Comments on: Is the Auto Industry a Woman’s Nation? http://she-conomy.com/2009/10/26/is-the-auto-industry-a-womans-nation/ A guys guide to marketing to women Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: timmyhendrix http://she-conomy.com/2009/10/26/is-the-auto-industry-a-womans-nation/#comment-922 timmyhendrix Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:30:02 +0000 http://she-conomy.com/?p=2037#comment-922 I think the biggest problem, at least on the front lines at most dealerships I've worked with, is that even when a woman applies and interviews for a sales position, they are trained and taught a way of selling that is just too old school and not something they are comfortable with. Being a man, I don't know exactly how to change this but it is indeed a huge problem. You basically are putting a potentially successful sales rep in a position to fail from day one. And when that happens, most management just see it as "not being able to cut it" in that environment. These guys are inside a small building 50 to 70 hours per week. They don't have much of a life and what happens within those four walls is all they know. It's very, very frustrating sometimes! I think the biggest problem, at least on the front lines at most dealerships I’ve worked with, is that even when a woman applies and interviews for a sales position, they are trained and taught a way of selling that is just too old school and not something they are comfortable with. Being a man, I don’t know exactly how to change this but it is indeed a huge problem. You basically are putting a potentially successful sales rep in a position to fail from day one. And when that happens, most management just see it as “not being able to cut it” in that environment. These guys are inside a small building 50 to 70 hours per week. They don’t have much of a life and what happens within those four walls is all they know. It’s very, very frustrating sometimes!

]]> By: Al Haberstroh http://she-conomy.com/2009/10/26/is-the-auto-industry-a-womans-nation/#comment-869 Al Haberstroh Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:08:15 +0000 http://she-conomy.com/?p=2037#comment-869 I agree with your comments. We have many clients in the auto aftermarket and, in fact, I am at AAPEX, the large industry trade show as I write this. We have initiated several woman focused campaigns for our car care center clients . Initially, this was a tough sell in this male dominated industry but the results were impressive and now the doubters are converted. We are are always preaching that the service centers should create a woman friendly environment in their waiting areas and, of course, that their customers, male and female, are always treated fairly and with respect. Currently we are attempting to initiate some social media outreach to women on their behalf but here we are encountering resistance that is more age driven. The owners tend to be well over 40 and don't understand web 2.0. We will win this battle as well, however. I agree with your comments. We have many clients in the auto aftermarket and, in fact, I am at AAPEX, the large industry trade show as I write this. We have initiated several woman focused campaigns for our car care center clients . Initially, this was a tough sell in this male dominated industry but the results were impressive and now the doubters are converted. We are are always preaching that the service centers should create a woman friendly environment in their waiting areas and, of course, that their customers, male and female, are always treated fairly and with respect.

Currently we are attempting to initiate some social media outreach to women on their behalf but here we are encountering resistance that is more age driven. The owners tend to be well over 40 and don’t understand web 2.0. We will win this battle as well, however.

]]> By: John Sternal http://she-conomy.com/2009/10/26/is-the-auto-industry-a-womans-nation/#comment-867 John Sternal Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:58:15 +0000 http://she-conomy.com/?p=2037#comment-867 Thanks for a great article. Jody is awesome and she's very well respected in the auto circles, so I hope a lot of people pay attention here. It still amazes me the auto industry (and a few other industries) don't market smarter to women decision makers. Yes, companies, women are considered decision makers, not just influencers. I'll be sure to share this information with my small business audience. John Sternal @sternalpr @understndnmrktg Thanks for a great article. Jody is awesome and she’s very well respected in the auto circles, so I hope a lot of people pay attention here. It still amazes me the auto industry (and a few other industries) don’t market smarter to women decision makers. Yes, companies, women are considered decision makers, not just influencers. I’ll be sure to share this information with my small business audience.

John Sternal
@sternalpr
@understndnmrktg

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