I have a import business which has been doing reasonably well. In August 2001 we were understandably quiet, and sales picked up in September until Bin Ladens pilot's had their day. Three weeks later, it was business back as usual. This year, the phone went quiet in August and has been like that since. My ads in Top Marques and Autotrader for some seriously discounted new imports have produced barely a peep. The website returns are quiet and email enquiries a third of normal levels. Where is everyone? Have you noticed a serious downturn this autumn or do I need to rethink my marketing?
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Should think its probably the very low numbers on the FT Index
causing your problems Colin.
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Septembers new car sales were low apparently so it seems to be a general down turn in consumer spending.
Possible reasons are FT index/Possible Iraq war/Record borrowing nearing its peak/Shops full of Xmas goods already (b***** awful)/Holidays abroad are selling well -after awful british 'summer'...
One other factor might be the good deals on offer from franchised dealers these days -maybe imports are not so appealing ?
The motor trade is a strange business ,you will probably get 3 months worth of enquires in one week now you've written this !
Hope it turns round for you.
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Dont know how long you have been in the biz but over too many years ive found that sometimes for what seems to be no particular reason sales can go very quite.Then all of a sudden they all come out to play again and i can eat again!Loads of motor traders i know will spend more time trying to think of reasons and excuses of why they are quite,when all they need to do is relax,and wait for the next round of punters.Easy life.
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HJ, I agree there are lots of "UK supplied" deals that make a lot of brands not worth importing, but fortunately I specialise in Audi performance vehicles where the concessionaire still attaches snob value and wants to maintain values by not allowing discounted sales and pursuing dealers who break the ruling allowed by block exemption where nobody other than main dealers are allowed to sell cars "new and unregistered".
Fortunately I have a "day job" so food still on my plate!
See you next week where I'll hassle you about your xenon comments in yesterday's Torygraph.
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See you next week where I'll hassle you about your xenon comments in yesterday's Torygraph.
Unfortunately I didn't buy the DT. What did HJ say about xenon?
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I think there is a general gloom across the country which is putting people off purchases like cars especially as house prices are rocketing which, people see as a greater priority.
Myself, I have noticed a slow down of enquiries on import requests to my site and put this down to the above, the fact that UK manufacturers overestimated the market this year and have flooded the market with cars they now have to shift at virtually any price.
Of all the car manufacturers, Citroen are amongst the few who are prepared to sell cars in the UK at prices very similar to those via import, if not better on some models.
The slump in the pound also has a knock on effect with import prices and has dragged savings down by about 15% - 20%.
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> xenon comments <
I'll post it as a separate thread, may be worthy of discussion!
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