SERVICE IS MORE IMPORTANT
Keeping his service departments running like a well-tuned engine
has always been important to Bill Wallace, owner of Wallace
Automotive Group in Stuart, Fla. But it takes on even more urgency
now. New-car margins continue to be narrow, new-car sales are
slowing and fierce competition for consumer dollars is putting even
more pressure on Wallace and other franchise dealers to wring more
profits out of their fixed operations. And it's happening at a
time when there is an industry-wide shortage of auto service
technicians. It's a part of retail automotive that is still
profitable for franchise dealers, so it's crucial that dealers
get their share of that business, said Wallace, who sells 14 brands
at 11 dealerships.
