In this edition of the Illinois Automobile Dealer News magazine, we’re proud to feature valuable insights from one of IADA’s trusted partners, Ethos Group. A few years ago, several of our board members — already experiencing success with Ethos Group’s support — encouraged us to take a closer look. Their strong endorsements highlighted the company’s positive impact on dealership performance and underscored the alignment between Ethos Group’s values and those of IADA.

In this issue, we explore key viewpoints from Ethos Group on:

• Point of Separation: When we really stop and think about it, our points of separation come within three areas: our people, our products and our processes. What is your point of separation?
• The Power of Perspective: Changing your perspective won’t change the challenges of the auto business, but it will absolutely change your experience of them. That change can be the difference between burnout and breakthrough, between surviving and thriving.
• The Importance of Maximizing the F&I Dollar in a Market Where Front Gross is Compressed: While the profit generated by the finance department is vital for the financial statement, it is even more critical for the long-term stability of the dealership. Profit is not the primary goal; rather, it reflects the effectiveness of the dealership’s processes and the execution by team members.
• Starting Good Habits While Ending a Bad One: Ultimately, the good habits practiced at your dealership are the sum of all the wanted behavior you celebrate, minus all the bad habits you tolerate. You become what you repeat.
• Managing Your Service Providers: Dealers need to make sure they can trust their compliance partner to be involved and knowledgeable about not only the regulations and compliance landscape, but also how their specific business functions within them.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and as always, we sincerely appreciate your continued support of our state trade association, the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association. Our strength and success will always be a direct reflection of the commitment and engagement of our dealer members.

Sincerely,
Joe McMahon