Dealer Concepts partners with Dick Scott Automotive Group for QR-code blitz

Dealer Concepts, a leader in providing innovative customer retention and marketing programs, today announced its partnership with Dick Scott Automotive Group of  Plymouth, Mich., to provide full-scale QR-code promotions at each of its dealer locations.

QR codes are a visual representation of a website address, YouTube video, Google Map, vCard, or links to social-media sites.  Dick Scott Automotive Group is one of Michigan’s first dealers to support this technology with a full-marketing campaign.  Each Dick Scott location will feature banners, loyalty cards, T-shirts, and cut-out displays featuring their custom QR code.  The dealership also plans to display a 10×10 QR code outside its Plymouth location.  The QR codes will direct consumers back to Dick Scott’s website for the latest offers and promotions.

“Since 70 percent of all phones sold today are Smart Phones, it makes good business sense for us to embrace this technology,” said Nichole Scott, director of operations, Dick Scott Automotive.  “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for our customers to have access to the latest discounts and specials.  QR codes are the perfect solution. We are very excited about this promotion and committed to making it a success.”

Dick Scott selected marketing and retention leader Dealer Concepts as their partner for this project.  Dealer Concepts recently launched QR-etention® – a program that generates custom QR codes for automotive dealers.  QR codes can be featured on any marketing item, including Dealer Concepts’ award-winning loyalty key tag.  The goal of the program is drive consumers to the dealer’s website to help generate more leads, sales, service appointments and eventually more profits.

“Most dealers who use this technology just adapt black and white QR codes,” said Andy Wolfe, managing partner, Dealer Concepts.   “Dealer Concepts takes it to the next level by branding a QR code for each specific dealer.  Dick Scott Automotive is one of the first dealers we know of to take advantage of this concept.”

“There is energy and excitement again about the auto industry,” continued Wolfe.  “All of that translates into what we’re seeing at the dealership level.  Dealers are looking for new and innovative ways to attract and retain customers.  QR codes are the perfect solution –  it’s a fun and cost effective way to drive traffic to your website and ultimately increase sales.”

DEALER CONCEPTS, LLC

Founded in 2000, Dealer Concepts is operated by a staff with more than 85 years of combined experience in targeted marketing for automotive dealers.  The company provides innovative and timely customer retention and loyalty programs to more than 5,000 dealerships and service centers worldwide.  Dealer Concepts is committed to providing clients with a constant competitive advantage in the market place through products like the award winning Punch-A-Deal® Key Tag and Loyalty Rewards® software that currently has more than 18 million units in circulation.  To find out more about Dealer Concepts product and programs, please call 1-866-GET IDEAS or visit www.dealerconcepts.com.

DICK SCOTT AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Dick Scott Automotive Group is a family-owned group of dealerships that includes Dick Scott Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Plymouth; Dick Scott Motor Mall in Fowlerville; Dick Scott Nissan and Dick Scott Classic Motorcycles in Livonia.  To find out more about Dick Scott Automotive Group visit www.dickscott.com.

As read on: http://dealer-communications.com/product-news/marketing-and-retention-leader-dealer-concepts-partners-with-dick-scott-automotive-group-for-qr-code-blitz/

Tax Tips: 6 Money Saving Opportunities You Shouldn't Miss

 It's tax time. And there's no time like the present to get your tax documents together and start your return.

With tax deductions and credits for education, dependent care, retirement and more, there's no reason to miss out on some smart, money-saving moves that can help you get a bigger tax refund.

1. Education Credits and Deductions- The U.S government provides incentives, in the form of education credits and deductions, to reduce your tax bill and help take the bite out of paying for a college education for you, your spouse, or children. There are several education tax credits and deductions that may be available to you:
- American Opportunity Tax Credit- This tax credit may be worth up to $2,500 per eligible student during the first four years of college. In addition, up to a $1,000 tax refund even if you don't owe any taxes.
- Lifetime Learning Tax Credit- Are you a professional student? This tax credit may be ideal for you since there is no limit to the number of years you can claim this credit. The tax credit may be worth up to $2,000 per tax return.
- Tuition and Fees Deduction- Set to expire this year, the Tuition and Fees deduction may lower your income by $4,000 if you paid eligible education expenses. The Tuition and Fess Deduction may help higher income earners that don't qualify for education tax credits and may make them eligible for other tax credits and deductions since the deduction reduces adjusted gross income.

2. Child and Dependent Care Credit- If you paid for child care, dependent care, or even summer camp so you could work, you may be eligible to deduct 20 percent to 35 percent of your qualifying expenses up to $3,000 for one qualifying individual and up to $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals. A qualifying person is your dependent under the age of 13, however this credit is not only for the care of a dependent child. You may take this credit for care of your spouse, or certain other dependents that are mentally and physically incapable of self-care.

3. Maximize Your Retirement- What could be better? You can still make a contribution to your IRA in 2012 and reap the tax benefit when you file your 2011 taxes. You have until April 17, 2012 to contribute up to $5,000 plus an extra $1,000 if you are 50 or older, depending on your modified gross income. You can use an IRA calculator to see how much you should contribute to your IRA for the maximum tax benefit.

4. Saver's Credit- Often overlooked and seldom talked about, the Saver's Credit helps low to moderate-income filers save for retirement. The tax credit is worth up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married filing jointly) if you contribute to a qualifying retirement plan such as an IRA or a 401K. You may not have qualified for this tax credit in the past, but if you experienced a reduction in income, you may qualify. This tax credit is a win-win situation since contributions to your IRA will also be a deduction to income.

5. Teacher's Classroom Education Expense- Congress decided a few years ago to give teachers a temporary tax break with the Educator Expense Deduction. This tax deduction expired 12/31/2011, so if you are a teacher, instructor, councilor, principal or aide for grades K-12, 2011 is the last year you can benefit from an additional $250 of expenses for classroom supplies paid out of your own pocket. There are additional pluses to this tax deduction since you do not have to itemize your deductions to claim it. In addition, if you're a married couple who are both educators, you may reap the benefits of a $500 tax deduction.

6. Use Tax Resources- Don't forget do-it-yourself tax software available to guide you through the tax deductions and credits mentioned and more. In addition, there are free tax resources to help you with your tax questions so you can be confident your return is done right.

As read on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-lewis/tax-tips-6-money-saving-opportunities_b_1246974.html

Ration Stamps & Bombers - WWII at Home Exhibit at the Plymouth Historical Museum

January 18 - June 17, 2012

The new exhibit at the Plymouth Historical Museum, “Ration Stamps & Bombers: WWII at Home,”  showcases how the lives of people in Plymouth and the Detroit area were affected by World War II. The enlightening exhibit features a collection of stories and items that pertain to several Plymouth residents who offered their services during the war, and details the contributions and sacrifices that they made for Plymouth and the country. The exhibit highlights items from the Museum's World War II collection, and presents unique items that are on loan from other institutions, including items from the Michigan Military Museum and the Yankee Air Museum.

One item on display is a Norden bombsight on loan to the Museum from Burroughs. The bombsights were mechanical computers that calibrated the speed and altitude of the airplane bombers to ensure that the bombardiers more accurately hit their targets. The bombsites were manufactured by the Burroughs Corporation at its facility in Plymouth. The displays of ration stamps, uniforms, and war bond posters offer a historical view of how the community of Plymouth rallied to support the war effort. The exhibit will be on display at the Museum through Sunday, June 17, 2012. Admission is still only $5 for adults, $2 for children, and free for members. Hours are Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1-4 p.m.

Visit www.PlymouthHistory.org/exhibits for more details!

As read on: http://www.plymouthhistory.org/exhibits.html

Auto sales per dealership could hit record levels this year, say industry insiders

If the positive trends among automotive dealers continue and automotive forecasts of 14 million vehicle sales this year come true, average sales per dealership could reach record levels this year, said John Frith, vice president of Urban Science, a Detroit-based retail consulting firm.
Average sales per dealership – also known as throughput – was 719 in 2011. The forecast is to hit 785 this year, Frith said, beating a throughput of 775 vehicles in 2000.
The number of automotive dealerships in the U.S. grew by 100 last year to 17,767, including four more in Michigan, in further evidence of a healthier industry, according to a report released Tuesday by Urban Science.
“To put this into perspective, in a normal year we see a 2% decline in the number of dealerships nation-wide, which makes an increase, even a small one, very unusual,” Frith said.
He noted this is only the second time since 1990 he has seen the count increase year over year.
While the demise of Mercury and a consolidation of Lincoln dealers in metro markets lowered the number of dealers – including the loss of a couple in metro Detroit – Fiat added 135 dealers in 2011 and Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram added 50 dealerships.
Looking at the number of franchises in the U.S., which refers to the number of brands a dealership sells, there was a 2.4% decrease last year from 30,098 to 29,380, largely because of the loss of the Mercury brand.
Economic conditions forced a downsizing of automakers and their dealer networks in 2009 and 2009 but the ones that survived are more profitable now, Frith said.
But he cautioned that inevitably there will be another downturn and dealers must be careful not to abandon the more efficient practices they have put in place.
After cutting staff and inventory, rebuilding to handle a larger sales volume in the future must be done prudently. “It needs to be done in a controlled way,” Frith said.
And dealers need to recognize the increased role the internet is playing.
More sales leads are coming from third-party internet sites or mobile apps, said Jody Stidham, global practice director at Urban Science.
Internet lead volume could be up 15-20% in 2012 and dealerships need trained staff to handle them with responses that are quick and include enough information to close the deal. That includes price quotes – 30% of dealers don’t provide pricing – as well as arranging test drives and providing information such as hours and directions, models in stock and anything else that will differentiate the dealership from the others that the consumer is planning to cross shop.
“Close rates are higher when dealers do these things,” Stidham said, adding that up to 30% of sales come from internet leads.
One internet sales manager can handle 80-90 leads a month and dealerships receiving more should consider adding more staff, Stidham said.

As read on: http://www.freep.com/article/20120214/BUSINESS01/120214036/Urban-Science-vehicle-sales

OFFICIAL Clint Eastwood Chrysler Commercial - It's Halftime in America

If you haven't seen the New Chrysler OFFICIAL Clint Eastwood Chrysler Commercial,
It's Halftime in America, yet it is time for you to check it out!

It is truly an inspirational commercial! Although lately most of Chrysler's commercials have been or at least that is their intention. In a time when the Motor City is struggling to stay afloat during these hard economical times, Chrysler is staying focused on the bigger picture.... the second half of the game!