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| Discussion: always opportunities |
genesis
Level 1
Posts: 2
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1:22 pm on Dec. 5, 2008
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It has been a long while since anyone posted to these forums, and with times being as tough as they are right now (the run-up to Christmas was never the best of times for the in-car trade), it's easy to imagine that a lot of people have hidden themselves away to ride out the economic storm. Whenever I call one of our members these days (though I use the term 'members' loosely, as the MMSA no longer has any paying members and has zero funding) I expect to hear doom and gloom. So I've been more than occasionally heartened by comments that "no, we're doing okay, not great but there's work coming in". The doom and gloom tends to come more from the suppliers - the manufacturers' agents and distributors - who are clearly struggling to get anywhere near targets set against previous year sales, or perhaps even their pessimistic reduced targets! Perhaps it's the scale of the overheads they have to support, or maybe it's just that retailers, by and large, are less likely to be rigorously monitoring their sales against previous years. Let's face it, I doubt most can be arsed with it, and anyway, the boss has a very good grasp of what the business should be doing, or at least what it needs to do to break even. It's all there in his or her head. Bigger businesses need it all down in a spreadsheet so that everybody from the MD and FD to the sales managers can see just what's happening... or not, as the case may be. What has come from my conversations recently is that specialists who can truly claim to be that - a specialist in-car supplier and installer - and have marketed their business well to the local population and local businesses over the years, are still making a living. From just the number of hits to the MMSA website I can see that there is interest out there. The consumer still wants all kinds of in-car tech and they are looking for advice and where to buy it and get it fitted. Of course demand has fallen a lot, as it has in many other markets - people are feeling the credit crunch for sure. But not everyone is down to their last 10 quid, and people are still prepared to make in-car a priority purchase. My youngest son is 17, new car on the way, and his mates are all the same - they love their music and they love pimping their cars. Didn't we all. Some things are unlikely to ever change! But when I hear of where they look to buy stuff... well, it makes me cringe. Trouble is, most have no idea where their local specialist is. Fortunately I can tell them, as far as this area is concerned, and Sam tells his other mates, and all I've done with the MMSA web site is use it to do the same thing but on a much wider scale! But back to the point. When demand falls it becomes especially critical for those businesses who didn't market their companies well before. When business is flowing, even those sitting back doing nothing will see customers coming through their doors - remember how it was in the late 70s and early 80s? Those specialists doing ok now, those who will likely survive this economic slump, are the ones who built a solid customer base when it would have been easy to have put their feet up and invest no effort to attract customers. There will continue to be opportunities for doing business with buyers who appreciate a level of specialist service, and those who worked hard to promote their businesses and continue to work hard will be the ones who will - and will deserve to - survive. [Kevin O'Byrne, Gen.Sec, MMSA Ltd]
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genesis
Level 1
Posts: 6
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12:14 pm on Oct. 28, 2009
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I have been surprised to have tried to speak with some industry leaders about additional offerings and none where interested. usual rotwieller receptionist.
Im amazed the industry expects people to spend £200,£300-£500 plus on in car security and if anything happens ie the vehicle stolen are not interested at all. Why not offer a "we will replace the alarm free" or we are so sure we will give you £500 compo for troubles or are they confident in there own products??
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genesis
Level 1
Posts: 7
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6:50 pm on Oct. 28, 2009
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Thanks for taking the time to post here - too few do that - and the point you make is valid on several counts.Even before the most recent downturn in the economy, the car electronics industry has too often tended to follow old and tired ways of promoting itself and its products, too often investing its money unwisely and even wastefully. It could be argued that when things are tough, that's even more reason to look at new ways of attracting business (and that doesn't mean simply carving another x% off the price). I sometimes think the management of companies feel it's simply too much effort. But hey, maybe I'm just an old cynic. And anyway, if you can't even make it passed the receptionist, no one in a position to make a considered decision will even have the chance to check out your idea, valid or not. I know the frustration. Effectively, that company's future could be being left in the hands of their switchboard operator! Scary - though I do know one or two very capable receptionists! As for security/alarm suppliers standing by their products, why not. They are effectively in the insurance business - helping to insure your vehicle won't get stolen, or at least minimising the damage or loss if it does. Perhaps there should be some redress if their claims prove to be false. But it's never straightforward, is it. No one can guarantee against a car being stolen or broken into, merely offer to reduce the likelihood, or (in the case of high-end systems) perhaps state the response time and likely time to recovery. As with most things these days related to consumer electronics, the emphasis is too often on the initial sale, with profitability reduced to such an extent that after-sales becomes an afterthought or downright impractical beyond the statutory requirements. But, then again, good service and after-sales support has been devalued over the years by consumers themselves, who generally want a product at the lowest price and won't pay a small premium up front to help cover the background staff and other after-sales costs. While a system costing £400, say, might be assumed to have a decent slice of profit built in, in reality, the true cost of supplying and fitting that product - given an A1 level of back-up to go with it - might double the selling price... and who would pay that? Thanks again for joining the debate - remember to add a name or nickname, as otherwise we all go under the spooky name of 'genesis'. Kevin O'Byrne
Gen. Sec
MMSA Ltd
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genesis
Level 1
Posts: 8
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2:23 pm on Oct. 30, 2009
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Hi again,I agree with too few postings here as I was pleasantly surprised to find the site and thought how lucky the industry was to have a forum. My reason for my intial industry frustration was created from personal experience. We suffered a heavily forceful burglary for our car keys, our vehicle stolen and quite frankly the service we then received from a large "Tracking" company next to useless. I would never waste my money again and if they are not prepared to put their money where their mouth is to back their claims I also could not advise anyone else waste their money either. This experience combined with being a wholesale insurance broker, proud of the fact that we design simple schemes/products that are actually both easy to understand and actaully do what they say, got me to thinking about why dont any of the alarm/security companies or fitters offer a U.S.P to the extent that "We are so sure that once you fit one of our devices if you car still gets stolen in the next 12 mths (renewable) then we will fit one to your new car free" and we will also give you £500 compensation on top for your inconvenience.
These are variations on a theme but would cost less circa £20 (for some volume)which compared to what is being slashed of the prices surely better than the discount war. I personally dont want £20 off, I want something that will work and if not, like anything these days, tell me what u are going to do about it to show good faith as I have suffered and thought I had paid to prevent that?
This product was firstly designed for customer retention by insurers saying to their customers should your car get stolen we will give you between £500/2000 compo for the inconvenience as we know that getting paid out is not the end of things.
Hope that eaplians what I was tryng to achieve and why I thought it would offer value to some peoples offerings,
Is there a central database of manufacturers and trade shows etc?
Bob.
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genesis
Level 1
Posts: 9
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4:26 pm on Oct. 30, 2009
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There's a calendar of events and a directory on the web site of the UK industry trade magazine, at http://www.mobileelectronicsnews.co.uk/regards,
Kevin
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admin
admin
Posts: 43
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4:30 pm on Oct. 30, 2009
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Quote: genesis ( 4:26 pm on Oct. 30, 2009 )
There's a calendar of events and a directory on the web site of the UK industry trade magazine, at http://www.mobileelectronicsnews.co.uk/
[/quote]Sorry, the link ended up including my greeting!http://www.mobileelectronicsnews.co.uk
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genesis
Level 1
Posts: 10
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3:40 pm on Jan. 26, 2010
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Not sure this is the right place to ask this but, a lot of times I am surfing through auto forums and I cant seem to find any thing on international auto transportation I restore MGB's and I need to have a chance to offer my service's globally. Do you have any suggestions of a good shipper?
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