The Walk Around

JMA Group
  • 5.0 (23)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

A car dealership podcast that brings all things automotive to your listening ears! Learn how to grow your dealership, or grow your automotive career with sales, Finance, Fixed Operations, and Leadership insights.

  1. S5E08 - The Affordability Outlook: What the Data Says

    APR 1

    S5E08 - The Affordability Outlook: What the Data Says

    Jonathan Banks, VP of Product Retailing for JD Power’s Retailing Portfolio, breaks down macro trends across the industry, used-car profit strategies, and how dealer principals can optimize performance in the next 12–18 months. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - Meet Jonathan Banks 01:00 - Macroeconomic trends dealers should be thinking about 03:30 - Affordability: What should dealers be paying attention to 08:09 - Strategies dealers should be using to optimize used car profits 10:49 - Thoughts on dealer certified OEMs 14:37 - Advice to dealer principals on how to optimize their stores 16:47 - Key takeaways for dealers in the next 12 to 18 months For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    19 min
  2. S5E07 - Finding Your Voice in Automotive Leadership

    MAR 27

    S5E07 - Finding Your Voice in Automotive Leadership

    Eve Knudtsen, President of Knudtsen Auto Group, is a third-generation dealer leading three stores across the Pacific Northwest. She shares insights on leadership, technology, culture and her experience as a woman in automotive. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - Meet Eve Knudtsen! 02:31 - Making your voice heard as a woman in automotive 05:02 - Advice to women pursuing leadership positions 06:19 - Advice to those new to automotive careers 07:35 - What Eve is focusing on in 2026 at her group 09:23 - Areas of opportunity to improve customer service 12:12 - The result of implementing AI into the customer experience 12:55 - The leadership trait/habit that Eve swears by 15:47 - What’s a bigger risk to dealers? Technology adoption or talent development? 17:57 - The importance of culture in your dealership 19:43 - F&I’s importance in the customer experience For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    22 min
  3. S5E06 - 2026 Automotive Market Outlook: Affordability and Demand

    MAR 20

    S5E06 - 2026 Automotive Market Outlook: Affordability and Demand

    Tyson Jominy, SVP OEM Solutions at JD Power, discusses affordability pressures, interest rates, lease returns, and why stable demand and mid-cycle conditions will shape dealer planning for the 2026 auto market. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - Meet Tyson Jominy from J.D. Power 01:05 - Affordability and the role of monthly payment 03:29 - What longer loan terms mean for dealers 04:36 - Limited used supply and strong trade-in values 05:38 - Service lanes as a used inventory opportunity 06:49 - Does the 2026 demand outlook remain optimistic? 08:47 - SAAR forecast and vehicle price expectations 10:40 - Interest rate outlook and OEM-supported financing 11:46 - Leasing as an affordability strategy for dealers 12:33 - Fixed ops profitability and warranty impact For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    14 min
  4. S5E05 - How A Major Dealership Group is Approaching Frictionless Operations

    MAR 13

    S5E05 - How A Major Dealership Group is Approaching Frictionless Operations

    Christian Crain, VP of Crain Automotive Holdings, discusses leading a 23-store dealer group, their focus on seamless operations and how they are addressing the affordability challenges their guests are facing now. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - Meet Christian Crain 02:15 - How Crain Automotive is addressing customer affordability 05:24 - Creating a frictionless process 07:45 - Best Bets with Christian Crain 08:31 - Will AI handle more than 30% of your store’s customer communications? 10:32 - Will 100% online purchase happen without in-person viewing of the car? 11:28 - Razorbacks & college football: will the playoffs happen? For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    13 min
  5. S5E04 - The Marketing Playbook for Dealership Success

    MAR 11

    S5E04 - The Marketing Playbook for Dealership Success

    John Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Force Marketing, joins the podcast to share insights on marketing trends in 2026, the future of AI and technology, customer engagement opportunities and strategies for dealership growth. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - Meet John Fitzpatrick! 01:58 - Trends in Dealership Marketing and Customer Engagement 02:28 - The “4A” Strategy (Audience, Attention, Automation, Attribution) 04:54 - The Importance of Consistent Messaging and Response Time 08:52 - AI in Dealerships: Progress Over Perfection 12:15 - Treating Marketing Expenses Like Investments 14:51 - Marketing Opportunities in Fixed Ops and Service Retention 18:25 - “Bet It or Forget It” Segment 18:54 - AI Chat & Automation Replacing BDC Roles 19:40 - What is a Dealership’s Most Valuable Asset? 20:15 - Local Brand Awareness vs. Vehicle Inventory 22:12 - The Power of TikTok For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    26 min
  6. S5E03 - Fixed Operations: How Video is Changing Dealer Performance

    MAR 5

    S5E03 - Fixed Operations: How Video is Changing Dealer Performance

    Ted Ings of Fixed Ops Roundtable shares fixed ops technology innovations, including technician video MPIs and AI, and explains how they improve transparency, approvals and strengthen overall service department performance. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - Meet Ted from Fixed Ops Roundtable! 03:07 - What's the biggest Fixed Ops innovation? 05:29 - Measuring video engagement and ROI 06:04 - Implementing the technology 07:30 - How service drive acquisition is connecting departments 09:07 - Sales-to-Service handoff 10:20 - Service Advisors vs Sales: Impact on customer loyalty 11:03 - Will AI tools diagnose vehicles before techs? 12:13 - The technician shortage debate For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    14 min
  7. S5E02 - Digital Trust: What Causes Customers to Convert

    FEB 27

    S5E02 - Digital Trust: What Causes Customers to Convert

    Brian Kramer from Cars.com makes his third podcast appearance with us to share industry insights on the future of AI and digital retailing, how process drives profitability, and the wave of demand for used EVs in 2026. For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Episode Breakdown 0:00 - Brian returns for a third time!  2:00 - Digital retailing & AI in 2026 5:53 - Optimizing your dealership’s digital presence 8:30 - Brian’s first impressions on JM&A Group’s Gyde platform 10:33 - Getting smart with appraisals and inventory management 16:32 - How service and sales can collaborate on service lane acquisition 19:37 - The coming wave of used EVs Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    23 min
  8. S5E01 - How NADA is Advocating for Dealers in 2026

    FEB 24

    S5E01 - How NADA is Advocating for Dealers in 2026

    NADA President & CEO Mike Stanton discusses dealer sentiment around affordability concerns, NADA's work to strengthen the dealer environment, key public policy initiatives and strengthening the franchise system.  In this episode you’ll hear: The pulse on dealer economic concerns How NADA is addressing technician shortages and training Protecting dealers and remaining compliant with Artificial Intelligence  For more information about our guest, visit their ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Episode Breakdown 0:00 - How are dealers feeling this year?  3:42 - Franchise laws are evolving  10:17 - Effects of dealer consolidation  13:17 - How do you pronounce NADA?  13:52 - Addressing technician shortages and training  16:04 - What Mike is excited for this year  16:42 - Protecting Dealers and remaining compliant with AI Liked this episode? Find our full episode library ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    19 min
See All (112)

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

A car dealership podcast that brings all things automotive to your listening ears! Learn how to grow your dealership, or grow your automotive career with sales, Finance, Fixed Operations, and Leadership insights.

Information

  • Creator
    JMA Group
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 960011
  • Show Website
    The Walk Around

You Might Also Like