The Road To 900 Cars Per Month: How One Dealer Is Pushing His Team To Sales Excellence | Brad Wise, Executive Manager at Ferman Chevrolet Mazda
Today I’m joined by Brad Wise, executive manager at Ferman Chevrolet Mazda. We dive into his mission to sell 900 cars a month, why he’s handing out hundreds in cash to his service team five times a day, how “energy vampires” kill sales culture — and more.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. Kenect AI – The platform auto dealers are using to gather reviews, generate leads, and improve their online reputation, all powered by AI @ http://www.kenect.ai
2. CarGurus - maximize your performance on the #1 most visited car shopping site in the U.S. With data-driven intelligence on what to buy, how to improve the visibility of your listings, and how to optimize pricing, CarGurus will help drive revenue at every stage. Learn more @ http://insights.cargurus.com/cdg
- Similarweb, Traffic Report (Cars.com, Autotrader, TrueCar, CARFAX Listings (defined as CARFAX Total visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic), Q4'24, USA.
- CarGurus analysis of US dealers that changed a vehicle price based on NBDR recommendations compared to vehicles without an NBDR- informed price change from Nov 2023 through Dec 2024, finding that dealers that made NBDR-price informed change see a 42% median increase in VDP views per day.
- Market Probe International, blinded survey of 600 dealers, Aug 2024. Based on 313 dealers who pay for at least two listings sites.
3. CDG Recruiting - The Go-To Talent Partner for Dealers. Hire pre-vetted GMs, sales, F&I, fixed ops, C-suite, and back-office talent—ready to perform. Faster hires, better results. Book a call → http://www.CDGRecruiting.com
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Topics:
00:19 How to build business resilience?
01:05 What defines Ferman's leadership legacy?
03:31 How to build winning teams?
06:18 Why prioritize ethics and compliance?
16:28 Keys to operational excellence?
24:49 Best incremental growth strategies?
26:54 Why obsess over research?
32:51 Innovations in used car sales?
36:59 How to measure progress/happiness?
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
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X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
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Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
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47:44
Call Center Frustrations, Nissan Kills Some Dealer Incentives, US Auto Sales Recalibrate ft. Chad Cunningham, Andy Wright | Daily Dealer Live
Today's show includes Chad Cunningham, CEO of DuPONT Registry Exchange, Andy Wright, Managing Partner of VINart Dealerships.
This episode is brought to you by:
CDG Recruiting - Building on the success of my industry job board, I’m launching CDG Recruiting — a more hands-on, white-glove automotive recruiting service. Our team has decades of experience and has successfully placed over 1,000 roles in the automotive industry. So if you’re ready to find your next rockstar employee, try CDG Recruiting today by visiting cdgrecruiting.com
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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57:01
The New Playbook For Vehicle Titling: How One State is Leading the Charge | Industry Spotlight
Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Kimberly Scogin, Controller at Hudson Management Group, and Shane Bigelow, CEO of CHAMP Titles.
This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by CHAMP Titles:
CHAMP Titles - In automotive retail, everything moves fast — except vehicle titling. Consumers can shop online, secure a deal, and take delivery in hours, but titles still get bogged down in a maze of paper, processes, and state-by-state variation. For dealers, this means delays, errors, and tied-up cash flow. The National Digital Titling Clearinghouse (NDTC) powered by CHAMP Titles is changing that. By streamlining multi-state title transfers and reducing turnaround times from 30–60 days to less than 24 hours, NDTC helps you move vehicles — and revenue — faster. Learn more at http://www.champtitles.com/ndtc and see how faster titles drive faster deals.
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Topics:
00:37 Kimberly's path from teacher to Hudson Auto controller
01:10 Why people get hooked on the car business
01:56 Controllers: vital, underappreciated role in dealerships
02:46 Hudson’s perks: Disney trips and family summits
03:34 Titling chaos keeps controllers up at night
04:30 Why titling is still stuck in the past
05:05 Champ Titles: a digital fix for paper titles
08:47 How digital titles save time, money, and stress
19:16 The road to true digital titles by 2030
29:43 Final thoughts on innovation, efficiency, and next steps
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
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34:09
Why a 2x Auction Founder Is Flipping the Wholesale Script—And Paying Dealers When They Sell Cars | Joe Neiman, President of DealerClub
Today I’m joined by Joe Neiman, President of DealerClub, part of the Cars Commerce ecosystem. We dive into the details behind his $25M exit, how reputation-based wholesale is shaking up the auction block, why he’s paying dealers to sell on DealerClub, and more.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. DLRdmv - Dealers, are you still stuck using outdated interstate titling methods? DLR50 from DLRdmv modernizes out‑of‑state titling by providing 24/7 sales tax, title, and registration fees, pre‑populated state-specific forms, through an online platform that directly integrates with your DMS. CDG listeners get 30 days of free full-service access to DLR50 on unlimited out-of-state deals. Head over to @ DLRdmv.com/CDG, use code POD30 to claim your free month today.
2. Qmerit - Selling EVs can have a lot of friction points. But home charging installation shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why dealers and automakers trust Qmerit — the go-to expert for home charging installations. Join Qmerit’s dealership partner program and start earning referral incentives on every installation. Visit @ qmerit.com/carguy to learn more.
3. Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at https://www.carscommerce.inc/
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Topics:
01:00 What inspired launching DealerClub?
03:22 How did you revolutionize wholesale auctions?
06:07 Why is trust crucial in auctions?
14:06 How to compete with CarMax/Carvana?
17:02 What fueled Dealer Club's rapid growth?
22:55 What's DealerClub's revenue model?
24:32 Why did you sell the business?
34:04 What market trends impact dealers most?
36:02 How do reconditioning centers boost efficiency?
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership
LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy
Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
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45:53
4x'ing Used Car Sales: This Franchise Dealers Ultimate Pre-Owned Playbook | JR Toothman, Dealer Principal at Toothman Ford
Today I’m joined by JR Toothman, Dealer Principal at Toothman Ford. We break down how he’s quietly 4x’ing used car sales—his secret acquisition playbook, the hailstorm that led to his biggest sales day ever, and the behind-the-scenes strategy powering his used car empire.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. OPENLANE - The world’s best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more @ https://www.openlane.com/
2. CDG Recruiting - The Go-To Talent Partner for Dealers. Hire pre-vetted GMs, sales, F&I, fixed ops, C-suite, and back-office talent—ready to perform. Faster hires, better results. Book a call → http://www.CDGRecruiting.com
3. CarGurus - maximize your performance on the #1 most visited car shopping site in the U.S. With data-driven intelligence on what to buy, how to improve the visibility of your listings, and how to optimize pricing, CarGurus will help drive revenue at every stage. Learn more @ http://insights.cargurus.com/cdg.
Similarweb, Traffic Report (Cars.com, Autotrader, TrueCar, CARFAX Listings (defined as CARFAX Total visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic), Q4'24, USA.
CarGurus analysis of US dealers that changed a vehicle price based on NBDR recommendations compared to vehicles without an NBDR- informed price change from Nov 2023 through Dec 2024, finding that dealers that made NBDR-price informed change see a 42% median increase in VDP views per day.
Market Probe International, blinded survey of 600 dealers, Aug 2024. Based on 313 dealers who pay for at least two listings sites.
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Topics:
00:54 – How can dealerships embrace technology and data?
01:54 – How have dealerships evolved over time?
05:16 – What is your personal background and career journey?
08:09 – How does your family impact the business?
10:59 – What marketing strategies do you use, and how is your store set up?
19:49 – Why focus on the used car market?
22:09 – What are your strategies for buying cars?
26:29 – How do you optimize inventory and acquire vehicles?
39:23 – What do you see in the future of the used car market?
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership
LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy
Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
The Car Dealership Guy Podcast Network is your front-row seat to the people, companies, and trends shaping the future of automotive retail—delivered across three focused formats:
1. The Car Dealership Guy Podcast (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
Hosted by Yossi Levi, these deep-dive interviews feature top dealers, operators, and innovators driving the industry forward.
2. Daily Dealer Live (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays)
Our live-streamed show, also released here in audio format, brings real-time news, sharp takes, and high-impact guests—think CNBC for car dealers.
3. Industry Spotlight
Hosted by Sam D’Arc, this segment highlights standout dealerships and vendors with tactical insights and stories from the front lines.
Follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for highlights and behind-the-scenes content from every episode.
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