The Armchair Show

Driving efficiency: Chris Roberts & Darren Riva talk energy and business strategy

As the UK energy crisis focuses business thinking on a more sustainable future, consultant Chris Roberts and renewables expert Darren Riva addressed the subject of efficiency and sustainability on the AM News Show podcast.

In the latest episode of the automotive retail sector’s monthly podcast series former Drive Motor Retail and Cambria director Roberts and Journey Energy Solutions’ Riva tackled a number of subjects in conversation with AM editor Tim Rose and managing editor Tom Sharpe.

Among the subjects tackled are:

• Cutting overheads and securing your electricity supply in a volatile period for the energy sector

• Readying your business for a future dominated by electric vehicles (EV)

•Planning ahead to generate growth and avoid staff burnout

•Opportunities in a new era of aftersales

Commenting on car retail’s ongoing energy challenges, Riva said: “We are no longer in a place where we’re going to pay 16p per kilowatt hour for electricity. Those times are in the dim and distant past

“Over the last 18 months the fact that (car retailers’) op-ex has gone through the roof has definitely flipped the focus back to pounds saved and obviously, in a lot of cases hundreds, of thousands of pounds of savings can be made each month by managing usage on-site.

“The story will go very quickly away from cost and that investment to make your business secure is potentially better done sooner than when somebody else has taken all your power.”

On the need for car retailers to plan ahead after the short-term wins of the post-COVID trading period, Roberts said: “You get up in a morning and you’ve got to make the day happen, make the week happen, hit the numbers, make the money, and it consumes people massively.

“In a lot of business’ I’m involved with the teams are all so lean it is 24/7 and you do worry about burnout, to be fair, because the senior management teams are trying to do all things.

“However, you can’t ignore that fact that you have to have a strategy for the business and the owners and shareholders should be thinking about that at board level and thinking what should my business look like because the problem you have, I think, is complacency.

“We’ve had two great years but things do tip over.”

Darren Bradford, MD RJTK Group | The Armchair Show | #TheArmchairShow | By Armchair Marketing

10 minutes with RJTK Automotive MD Darren Bradford

Newly-promoted managing director of RJTK Automotive Darren Bradford told the AM News Show podcast that he’s prepared for a busy 2023.

Bradford’s new role sees him oversee the operations of Vauxhall retailer Wilson & Co as well as Drayton Motors’ Kia, Maxus and Suzuki dealerships, but he says galvanising a new team spirit across the whole workforce will be among his top priorities.

Listen to our 10-minute chat to find out how the car retail group boss plans to inject fun into what could be a challenging year for the UK automotive sector with the help of:

The launch of group-wide Distinction awards to recognise top performers

A “cheesy”, 90s-style printed magazine

A vow to deliver on leadership promises “I’ve got quite a lot of things up my sleeve this year,”

Bradford told AM editor Tim Rose and news and features editor Tom Sharpe.

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AM News Show: Alison Ashley, Darren Bradford and James Brearley

Heading into a year tipped for significant change with the introduction of agency model car retail and an easing of vehicle production, this episode’s AM News Show panellists shared their strategic priorities for 2023.

RSM head of Auto Alison Ashley, RJTK Automotive managing director Darren Bradford and former Inchcape chief executive James Brearley joined AM editor Tim Rose and news and features editor Tom Sharpe for the latest instalment of the popular automotive retail podcast series.

Among the key points explored are:

“Car retailers have never been healthier”, but could the business model be run leaner?

“I’m not convinced it’s a bad thing” – making the switch to agency model car retail.

Have online disruptors been “chasing gold at the end of a rainbow”?

Employee experiences: driving retention and satisfaction amid wage inflation

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Car prices on the rise, but do car buyers have the money?

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eBay Motors, Sandicliffe, Keyloop | #TheArmchairShow | By Armchair Marketing

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AM News Show: Ian Plummer, Commercial Director

Core trends that can affect the used car retail market now and in the future are at the heart of this AM News Show discussion with commercial director Ian Plummer.

Auto Trader’s online car marketplace generates a vast volume of data that will: inform current vehicle pricing trends; give insight into car buyers’ online behaviour; and help retailers understand how they might best reach a target audience.

But in uncertain times, with volumes constrained due to new car supply shortages and economic turmoil threatening consumer confidence, what does the market really look like and what will the future hold? AM editor Tim Rose and news and features editor Tom Sharpe gain in-depth insight conversation with Plummer.

Watch this episode of the AM New Show now to hear more about topics including:

Are the faltering fortunes of online car retailers tarnishing the sector as a whole?

The impact of ageing used car park on the retail sector.

Consumers desire to get the best of a digital and physical retail journey.

How next year’s new car supply shortages might pan out.

Leveraging data to drive leads and tailor your stock to the local market.

AM News Show: Brett Ward, HR Owen & James Hind, CarWow | The Armchair Show

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AM News Show: James Hind | The Armchair Show | #TheArmchairShow | By Armchair Marketing