Autoblog

It's not a new topic in the automotive industry -- women influence and even directly account for around 80 percent of automotive buying decisions, yet dealers still reportedly look over the woman's shoulders for a husband or father. Despite the industry's best efforts to recruit women salespeople to increase the odds of good communication, almost half of the auto dealerships in the country have no women on staff, and women only make up 8 percent of the sales force, according to the NADA. Dealers have also tried to make showrooms more female-friendly, including installing play areas for kids with toys and children's videos, yet complaints persist -- truth or mere stereotype, so what's a car salesman to do?

Enter AskPatty.com, a female-staffed online publication that seeks to educate women on vehicle buying and car ownership, while identifying female-friendly dealerships after showroom staff complete a training course on how to communicate with women. The training, conducted by Maddox Smye, includes an instructional course, a reading of How to Get Rich Selling Cars and Trucks to Women, and an hour-long test. About 225 dealerships have signed up.

AskPatty isn't all about bridging the gap between Mars and Venus, though -- it's a business as well. Training is $225 per person for 12 months, and dealers shell out $795 a month for certification. If it encourages one salesperson to alter his style, however, it might just be worth it in our book.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Chevy might be tapping coeds for its upcoming Super Bowl ads, but Scion is seeking help in the showroom. ScionZone's Nick 06 tC reports that Scion has recently launched a competition for up-and-coming architects and interior designers to develop a complete design concept for a next generation 750-square-foot Scion dealership. Call it Scion 2.0. First prize is five grand so it might be worth a try if you're in the field. Even if you're not, there is enough information at the website to help you put together a decent proposal.

The contest is called Scion Floorplan and has its own website, scionfloorplan.com. At the site you'll find more details about the competition including what your proposal needs to include, judging criteria, and downloadable resources to help you with your entry. Second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively. Submissions will be accepted until November 10th when Scion executives and design firm Commune will begin the judging process.

[Source: ScionZone]

We’ve all seen cars displayed in malls. Well, Baron BMW of Merriam has taken what it considered as the “next logical step," opening up a BMW showroom in the Oak Park Mall in the city of Overland Park, Kansas (pictured is the Merriam dealership).

Like a conventional dealership, the mall showroom will have computer kiosks and a coffee bar. Other plans include introduction of new vehicles and fashion shows. Finally, a test drive area outside the mall has been prepared for those itching to see how their would-be Bimmers handle the parking lot gymkhana.

Anyone for new socks, some Chik-fil-A and a Z4?

[Source: Kansas City Business Journal]

How would you feel if one of the most anxiously awaited automotive arrivals in recent history were just swiped from your showroom floor? Infiniti dealers are reacting to Carlos Ghosn’s announcement last week that the GT-R, the latest iteration of the company’s Skyline sports car designed for total global consumption, would be sold in the U.S. with a Nissan hood ornament. Ghosn cited the fact that brand's North American operations couldn’t prove the Infiniti emblem on the GT-R’s hood would generate more sales or profits.

Infiniti sales were down a sharp 9 percent in the first quarter of the year and dealers were hoping the GT-R would fill out the brand’s narrow lineup (four cars, two SUVs), as well as be a halo vehicle around which the company could rally. All is not lost, however, as the redesigned G35 sedan that debuted at the NY auto show last week was received very well by the press.

[Source: Automotive News via AutoWeek]