

Avinash Kaushik
Author, Blogger, Analytics Evangelist

Avinash Kaushik is the author of the recently published book Web Analytics: An Hour A Day. He is also the Analytics Evangelist for Google.

As a thought leader Avinash puts a common sense framework around the often frenetic world of web research and analytics, and combines that with this philosophy that investing in talented Analysts is the key to long term success. He is also a staunch advocate of listening to the consumer, and is committed to helping organizations unlock the value of web data. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences in the US and Europe, such as eMetrics, Ad-Tech, iCitizen, and SES. You’ll find Avinash’s web analytics blog, Occam’s Razor at http://www.kaushik.net/avinash

Update:
The original event was broadcast on:
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Time: 12:00 PM EDT
Duration: 60-minutes

You can view the event archive at the link provided below:

http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=119132&s=1&k=AEB6F2931B41F387B4F3AE3A240B53EA

After watching the archive webinar, feel free to take the survey. It takes only a few moments.
http://www.autonews.com/webinarsurvey

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