Spoke Automotive LLC announced May 3 it has completed the final phase of the company’s "Cross-Departmental"

Profit-Center development Programs for Franchise Dealerships.

The program, which Spoke says is designed to focus Franchise dealerships on profits available by expanding the application of single aftermarket products, has been under development by Spoke since October 2001.

Company President, Chris Connell states, "Our primary intent with our Cross-Departmental Profitability Program is to enlighten and assist dealerships in maximizing their retained "wallet-share" of their existing customer’s business while at the same time showing how, by using a little creativity and the resources already available to them through the various departments in their dealerships, how they can also increase their overall "S market-share" of the business available in their market, beyond their normal vehicle sales and service efforts. Dealers are busy people, their people are busy people. Just the day to day operational demands of a Franchise dealership prevent the dealer and his people from seeing many unseen opportunities for incremental earnings unless they are pointed out by an objective third party like Spoke in a systemized, organized, comprehensive program and approach."

Connell concludes, "Even in the tightest run, best-managed, successful dealerships there are countless pennies

that fall through the cracks everyday due to the press of day-to-day operations. These pennies become big dollars in terms of lost revenue, missed opportunities and under utilization of products already on the dealerships’ shelf."

Phase I: Aftermarket Major Component Drive Train Warranty and Other Niche Programs

One of the ways the company says it plans to enter the Franchise aftermarket is by way of its General Agency agreement with Gateway Management Services, LTD of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Spoke claims it has reached agreement with the provider of another niche aftermarket profitability tool developed just for the Franchised Import dealer segment, an industry segment that not only has always been strong in the Florida market, but also continues to enjoy annual growth.

Finally, in order to round out the company’s approach and marketing plan, a full coverage provider

with over two generations of Retail operational experience has approached the company to pursue a marketing agreement utilizing the Spoke Associates network for their product, according to the company.

Additional Areas and Products

Although the company says it plans to launch its Cross-Departmental Aftermarket Development Programs

on a concentrated basis in Florida, the same programs will be available for existing Spoke Associates in other states. In addition, the company says it is also in various stages of acquiring representation in the Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Little Rock markets.

"A recent analysis we did of the Pre-owned, or Used vehicle sales volumes through 2004 only strengthens, and we feel justifies, our concentrated efforts in relation to the Premium 2000 Plus Product. With the sales volume of one to three year old models decreasing over the next four years and the increasing older age volume sales and UIO increasing with stable or declining scrappage rates nationally, the need and customer demand for power train and major drive component coverage will become an ever-increasing necessity in the Dealer’s aftermarket product inventory", said Connell.