When you hear the words “Black Friday,” what immediately pops into your mind? Sales. Giant sales. Sales with big savings and sweet deals make consumers flock to any business. 

But did you know that Black Friday is more than just one big sales day? Black Friday is nearly a week of anticipation, discounts, and promotions. Black Friday and its increasingly popular sibling holiday, Cyber Monday, can span up to five days long, especially for businesses taking their cues from Amazon. 

It’s a BIG deal, and it’s better to be prepared for it sooner rather than later. 

Why Black Friday/Cyber Monday Weekend?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are mostly seen as big sales events. While that’s true, they can offer your dealership more benefits than you might imagine. 

The Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is like the Super Bowl for retailers. Both brick-and-mortar and online retailers see a massive influx in sales during this time, even with prices at giant discounts. It’s become the most anticipated buying event among today’s consumers, especially among online shoppers. 

Studies in early 2023 show that up to 43% of consumers in the U.S. prefer to shop online rather than in physical stores. Almost half of the nation’s consumer population has a stronger preference to shop online. A strong eCommerce presence is essential to driving profitability during this sales event.

Just Take a Look at the Numbers!

In 2022, merchants using RevolutionParts recorded impressive sales of $6,565,736 during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday events.

Of the total buyers on dealership sites, 52% were repeat patrons, and the remaining 48% were first-time purchasers.

A significant 61.3% of Black Friday transactions occurred on mobile devices, with 36.2% conducted on desktops. This underscores the crucial need for optimized websites for desktop and mobile use.

The rise in eCommerce sales during Black Friday weekend has only increased since then. 

With more and more consumers choosing to make regular online purchases, having a strong eCommerce presence from the get-go is important to your dealership’s success. 

5 Reasons to Start Planning Now

The right eCommerce strategy can make all the difference in the parts department; having a robust one for Black Friday is especially beneficial. 

The eCommerce retail market gives you a few distinct advantages.

• Expand Your Reach: Attract nationwide parts shoppers and build a customer base beyond your local area. 

• Provide Convenient 24/7 Shopping: Make it easy for customers to order from you anytime, anywhere.

• Stronger Marketing Capability: Increase your visibility with digital marketing tactics. A strong Black Friday marketing campaign can create a sense of urgency and improve your online sales.

• Diversify Revenue Streams: Sell across multiple channels to maximize your reach and expand your sales capabilities beyond the confines of your parts counter. You can streamline the shopping experience, attract customers, and boost sales more effectively.

• Maintain a Competitive Edge: Stand up against the competition and establish your online presence to draw in more leads.

• Boost in Parts Profits: Selling parts online and capturing those additional online sales during Cyber Weekend will increase profits in the parts department.

These three advantages can help you create and streamline your Black Friday strategy. 

Reaching a customer base beyond your local area can help you increase sales, diversify your customer base, and maximize your revenue potential. 

The benefits are clear, but preparing for it now may not be as evident. Here are the reasons why you need to start thinking about your Black Friday/Cyber Monday strategy now. 

Parts Department Timeline for Preparing for Black Friday

You Need to Be Set Up For eCommerce ASAP

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are dominated by online retail. Your dealership might have an online presence, but your parts department may not be at the same level. If you don’t have the right eCommerce setup, you’re going to lose more money than you’ll make during Black Friday/Cyber Monday. 

Why do you need to get set up for eCommerce now? Getting the right eCommerce solution in place isn’t instantaneous. You need to get set up in time for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, which means you need to start getting set up now. 

To be ready, you need to:

• Get onboarded: This process can take up to 30 days to get up and running.
  

• Get your website ready: Once your web store is set up, you need to get it ready for the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. 

• Get your inventory integrated: This part is simple, as your entire catalog can easily be added to your web store, Amazon, and eBay with the click of a button.

• Set up additional marketplaces to sell through: Selling on Amazon and eBay can help boost your sales.

Getting set up for the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping holiday is easy. RevolutionParts can help you get onboarded, integrate your inventory, get set up with a high-quality web store, and help you navigate selling on additional digital marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. We can help you get set up in time for Black Friday/Cyber Monday so you can take advantage of the increased parts sales. 

Create a Marketing Strategy

Getting your marketing right for Black Friday/Cyber Monday is crucial to your dealership’s success. Throwing a couple of ads online isn’t enough to keep up with the competition these days. You need to be on the radar of your current customers and your potential customers. You can’t do that without effective marketing tools and techniques. 

Not sure where to start with your Black Friday/Cyber Monday marketing strategy? RevolutionParts can help steer you in the right direction. Through RevolutionParts’ marketing services, you can create and implement an effective digital marketing strategy that you can apply to big sales events or even just year-round. 

How can RevolutionParts help you?

• Create and implement email marketing campaigns
• Improve PPC advertising
• Improve your website SEO to rank higher on search engines

Promotions Shouldn’t Until the Last Minute

Preparing for Black Friday/Cyber Monday doesn’t just require the right eCommerce solution. It also requires a great marketing strategy. Marketing can’t wait. You need to be promoting your Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales program as soon as possible. You’re too late if you wait until the week before your sale to promote it. You’re behind if you wait until the first week of November to start your promotions. Most companies start promoting their Black Friday/Cyber Monday promos as early as mid-October. 

Your Competitors Have Already Started

All of your competitors are planning their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales strategy now. They’re testing their site speed, ensuring their ads are in place, and setting their budgets. This means that they already have a leg up on your dealership. If you want to stay on the same playing field as your competitors, you need to create and implement the right eCommerce strategy. 

You’re already behind if your customers have difficulty purchasing your parts and accessories. If potential customers aren’t aware of the sales you are promoting for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, they’ll flock to your competitors instead because they know they’re having a sale. By planning now, you can help ensure those potential customers shop from you instead of going elsewhere.

Your Consumers Are Planning For It

Most consumers are conscious of their buying decisions and will put off purchasing in the fall until the Black Friday weekend because they know they may get the same product at a better deal. Black Friday and Cyber Monday dominate the online shopping sphere every fall as many consumers base their buying habits on what benefits them the most.

Your customers are already planning for these sales. They’re setting their own budgets. They’re already looking at their buying options and which retailers can offer them the best deals. This is your chance to meet your customer’s expectations and deliver them the best buying experience. Customers who purchase from you have a higher chance of becoming repeat customers and returning to your store for their future auto part needs.

The RevolutionParts Difference

Having the right eCommerce strategy in place for Black Friday Weekend is dependent on your specific goals and unique needs. Every parts department is different, which means a one-size-fits-all approach to eCommerce doesn’t work for everyone. That’s why RevolutionParts offers a variety of eCommerce approaches that can be tailored to fit your unique needs. 

The RevolutionParts platform offers you a breadth of eCommerce tools and services that can be tailored to your specific Black Friday needs.

Through RevolutionParts, you can utilize:

Are You Ready? Don’t Wait!

The Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales surge can make or break your dealership’s sales goals. Without the proper preparation, strategy, and tools, you could sacrifice a major opportunity to increase your revenue. Start planning for your Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales strategy now and get the most out of the holiday season by getting set up with parts eCommerce as soon as possible. Talk to one of our parts eCommerce experts today to discuss how you can get your parts department online for Black Friday.

Studies show that nearly 90% of customers abandon shopping carts and don’t complete their purchases. This phenomenon isn’t exclusive to traditional eCommerce; it also occurs in car dealerships, both in the context of online parts sales and more broadly when potential customers express interest in a vehicle, request a quote, or begin the financing process, but do not follow through with a purchase or dealership visit.

While it might seem like these are lost sales, that’s not necessarily the case. A customer who has expressed interest but has not completed a purchase or who has left items in their online cart is not always a lost opportunity. In fact, setting up an email strategy to re-engage these customers can be an effective way to reclaim potential sales.

As more and more customers turn to the internet to research and shop for vehicles and parts, it’s easy for a dealership to lose potential sales to competitors. That’s why follow-up email campaigns and abandoned cart recovery strategies are an essential part of the sales cycle for modern dealerships. 

The question is, how do you set up a successful email campaign strategy to re-engage customers who have shown interest but have not yet made a purchase, or who have left items in their online cart?

Get Their Email

You can’t have an effective email campaign without anyone to email. Make sure the customer’s email address is saved automatically when they add parts to their online shopping cart, request a quote for a vehicle, or submit their contact information elsewhere on your site.

Often, you can request their email along with their billing address when they’re purchasing parts or requesting a quote. Just remember that most customers, especially first-time visitors, do not want to be forced to create an account. Most online shoppers will abandon their purchase if they need an account in order to continue. Give them options to “check out as a guest” or “save information for later.”

When you do ask for their email, ensure them that they will not be bothered by constant spam. Their email will only be used for order-related information or follow-ups on their expressed interest unless they choose to subscribe to a regular newsletter. You want to come across as a company they can trust. Constant emailing will automatically put you in their spam folder.

Act Fast

The majority of visitors to your website do intend to buy. Whether they’re adding parts to an online cart or expressing interest in a vehicle, most end up making a purchase elsewhere within 24 hours if they don’t complete the purchase on your site. This means you need to act fast. Timing matters. 

If they abandon their cart, send the first email in less than an hour. Studies have shown that abandoned cart recovery emails of this nature get a 45% open rate. Close to 11% of customers will make a final purchase. Not only does quick timing help decrease bounce rates, but it also represents great customer service.

Start Simple

You don’t need to worry about the more sophisticated details immediately. It’s best to start simple and test the waters before jumping into complicated, personalized, and automated emails. Even a simple email reminder can still be effective, whether it’s reminding a customer about the parts in their online cart or the vehicle they expressed interest in, and it’s better than having no communication at all.

Once you’ve got a simple template established, you can start using it to test and refine your strategy. From here, you can start looking for trends among your abandoned cart customers. You can fine-tune different types of abandoned cart emails to better serve their interests.

Set Up Your Campaign 

A standard three-part email campaign is a good building block. When setting up your email campaign, it’s important to adhere to a simple structure that you can refine through audience targeting. 

The first email should be sent that same day. List the parts they left in their online cart or the vehicle they expressed interest in, and ask if they need help completing the transaction. Do they need technical help? Are they confused? Do they have any questions about the parts or vehicle?

Encourage them to contact customer support for clarification. Make sure to include useful information, like a link back to their cart or the vehicle listing, your parts department’s or sales team’s contact information, and details relating to the part. 

The second email should be sent about 24 hours after the first one. Gently remind the customer that you are “holding” their items or that the vehicle they were interested in. Again, keep the information relevant, include contact details, and encourage communication.

During the second or third email, you can also remind the customer of any sales offers running at the time. For example, if your site offers free shipping on any order over $50 and your customer’s cart surpasses that, remind a customer that their order qualifies for free shipping. Or, if there are any special promotions or financing deals available for the vehicle they’re interested in, make sure to mention those.

The third email should be sent between five and seven days after the second email. This email is a “last chance” to claim their items or to take advantage of any special offers related to the vehicle they’re interested in. You can give a follow-up offer like a discount on large orders or free shipping (if not already offered), but you don’t want your customers to expect a discount before buying. This might be something you save for your most loyal customers.

This is the step in the process where you can experiment with your messaging. Determine what call to action resonates best with your customers. Identify good email subject lines and email copy that improves customer experience.

Track Your Metrics

It’s not enough to send out these emails and hope for the best. It’s essential to measure and track your results. Realize that some strategies will work better than others for certain customers, whether they’re abandoning carts or expressing interest without following through.  

Experiment with the timing of when emails are sent out. Maybe you’ll find that a third email within five days works better than seven days. Does it help if you include images? Does it help if you change the email subject line? How about offering a small discount in the second email and a larger one in the third?

Don’t be afraid to test different strategies based on this information. How many soft bounces occurred? Did certain email copy increase opens of specific campaigns? How large or small was your email list? Understanding your email marketing metrics will help you craft better campaigns in the future.

Don’t Lose Sales on Full Shopping Carts

Capturing customers that are ready to buy doesn’t have to be a challenge. Whether they’ve filled an online shopping cart with parts or expressed interest in a vehicle, with the right strategy in place, you can recover abandoned cart customers, turn them into repeat buyers, and boost your parts sales. 

Capturing their business is only half of the battle. Keeping them happy is the other half. How can you ensure that your customer satisfaction rate is at its peak performance? Get our free checklist to increase CSI scores in the dealership and streamline your customer service. 

With many industry leaders concerned about the potential state of the economy going further into the year, dealerships need to find ways to secure their success now before further economic threats arise. 

While traditionally, the automotive industry is among the hardest hit when the economy becomes unstable parts sales tend to endure. 

This is largely because when the economy is unstable, consumers try to hold onto their money and not make any large purchases. This means they do not buy cars but instead hold onto the ones they have, opting to maintain and repair them.

Today, circumstances are a bit different for the dealership and its consumers. If a recession were to hit, dealers would realize that vehicle sales alone may not be enough to keep them afloat. With the average price of cars higher than ever and rising interest, consumers are already having difficulty making such a large purchase.

Automotive dealers must plan ahead and seek steady growth opportunities to keep their businesses running smoothly should a recession hit. Here are five strategies to implement at the dealership to secure your dealership’s sales even during economic hardships.

Diversify Sales Channels

Focusing all your efforts on one revenue stream isn’t an effective sales strategy. Today’s retailers sell across multiple selling channels to maximize their revenue potential, so your dealership needs to do the same. 

Given the high vehicle prices and interest rates, purchasing a new vehicle has become a challenge for many consumers; if a recession hits, this challenge will only intensify. However, one thing these consumers can still buy from you – something they’ll need more of – is replacement parts.

Sell Online to Parts Buyers 

The best ways to reach these customers are through a dedicated parts web store and online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. When a replacement part is needed to keep a vehicle running, most DIY-ers begin their search online.

By diversifying your sales channels and taking your business online, you can reach a broader base of parts shoppers looking to repair their vehicles. Without an intuitive, user-friendly website that allows customers to find and purchase auto parts quickly, dealers risk losing customers to competitors. To combat this, dealers need to invest in a robust eCommerce strategy for the parts department.

They can do this by:

1. Utilizing a user-friendly eCommerce platform and establishing a web store.
2. Optimizing your parts web store for search engine visibility.
3. Engaging with customers through social media, email, and direct email.

Expand (B2B) Sales

Taking your business online is an effective direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales strategy. However, your dealership isn’t solely a D2C business model. The most successful dealers focus on developing an effective business-to-business (B2B) customer base.

With the average age of vehicles on the road today being 12.5 years and increasing, these vehicles are more often taken to local repair shops than to dealerships. While selling parts online can help capture business from these customers, many of them will still go to a repair shop. But this doesn’t mean you have to lose business from that customer, as those repair shops also need parts to make their repairs.

Expanding your B2B relationships with wholesale customers gives you key advantages. It helps you secure a more consistent revenue stream. It increases your visibility within your local area and helps your dealership build brand credibility. All of which can help contribute to your sales goals.

What areas should your parts department focus on when developing quality relationships with wholesale customers?

1. Form strategic partnerships with local repair shops and garages. Choose ones in your area that have the best reputation. 
2. Offer volume discounts and incentives for recurring customers. This helps incentivize them to become repeat customers and improve retention rates. 
3. Implement a dedicated B2B sales team. Your parts department might have more daily interaction with D2C customers. Still, developing sales tactics specifically for B2B customers is important. This helps lend more credibility to your dealership. 
4. Implement the RevolutionParts plugin on your dealership website to make it easy for your wholesale customers to get a quote, check availability, and order the parts they need.

Enhance Your Customer Experience

It pays to know how your customers engage with your dealership in-store and online. If customers aren’t leaving with a positive buying experience, they won’t return to your dealership. 

Enhancing your customer experience depends on a few key factors: reliable customer data, effective customer retention programs, and a keen eye for market trends.

What strategies should you implement or revise to reflect these factors?

Offer Customized Promotions and Discounts

Provide targeted promotional offers based on customer data. If you have a large customer base that spends a certain amount of money on trending parts, tailor your sales strategies to meet the demands of those customers. An example of this could be to offer them a 35% discount on their next parts order over $60. This will help you determine what offers resonate best with your customers. 

Create loyalty programs to encourage repeat business. Customer loyalty programs are aimed at nurturing customers into repeat buyers. Offering the right incentives within a loyalty program is key to increasing customer retention. Get feedback from your customers on what offers speak to them. 

Offer financing options for more expensive parts. This has become especially popular within the online retail market.

Offering payment plans for more expensive parts can drive more business than you think. Certain online payment platforms (i.e., PayPal) offer integrations with businesses that allow customers to pay in smaller installments over a certain period of time. It helps them budget more effectively and saves them money over time.

Improve Inventory Management and Cost Control

To be able to grow or maintain your dealership’s business during a recession, you need to have enough products to sell. Managing your parts inventory is crucial to staying competitive even during an economic downturn. 

Optimize Inventory Levels

To effectively manage your inventory, your processes need to be effective. Ensure that your current inventory is being cataloged and tagged correctly. Missing, inaccurate, and other information errors can often fly under the radar. Double and triple-check your current inventory before you consider putting in a parts order request. 

Regularly review and adjust stock levels based on demand. You can do this by using your system data analytics to forecast what parts have the highest demand based on your current customer base. From there, you can forecast future sales trends and stock up on parts with a quick sales turnaround. This will help you reduce obsolescence that may further tie up cash and lead to overhead costs behind the parts counter.

Reduce Costs Through Strategic Purchasing

Overhead costs on parts orders are one of the biggest problems in the parts department. Bulk orders of parts that don’t sell quickly or don’t sell at all tie up cash that could be used elsewhere. To combat this problem, dealers need to utilize a few key strategies.

Negotiate with suppliers for better prices and payment terms. The right supplier source can be the best option for the dealership. They can get you discounted prices on parts orders, solidify payment options, and more. If you find a supplier you like that’s a bit outside of your budget, negotiate with them to get the best deal for your business. 

Explore alternative suppliers to minimize supply chain disruptions. With a large concentration of competitors in your market, sometimes going to the tried-and-true auto parts suppliers isn’t an option. Look for alternative suppliers within and outside of your area to see where you can get the best deal for the same standard. 

Successful businesses make adjustments where they need to maintain a steady supply.

Monitor and Adapt to Market Changes

Whenever a major economic change occurs, the retail market adapts to meet shifts in buyer behavior, regulatory requirements, and consumer values. Staying up-to-date on market changes is essential to maintaining your dealership’s sales growth.

Stay informed on industry trends and economic indicators.

Where is the market shifting? How are consumers getting to eCommerce platforms? What content tactics are they engaging with the most? Understanding this data can help you better tailor your strategies to acquire and nurture customers of varying types. 

Regularly review sales performance and adjust strategies accordingly. What are the successful aspects of your current sales strategy? Where can you make improvements? Once you identify the weak links, you can better identify where your strategy falls short in delivering on those areas.

Maintain flexibility and adapt to changing market conditions. Change your business model where you can to maintain momentum as the market changes. Allocate budget and resources to implement new tools and tactics that will help you maintain steady sales growth.

Start with smaller changes that can be easily implemented into your daily processes before moving on to larger ones. This will help you effectively scale your business growth.

Take The Reins and Drive Success

The looming economic fluctuations don’t have to spell uncertainty for your dealership. By taking a proactive approach and strategically diversifying your sales channels, enhancing your customer experience, managing your inventory effectively, and staying adaptive to market changes, you can secure your dealership’s success against the tide of economic hardships.

Change is an inevitable part of the business landscape. The dealerships that stay flexible, keep their fingers on the pulse of the market and are ready to innovate and adapt will be the ones that ride out any storm and thrive on the other side.

Don’t wait for the storm to hit. Start implementing these strategies today and set your dealership on the path of resilience and growth, ready to navigate any economic conditions that may arise.

If you are interested in more insights into market changes for automotive eCommerce, check out our 2022 eCommerce Year in Review Report for 2022 review. This report will help you understand how the market is already changing.

Marketing your dealership is fast-paced. You don’t have time, money, or effort to continually learn the latest marketing trends and put them into action.

We often forget to stop and listen to what our customers are truly saying because we’re too strapped for time.

Here are some tools other car dealerships use to track their customers’ wants and needs.

We know that what works for the dealership down the street won’t always work for you, so here are 7 ways to listen to your customers.

You decide which might be right for your dealership.

1. Set Google Alerts for trending topics and industry stats

Knowing what your shoppers think is huge, of course, but ideally, you’ll know what they want BEFORE they have to tell you.

That means taking a proactive approach. Watch out for upcoming industry trends and keep up-to-date on the latest technology.

One HUGE trend you don’t want to miss: Buying parts online.

If you’re listening to customers at the service and parts counters, you’ll see that they want to buy OEM parts and accessories online.

• • eCommerce for parts & accessories is predicted to hit $22 BILLION by the end of the year. (Source: Hedges & Company)

These stats prove people are searching for AND buying parts online. Your dealership customers increasingly want to buy parts OEM online without going to the aftermarket.

The problem is that most dealership websites don’t have the option to buy the part online, or it’s a poor experience to find the right part you need.

That’s where RevolutionParts comes in!

We deliver great shopping experiences for your customers. We also make selling online easy and profitable for the parts department.

Just fulfill orders and collect payment from searching and ready-to-buy shoppers!

2. Install behavior-tracking software on your website

This might sound intimidating, but it’s actually an easy and fun way to visually see what your customers care about on your website.

Software like HotJar and other heatmap-tracking options are a fantastic way to see what your customers care about.

These tools can see where customers are clicking, where they’re getting stuck, and which parts of the page interest them the most.

Even without written feedback, this can provide valuable feedback on how to move things around and help direct shoppers toward making a purchase.

We won’t spend a lot of time comparing the options, but here are a few you can try:

• HotJar
• Inspectlet
• FullStory

Typically, you’ll just have to paste a snippet of code into your site.

RevolutionParts let you add code to the site header/footers, so it’s an easy add for your auto parts web store!

3. Allow website testimonials and product reviews

Why not provide a place for shoppers to leave their feedback? If you can allow customer feedback on your very own website, do it!

Customers will feel like their feedback is valued, you get to hear their thoughts, and other shoppers will see you as more reputable.

This is where RevolutionParts clients really have it easy!

Web Stores with RevolutionParts have a testimonial feature that’s as easy as clicking “on.” Then voila – shoppers can share their experience!

We also have a partnership with Yotpo, the #1 review software on the market. With the integration, shoppers can leave product reviews.

It’s GREAT for accessories, especially since these reviews can convince other shoppers to buy.

4. Send out a customer satisfaction survey

Sometimes, you just have to ask.

Send out a feedback survey! To encourage shoppers to participate, you can offer an incentive.

The incentive doesn’t have to cost you much, either. Participants can be entered into a monthly drawing or receive a discount on their next order.

When you write the feedback survey, keep the questions simple. It’s always better to offer multiple-choice or drop-down menu options.

Open-ended text boxes are more work, so shoppers are less likely to answer.

Again, you have a lot of choices. Here’s somewhere to start:

• BirdEye
• Qualtrics
• Wootric

5. Check dealership review sites

You probably already know this one, like the back of your hand. We’re going to include it anyway, just for the completionists’ sake.

It’s worth it to keep an eye on as many review sites as possible.

Shoppers aren’t going to take the time to leave their reviews everywhere — they’ll probably take the “one and done” approach.

Some of your options:

• DealerRater
• Car Dealer Check
• Cars.com
• Edmunds
• Kelley Blue Book

6. Check your social media page

This is just one place online where customers come right to you! Are you checking for new comments and direct messages on a regular basis?

You’re thinking, how can I manage another channel when I’m already pressed for time? We get it; you have a LOT on your plate.

So it makes sense if you can’t check Facebook, Twitter, and others as often as you’d like to.

But it’s such an important feedback tool!

Many shoppers use social media to get in touch with the businesses they interact with since it’s more of a public, casual forum compared to a direct email.

With a tool like Hootsuite, you can connect all your accounts to one place, so it’s easier to stay on track with everything.

7. Check social media tags or mentions

Instead of commenting on your page, some people will complain on their own page. Sometimes they’ll tag your dealership, but other times they won’t.

It can take a little more digging to find comments like these, but since they’re left on the customer’s personal page, you may find that they’re more honest about the experience.

Most social media platforms will have a search option. Simply search the name of your dealership and see what comes up.

You can also try searching abbreviations or short versions of your name since not all customers will want to type out the full dealership title.

Bottom Line

The fast-paced nature of marketing your dealership doesn’t have to mean missing out on understanding your customers’ needs.

By leveraging tools like Google Alerts, behavior-tracking software, customer testimonials, satisfaction surveys, dealership review sites, and social media, you can stay attuned to your customers’ wants and needs.

Remember, each dealership is unique, and what works for one may not work for another.

Therefore, choosing the tools and strategies that best align with your dealership’s goals and customer base is crucial.

The key to successful marketing is not just speaking but listening.

By tuning into your customers, you can create marketing strategies that truly resonate with them and drive your dealership’s growth.

So, take a moment to listen – your customers are speaking, and what they have to say could transform your dealership.

Ready to dive into some more marketing tactics? Download our Marketing Toolkit below to discover how to improve marketing in your parts department.

Today, parts manufacturers face various challenges that can make increasing wholesale business growth daunting.

The most significant challenges facing automotive parts manufacturers often include inventory management, managing relationships, processing large orders, eroding margins, and having the right technology to scale your business.

However, these challenges shouldn’t hold you back from taking your business to the next level.

The key to overcoming these challenges is adopting a robust eCommerce solution that can help you turn them into new opportunities.

The right eCommerce platform can streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive business growth.

The future of the automotive parts industry is undoubtedly intertwined with the future of eCommerce.

Embracing this digital transformation is not just about staying current; it’s about staying competitive and anticipating future market changes.

How can eCommerce help you overcome these challenges and effectively turn them into profitable opportunities?

Challenge 1: Inventory Management

Inventory management is one of the most significant challenges automotive parts manufacturers face in the industry today.

Dealing with a wide variety of products, keeping track of available stock, and predicting future demand can be complex and time-consuming tasks.

Mistakes in inventory management can lead to issues like overstocking, out-of-stock items, and higher storage costs.

However, eCommerce solutions can drastically simplify this process.

Modern platforms, like RevolutionParts, offer real-time tracking, automated inventory updates, and even robust reporting to help you anticipate demand based on historical data.

Not only does this lead to improved efficiency, but it can also significantly reduce the risk of human error, giving you and your wholesale customer some peace of mind.

Challenge 2: Managing Customer Relationships

In the wholesale industry, managing customer relationships is crucial for business success. Given the nature of these B2B relationships, business from these customers often spans many years, and each customer’s needs can be complex.

Traditional customer communication methods struggle to effectively maintain these relationships, risking valuable partnerships and missing out on new opportunities.

Implementing an eCommerce solution can be a game changer in managing these relationships.

Robust platforms offer integrated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tools that allow wholesalers to track customer preferences, order history, and communication records all in one place.

It can enable more personalized interactions and quicker response times, fostering stronger relationships.

With RevolutionParts, you are able to view your customer’s order history, preferences, and contact information.

You can also easily communicate with your customers within the same platform you manage and process orders. In addition, if customers are tax exempt, they can upload their Sales Tax Exemption Certificat and self-manage within the wholesale platform, alleviating the need for accounting to manage this.

Challenge 3: Order Processing Efficiency

Efficient order processing is vital in the fast-paced eCommerce industry. Traditional wholesale businesses often struggle with lengthy order processing times due to manual data entry, which can also lead to inaccuracies.

These inefficiencies can result in customer dissatisfaction, lost sales, and even strained relationships with clients.

Implementing an eCommerce solution can streamline and automate the order processing workflow.

For example, with RevolutionParts, you can manage all your orders from various selling channels, including wholesale customers, from a single dashboard.

From here, you can process that order, print your shipping label, send tracking information to the customer, and get the package ready to send on its way.

Challenge 4: Price Fluctuation and Profit Margin Management

One challenge of selling through a strictly wholesale business model is the erosion of profit margins, as you often have to sell at lower prices than you would if you were selling directly to the end buyer.

With eCommerce solutions like RevolutionParts, you can sell through multiple channels that allow you to adopt a direct-to-consumer business model and sell at higher prices.

Leverage your distribution network to remove cost layers and drive profitable business between the manufacturer and your distributor.

You can then manage these orders and your wholesale orders through the same dashboard, making it easy to manage multiple selling channels.

Challenge 5: Scaling Your Business

Scaling a traditional wholesale business can be a daunting task. Expanding the customer base, increasing product offerings, and managing larger transaction volumes can strain existing systems.

Without the right tools, scaling can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and a reduction in customer satisfaction.

However, eCommerce solutions like RevolutionParts are designed with scalability in mind.

They are made to handle increasing transactions effortlessly and provide access to the tools needed to reach a wider customer base, like SEO and a dedicated parts marketing service.

The platform also allows for easy ingestion of large product lines, making it simple for manufacturers to bring their own catalog and effortlessly upload it to multiple selling channels.

You then have the ability to incorporate all brands into your wholesale and D2C strategies, all through one solution.

Bottom Line

Being able to overcome major challenges is key to staying ahead in an increasingly competitive industry.

However, by leveraging technologies like RevolutionParts, parts businesses can transform these challenges into growth opportunities. eCommerce is guaranteed to be a game-changing component to future business.

Now is the time to ensure you are backed by the best solutions.

To get started, click the button below to schedule a one-on-one chat with one of our parts eCommerce experts to learn more about the RevolutionParts solution and how we can help you grow your automotive parts wholesale business.

For auto parts manufacturers, the pressure to maintain brand identity, streamline distribution, and maximize profitability is ever-present. While eCommerce offers a promising platform to achieve these goals, it’s important to note that not all solutions are created equal.

There are many solutions on the market that seem ideal on the surface. While many solutions on the market promise a one-size-fits-all approach, their effectiveness is often hindered by the diversity of the industries they are built to serve.

This generalized approach can fall short for manufacturers looking to address the complex and unique needs of selling direct-to-consumer (D2C). 

In contrast, manufacturers can experience significant advantages when they opt for a specialized platform like RevolutionParts, which is designed solely for auto parts. 

The RevolutionParts platform is not just about providing an online space to sell auto parts and accessories, but a comprehensive tool that offers an in-house marketing agency specializing in auto parts. It’s built to help you leverage your distribution network, empower you to take back control of your brand, and drive profitability.

The Limitations of General eCommerce Platforms

While many eCommerce platforms exist in the online market, most platforms are made to serve a wide variety of products and services and are not focused solely on auto parts. Every industry has unique needs, and the automotive parts industry is no exception. As a result of this one-size-fits-all approach to eCommerce, many manufacturers are left with holes in their eCommerce strategies that can’t be filled by more generic platforms. 

Why are these general platforms ill-suited to automotive parts manufacturers’ needs? 

Inadequate Product Categorization and Search Functionality

Shopping for auto parts is a bit more complicated than most products, and specificity is key as components often vary by year, make, and model of vehicle. This means that search functionality needs to be spot on to ensure shoppers are able to find the right product for their vehicle easily. General eCommerce platforms often lack the sophisticated search functionality needed to make this easy for the consumer, which could greatly impact customer satisfaction and retention.

Incompatible Inventory Management

Managing a parts inventory is a complex process. It requires handling thousands of SKUs, tracking the availability of each part, and often involves working with multiple suppliers. Many general e-commerce platforms fail to provide the granular control and detailed visibility necessary to efficiently manage such a complex inventory.

Lack of Fitment Data Integration

One of the most significant challenges for automotive parts sellers is incorporating fitment data. Traditional e-commerce platforms often lack the functionality to easily integrate this data, which is crucial for ensuring customers buy the right part for their vehicle or equipment.

Inefficient Support

While most eCommerce platforms provide support to their users when it comes to selling parts online, their knowledge is limited. They are trained to deal with a range of industries and general questions about their product. They most likely will not have the answers a parts manufacturer is looking for or have the tools to help them maximize their success. This can severely limit a business’s ability to reach its full potential.

Lack of Specialized Features

Automotive parts manufacturers often require specialized features that aren’t common in general e-commerce platforms. These may include advanced cataloging systems, VIN lookup functionality, interactive part diagrams, or integrated warranty management. The absence of these features can make it difficult for sellers to provide a seamless and user-friendly shopping experience.

Complex Scalability

As parts manufacturers grow, their e-commerce needs become more complex. They may need to handle increased order volumes, manage more complex shipping logistics, or expand into new markets. General platforms may not offer the scalability or customizability needed to meet these growing needs.

Connect Distribution Network

A seamless distribution network is crucial for parts sellers. Yet, many general eCommerce platforms fall short, lacking the essential order routing functionality. This means they can’t effectively read distributor inventory in real-time or route orders to the nearest available stock. As a result, even if a part is available close by, the system might direct the order to a distant distributor, causing unnecessary delays. Without this capability to ensure the quickest shipping options, manufacturers risk compromising customer satisfaction and diminishing trust in their service.

 The Value of a Specialized eCommerce Platform Like RP

We’re not called RevolutionParts for nothing! We are obsessed with automotive parts and only help businesses in this space. Unlike most eCommerce platforms, we don’t want to sell just anything, making us the best option for anyone wanting to drive more parts sales. We deeply understand parts buyers, where they are shopping, and how to sell to them.

User-Friendly Search Options by YMM/VIN

Websites built by RevolutionParts have an easy built-in search function that makes it easy for shoppers to find the part they are looking for by their vehicle’s YMM or VIN. This makes it easy for customers to find the part they are looking for and helps ensure correct fitment.

Seamless Inventory Management

RP provides a robust inventory management system designed to handle the complexities of automotive parts inventories. It supports tracking thousands of SKUs and provides detailed visibility into stock levels, improving operational efficiency.

Distribution Network Visibility

RevolutionParts provides the ability to read your distribution network’s inventory, market on that inventory on your online selling channels and once purchase, subtly route the order and payment to your distributing partners. This allows for maximum availability of your parts made available to your customers in real time.

Easy catalog ingestion that allows BYOC (ACES/PIES)

With RevolutionParts, you can bring your catalog and ingest it into the platform. This allows you to easily upload your products to your website, Amazon, and eBay. This saves you a ton of time and hassle. Plus, by using your catalog, you can ensure correct fitment data for your inventory. 

Support for Auto Parts Experts

RP understands that excellent customer service goes a long way. Their technical support team is knowledgeable about the automotive parts industry, offering a level of assistance general platforms cannot match.

Makes Scalability Easy

As your business grows, so do your needs. RP offers a platform that scales with your business and can be customized to meet your specific needs, whether it involves handling increased order volumes, managing complex shipping logistics, adding additional branded websites, or expanding into new markets.

Unique Features for Parts Commerce

RP is packed with specialized features tailored to the needs of automotive parts sellers. These include advanced cataloging systems, VIN lookup functionality, interactive part diagrams, integrated warranty management, rich set of eCommerce shipping and fulfillment tools, and many more.

Bottom Lime

For automotive parts manufacturers venturing into direct-to-consumer sales, the selection of the right eCommerce platform isn’t merely a choice; it’s a vital business decision. At first glance, general platforms might seem like an easy option, but their inherent constraints can influence the trajectory of business growth, customer experience, and overall operational efficiency.

These platforms often struggle to grasp the intricacies of the automotive parts industry truly. This is where RevolutionParts steps in, bridging the gap with its bespoke design and feature set crafted explicitly for the industry. With everything from sophisticated search capabilities to an integrated back-end management interface, the RP platform is intuitively designed and scalable and provides a comprehensive solution suited for automotive parts operations.

As competition within the eCommerce landscape intensifies, it becomes imperative for automotive parts manufacturers to invest in a platform that comprehends and enhances their business. A platform that isn’t just a tool but a catalyst for operational efficiency and fostering positive relationships with customers. This is the inherent strength of a platform tailored to the industry’s needs, and it’s precisely what RevolutionParts offers. Click the button below to speak to an expert and learn more about the RevolutionParts eCommerce platform.

Specialty automotive parts manufacturers who choose to sell their parts online, particularly through suppliers and third-party marketplaces, often find themselves facing a significant drawback – the loss of control over their brand and a loss of easy access to consumer data. However, implementing a Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) model can help manufacturers regain control. 

Combined with a robust eCommerce platform, this model puts the power back into manufacturers’ hands, helping them directly manage their brand while building meaningful relationships with their customers.

The Challenge: Losing Brand Control When Selling Online

Today, the online marketplace offers a vast sales landscape filled with possibilities. Yet for parts manufacturers, it can also be a labyrinth where brand control easily slips away.

Traditionally, parts manufacturers have relied heavily on suppliers and third-party marketplaces to sell their products online. While these avenues can help reach a wide array of potential customers, they come with a significant downside—manufacturers often lose the ability to directly manage their brand identity.

This lack of direct control can lead to inconsistent branding, where the same product may be represented differently across various platforms. This inconsistency can create confusion among customers and dilute the manufacturer’s brand identity, leading to misalignment between the manufacturer’s vision for their product and its actual portrayal in the market. All these factors can impact the customer’s perception of the brand and ultimately influence their buying decisions.

Selling through suppliers or third-party marketplaces often results in a significant loss of valuable consumer data. These platforms generally keep customer data to themselves, leaving manufacturers in the dark about who is buying their products and why. 

This lack of direct customer insight hampers manufacturers from effectively tailoring their marketing efforts and from making informed decisions about product development and improvement.

In essence, the traditional way of online selling poses a significant barrier to brand control and customer data ownership, challenging manufacturers to find new ways to navigate the digital landscape.

Understanding the D2C Model

The Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) model is a strategic approach to eCommerce that is shifting the tides in the digital marketplace. In essence, D2C allows specialty automotive parts manufacturers to sell their products directly to consumers, bypassing traditional intermediaries such as wholesalers, retailers, or third-party marketplaces. 

By doing so, manufacturers regain the steering wheel and are once again in direct control of their brand and customer relationship.

First, the D2C model allows manufacturers to decide how their products are displayed and marketed. Manufacturers can align product descriptions, images, pricing, and overall branding to their vision, ensuring consistent messaging across the entire customer journey.

This control extends beyond just product presentation. D2C also enables manufacturers to shape the overall customer experience, from how the website is designed to the customer service provided, down to the packaging and delivery of the product. 

Manufacturers can create an immersive brand experience that is reflective of their values and resonates with their target audience.

Second, the D2C model unlocks direct access to valuable consumer data. Unlike traditional retail, where customer data often remains with the retailer or third-party marketplace, D2C opens up the data pipeline directly to the manufacturer. 

Every interaction a customer has with your brand provides invaluable insight into their behavior, preferences, and purchasing patterns.

This information can be leveraged to fine-tune marketing strategies, personalize customer interactions, and inform product development – all based on actual customer data rather than market assumptions. 

Offering manufacturers direct control over their brand identity and customer data opens up new avenues for growth and customer engagement in the digital marketplace.

The Role of a Robust eCommerce Platform in Successful D2C Implementation

Implementing a successful D2C model is no small feat—it requires a robust eCommerce platform that supports manufacturers’ specific needs and goals. For instance, the RevolutionParts platform is specifically designed to aid manufacturers in seamlessly transitioning to a D2C model, equipping them with the tools they need to establish and maintain control over their brand.

Our platform enables you to fully customize your online store to reflect your brand’s unique personality and values. From your site’s layout and design to your products’ descriptions and images, you have complete control over your online presence.

Our platform’s integrated analytics capabilities provide valuable insights into customer behavior. 

When a parts shopper comes to your website to purchase a part, you gain valuable information about the buyer, such as their email address, purchase history, and product preferences, which can inform your marketing strategies and product development efforts. 

This data can help you create personalized experiences for your customers, ultimately fostering brand loyalty and driving growth.

The RevolutionParts platform integrates seamlessly with your ACES/PIES catalog and includes other key features for easy inventory management and order fulfillment to create a streamlined, efficient operation. 

The platform is designed to scale with your business, supporting your growth as you expand your reach and cement your brand’s position in the digital marketplace.

Conclusion

In an age where digital commerce is dominating, maintaining control over your brand is paramount to achieving success. The D2C model, coupled with a powerful eCommerce platform, offers specialty automotive parts manufacturers the opportunity to regain that control, fostering stronger relationships with consumers, leveraging invaluable customer data, and cultivating a strong, consistent brand image.

The control and opportunities offered by the D2C model are proving to be invaluable for manufacturers. So why wait? It’s time to take control of your brand and embrace the transformative power of D2C eCommerce. Contact us today to find out how our eCommerce platform can help you make the shift and propel your brand to new heights.

On average, 54% of purchases made through the RevolutionParts platform come from return customers. This is a significant percentage of the parts department’s typical customer base, making it essential for dealers to implement strategies that increase revenue growth, specifically from return buyers. 

The best way to do this is to implement cross-selling and upselling techniques that maximize revenue potential, build effective sales tactics among your parts staff and help foster customer retention.

What effective upselling and cross-selling techniques can your parts department implement today?

Parts and Accessories Bundle Deals

This should come as no surprise, but bundle deals are excellent ways to drive more revenue. Bundling auto parts and accessories is not a new concept for most dealerships. However, it’s surprising how many dealers neglect to put bundle offers in place, especially for returning parts buyers. 

This strategy works to elevate the perceived value of the customer’s purchase. By offering combined packages of related products at a slightly discounted price, like a set of tires with an oil change, or a car battery with spark plugs, customers feel they are receiving more for their money. This technique boosts your revenue and strengthens your position as a customer service leader, effectively fostering repeat sales.

Personalized Recommendations at Checkout

The eCommerce space is booming with personalization and customization. Most online retailers have some sort of personalization on their platform, and the best ones offer personalized recommendations at checkout. 

You’ve probably seen this before. You get to your shopping cart online, and a list of recommended products pops up next to your cart total. These recommendations are specifically chosen for you based on the items in your cart, your purchase history, and related products with rave customer reviews. 

This is an extremely effective online sales tactic that will help drive up order value!

Plus, it helps your customers get the parts and accessories they’re looking for, and it also shows your dedication to improving the customer experience by getting them to consider additional, relevant purchases that they may not have known they needed. 

By providing personalized recommendations at the time of checkout based on customers’ cart items, purchase history, and high-rated products, you not only help your customers find what they need but also generate more revenue.

Loyalty Programs

Another key upselling technique is offering a loyalty program. It might seem like a no-brainer; after all, loyalty programs have been around since the dinosaurs, haven’t they? 

The fact is, many retailers don’t take advantage of loyalty programs as often as they should. Loyalty programs can help you in two ways.

One, they can help you identify which customer segments are best suited toward loyalty programs. These are the customers who are likely to spend more at the parts department and make repeat purchases on a consistent basis. Two, they can help you grow your return customer base in the future. With a strong loyalty program in place, you can better cater to your customer’s needs and build strong customer relationships, resulting in higher incentives to continue buying from you.

Implement a loyalty program that rewards customers for making repeat purchases. For example, offer customers a discount on their next purchase after they’ve spent a certain amount of money at the dealership. This can incentivize customers to return to the dealership for future purchases and increase the lifetime value of each customer.

Limited-Time Offers

What happens if your customers aren’t interested in the exclusivity of loyalty programs? Maybe they’re not big spenders even when offered a bundle deal? What then? 

Limited-time offers are a great sales technique to get those on-the-fence customers to flock to your dealership. They create urgency among your customer base and get parts buyers to act fast. This allows your dealership to speed up the buying journey for your customers and gain their interest quickly. 

Create limited-time offers or promotions that encourage customers to make a purchase fast. Offer a discount on a specific product or service for a limited time or while supplies last. This can create a sense of urgency and encourage customers to make a purchase sooner rather than later.

Add-On Services

Add-ons are also a great way to customize and personalize the buying journey. Add-ons that complement existing purchases make customers more likely to think of your dealership in the future. Offering add-on services can also help streamline operations between the parts department and the service lane. Faster processes between the two will help boost revenue and customer satisfaction rates. 

If a customer purchases a part that’s difficult to install themselves, offer them a discounted installation for that part at the service lane. This can increase revenue and also improve customer satisfaction by ensuring that their purchased parts last longer. It also solves additional pain points for them, making the process easier.

Customer-Centric Strategies Are True Drivers of Success

Implementing the right cross-selling and upselling tactics starts with having the right customer-centric strategies. Understanding where your customers are in their buying journeys, how they engage with your dealership, and what parts they buy most often is key to having steady sales growth in the parts department. 

How can you dial in your sales strategies for your customers? Here are five customer-centric strategies to help you deliver a high-quality buying experience for your auto parts customers.

As a dealership, getting as close as you can to 100% absorption through the Fixed Ops department is what you aim for. The higher your absorption rate, the less likely you’ll have to rely solely on new vehicle sales to boost the bottom line. Where should your dealership start when determining how to boost its absorption rate? 

It’s important to focus on streamlining processes between the parts department and service lane to help increase sales, diversify revenue streams, and improve customer service.

Profit & Service Labor Rates

Charging customers the right cost for labor is one of the most important elements allowing a dealership to cover fixed expenses. When it comes to maximizing the profit in your service department, determining labor costs based on the market average is a good place to start.

The National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) advises that your customer-paid labor should account for 60% of your total labor sales, with warranty and internal contributing 40%. On top of that, the service department should strive for 72% or higher gross retention in every category.

If you can’t hit the market average, look at your local competitors’ average service labor rates to better understand what you can realistically offer. You don’t want to lose out on potential profit just because you’re not confident about the current labor rates. NADA suggests surveying the market every six months or so and bumping the rates up by a few dollars if you haven’t in a while.

Streamline Parts Requests in the Service Lane

Where do most parts sales come from at the dealership? The service lane. The service lane is the number one source of parts orders and requests for the parts department. However, it can also be one of the biggest contributors to over-ordering and obsolescence. 

When the service lane puts in a parts order request, the time spent on sourcing that part can often lead to a few different outcomes. One, the customer becomes frustrated by the wait time and/or price and finds a faster or cheaper alternative. Two, the customer is scheduled for a repair at the service lane but never shows. Three, the service lane puts in an immediate parts order request even if that part is already on the shelves, resulting in multiples of that part. 

In all of these cases, the parts department is left with parts that clutter the shelves, and the service lane makes little to no revenue. Streamlining parts requests and ordering processes can help reduce the number of back-order parts, ensure that parts get used at the service lane, and generate revenue between both departments. 

What approaches can help tackle these issues?

• Have an enforced appointment policy. When appointments are scheduled at the service lane, ensure that those customers fulfill those appointments. Whether through a down payment on the appointment or a non-refundable cancellation fee, this will help you avoid losing money due to appointment issues. 
• Reduce over-ordering by the service lane. Always make sure to check your parts inventory before submitting a parts request. If the service lane puts in an immediate parts order request, make sure not to order before you take stock of what you currently have. 
• Limit special order parts returns. A strong returns policy for special order parts can greatly help combat obsolescence. High obsolescence leads to a low absorption rate; these types of parts returns are the biggest contributors. Set strict policies on returns to help alleviate this problem. 

Expand Your Auto Parts Customer Base 

Even with the best processes in place to keep both the service lane and the parts department running smoothly, the best strategy is to diversify your revenue streams to help increase the absorption rate. One way to do this is to expand your customer base by selling online. 

The online retail market is the largest in the world. With access to a national customer base, dealerships can effectively increase and diversify their revenue streams. What options should dealerships consider when focusing on online car parts sales? 

They also offer a variety of additional services to help businesses sell online easily, like:

• Shipping carrier and fulfillment services
• Discounted seller account fees
• Customer communication service tools

Through online marketplaces, dealerships can expand their parts business beyond their local market and get built-in support to help facilitate the transition onto these platforms. 

A custom-branded web store for the parts department gives you a few distinct advantages: 

• Gives you brand control
• Provides easy navigation for customers
• Makes it easier to find your dealership online

Selling through a custom-branded web store can help you generate a brand identity that fits within your customer’s expectations and help improve customer retention rates. 

Some common selling channels included in an omnichannel strategy include:

• Online marketplaces
• Designated online store
• Mobile apps

Selling through all available selling channels at the parts department can help you expand your customer base, get ahead of the competition, and establish a strong online presence that helps foster customer loyalty. A strong eCommerce strategy can help you increase parts sales and move inventory faster. 

Tackle Your Absorption Rate Today 

Having an effective fixed ops strategy in place can help you improve your absorption rate, create more revenue streams, and streamline processes between departments. With the right strategies in place, you can help both departments effectively grow their business. 

Looking for more ways to help boost the absorption rate at the dealership? Here are five strategies to implement to help you do just that!

The automotive parts industry plays a crucial role in the automotive industry as a whole; however, this space can also be extremely competitive as businesses face various challenges. 

However, specialty automotive manufacturers in this competitive industry are confronted with a unique set of challenges. Rapid technological advancements, evolving customer expectations, and an unpredictable market are some of the obstacles that can impede growth.

Despite this array of challenges, there are vast growth opportunities. Adopting the right strategies allows your company to navigate these challenges to create a thriving business.

Here are four key strategies that can steer your business toward a path of exponential growth.

#1 – Invest in Scalable Technology

One of the most crucial components to growing your wholesale business is adopting the right technology, which begins with your eCommerce wholesale platform. The best solution is one that has built-in tools to help you effectively scale your business

A robust eCommerce platform is key to your business’s success and will serve as the main point of interaction between you and your customers. 

When adopting an eCommerce solution, it should be user-friendly, easy to integrate with your existing catalog, offer detailed product descriptions, and provide visitors with a sophisticated search engine that allows them to find the part they are looking for by their vehicle’s YMM or VIN. 

Here are some additional benefits of adopting an eCommerce solution:

• Expand your reach to access more customers nationwide. 
• Increase accessibility with an online store that is open 24/7 and provides your wholesale customers with a portal to access pre-negotiated pricing. 
• Efficiently manage inventory to streamline operations with real-time updates on stock levels. 
• Collect and analyze data to gather valuable information about your customer’s behavior.
• Create a more personalized customer experience through improved communications and marketing.
• Make your distributor’s inventory available to read and make your distributor’s inventory available to support your wholesale buyers you cannot service.

RevolutionParts is a turn-key eCommerce solution that helps specialty automotive manufacturers grow their wholesale business through a user-friendly website, a robust multi-channel platform, and wholesale tools so you can build strong relationships with your wholesale customers.

#2 – Strengthen Relationships with Wholesalers

Tapping into your existing customer base is a great strategy for growing your wholesale business and can be more cost-effective than acquiring new customers. Improving your relationships with existing customers is invaluable. 

Strengthening the relationships of your wholesale customers takes a slightly different approach than retail customers, primarily because of the relationship’s larger transaction volumes, long-term contracts, and ongoing business development. 

Here are some ways you can ensure they keep coming back:

• Consistent and reliable service is one of the best ways to strengthen your relationship with wholesale customers by ensuring timely deliveries, maintaining consistent product quality, and providing dependable customer service. 
• Flexible payment terms can help your customers manage their cash flow more effectively and encourage them to keep coming back. This could include extended payment plans, volume discounts, or early payment incentives.
• Open communication about changes in delivery, new product launches, or changes in pricing helps build trust with your customers. You should also regularly ask for feedback and demonstrate a willingness to listen to their suggestions.
• Give exclusive offers or early access to new products to help your wholesale customers feel valued and give them a market advantage.
• Join marketing efforts with your wholesale customers for co-branded advertising campaigns, case studies, or featuring them on your website. More business for them means more business for you.

By investing in these relationships, you can create loyal wholesale customers who are more likely to stick with your business overtime, leading to a more stable and predictable revenue stream.

#3 – Product Innovation and Quality Assurance

Growing your wholesale business means staying ahead in the constantly evolving automotive space. To do this, your company should invest in continuing innovation with a focus on quality. 

Whether you are developing products for new vehicle models, updating your current products, or finding more efficient methods of production, this continual innovation, along with a robust quality assurance process, can give your company a competitive edge. 

Here are some things you want to keep in mind:

• Understanding market trends and consumer needs will help you develop updates to existing or new products to meet emerging demands.
• Invest in research and development (R&D) to help your company explore new materials, production processes, and product designs to help your products outperform competitors, attracting more wholesale customers. This will also help promote your company as a market leader.
• Collaborate with your wholesale customers to better lead mutually beneficial innovations. Discover their needs, challenges, and what they’ve learned from the end buyer.
• Implement quality control processes to ensure all parts meet established standards and specifications. This may mean regular testing and inspection at different stages of production. A quality product can build trust among wholesale customers, who are more likely to choose you over a less reliable alternative.
• Obtain industry certifications from recognized industry organizations to serve as a testament to the quality of your product and provide reassurance to your wholesale customer about the reliability of your products.

By focusing on product innovation and quality assurance, your specialty automotive parts business can attract new wholesale customers while retaining existing ones, thereby driving business growth.

#4 – Invest in Marketing and Branding

Finally, if you want to grow your business, you need to focus on your marketing and branding efforts. This will help you reach a wider audience, build brand authority within the automotive space, and establish trust among future wholesale customers.

In the automotive parts industry, how can your business keep pace and pull ahead of the competition? The answer lies in the power of marketing and branding. These crucial tools are not just about selling products; they’re about crafting a compelling narrative, building a reputation of trust and quality, and connecting with your customers meaningfully.

Here are some ways you can use marketing and branding strategies to grow your business:

• Creating a well-crafted brand identity that highlights what makes your brand unique will resonate with your audience and help set you apart from your competitors. 
• Adopt parts marketing techniques, like SEO, social media, email, and content marketing, to help your business establish a solid online presence so potential wholesale customers can find you more easily. 
• Appear at tradeshows and industry events to network with potential wholesale customers, showcase your products, and increase brand visibility. 
• Feature customer case studies and testimonials on your website to boost your brand’s credibility and build trust. 
• Use consistent branding no matter where or how your parts are being sold. Whether you are selling direct-to-consumer or wholesale, your brand should have a consistent image so that it is easily recognizable.
• Used targeted marketing campaigns that specifically target businesses that might be interested in selling your products. Tailor your messaging to highlight the benefits you offer as a wholesale partner.
• Consider partnering with businesses and influencers that can help you reach potential wholesale customers.

By implementing these marketing and branding strategies, specialty automotive parts manufacturers can increase their visibility, attract more customers, and ultimately drive business growth. 

RevolutionParts offers an in-house marketing agency that specializes in marketing automotive parts and their businesses. Don’t leave marketing efforts to agencies that use general marketing techniques instead of ones proven to sell more parts.  

Conclusion

Specialty automotive parts manufacturers and businesses must navigate a rapidly changing industry to capture new growth opportunities. By investing in a robust eCommerce solution like RevolutionParts, developing strong relationships with their wholesale customers, continuing work on product innovation and quality, and focusing on marketing and branding strategies, parts businesses can grow and capture more of the parts market.

Discover the right approach for you with RevolutionParts. Speak with one of our specialty automotive eCommerce experts today and find the best fit for you. Click the button below to get started!