Don't follow auto dealers down under says Symco Training

April 13, 2011 - PRLog -- The credibility of the Australian retail motor trade is at an all time low, according to Australian-born founder of automotive coaching and development specialists, Symco Training, which is urging UK dealers to lay the ghost of  1970s TV rogue car dealer ‘Arthur Daley’ to rest once and for all.

According to the findings of the annual ‘Trust Survey’ 2010 carried out by Reader’s Digest Australia, the car sales sector was rated less trustworthy than the oldest ‘profession’ in a poll that asked respondents to rank forty professions in order of perceived credibility.

Car dealers were ranked 39th, two places behind sex workers, with telemarketers left with the wooden spoon for the fourth consecutive year. Car mechanics came in at 27th place.

Having started his career in car sales in Queensland, Simon Bowkett moved to the UK in 1995 and established Symco Training five years later, having discovered an opportunity for ‘real world’ personnel development, where trainers work alongside dealer staff in the showroom.

Commented Simon Bowkett:

“It’s shocking to think that our profession has such a poor public standing on the other side of the world but in the UK, we are still dogged with outdated, negative stereotypes. My advice to sales professionals is always ‘be yourself’. Encourage people to buy from you, don’t just sell a deal.”

Additionally, the traditional ‘suck it and see’ approach to training in the retail motor sector is unsustainable and costs dealers thousands of pounds off the bottom-line, according to Symco.

Whilst the majority of dealers acknowledge that skills have a positive impact, few actually measure staff performance on an ongoing basis.

Andy Williams, Sales Director, Symco Training, said:

“In what is likely to be another tough year for the sector, everyone needs to be seen as playing their part in generating return. By seeing how well a particular training programme has benefited both the individual and the dealership provides a credible business case and is a powerful motivator.”

“Symco’s unique e-autotraining modular online coaching programme enables staff to review their performance and refresh their approach so that they will raise their game continually.”

Ends

Note to Editors:
Australia’s ‘Most Trusted Professions’ 2010 is the result of the annual ‘Trust Survey’ conducted by Reader’s Digest Australia. A sample of 1,000 Australians were asked to rank forty professions they had most faith in.

Top ten in rank order: 1) Ambulance Officers 2) Fire-fighters 3) Nurses 4) Pilots 5) Doctors 6) Pharmacists 7) Veterinarians 8) Members of the Armed Forces 9) Farmers 10) Scientists

Other notable professions:

27) Car mechanics
37) Sex Workers
38) Politicians
39) Car Salesmen
40) Telemarketers were ranked bottom for the fourth year in a row.


With a focus on delivering ‘real world’ training, Symco Training brings practical experience and proven success to client businesses. Founder Simon Bowkett says, ‘There’s no place for customer shy trainers in Symco’.  Established in 2000, Symco Training offers bespoke sales and management training and development coaching to automotive retail businesses in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Australia. Symco has a strategic partnership with US training company, MarKee Group, which collaborated on the introduction of a fully comprehensive on-line sales and motivational management training programme, eAutotraining.

http://www.symcotraining.co.uk

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