The Reynolds and Reynolds Company announced Sept. 3 it has been selected by Thrifty Car Sales, Inc. to develop and deliver a customized training program to the nationwide Thrifty Car Sales franchise retail network. Thrifty Car Sales is the nationally franchised retail used car brand and a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

As part of the agreement, Reynolds will provide a training curriculum through the formation and launch of Thrifty University. In partnership with Thrifty Car Sales, Reynolds' Loyalty Management University will develop and deliver dealership sales and business management courses designed specifically for Thrifty Car Sales dealers.

According to the company, this agreement is an extension of the partnership between Thrifty Car Sales and Reynolds announced earlier this year, naming Reynolds as the preferred provider of dealership management systems to its retail network.

"Thrifty Car Sales believes that the development and delivery of world-class process training is critical to the success of our retailers," said Jim Holder, staff vice president of Thrifty Car Sales. "The creation and implementation of Thrifty University in partnership with Reynolds is unique to the used car business and will help our retailers drive more quality traffic to their dealerships and sell more cars by providing innovation and value-added services. This also will ensure outstanding value and quality service to our dealers' retail customers," he added.

The Thrifty University curriculum will provide Thrifty Car Sales retailers with comprehensive dealership analysis tools, process training, and communications training. Initially, four courses will be offered with additional courses developed on a continual basis. The current curriculum includes:

• Basic Sales
  

• Inventory Management
  

• Delivering the Thrifty Car Sales Value Story
  

• Automotive Accounting and Business Management

According to Rick Boyer, vice president of Reynolds' Enterprise Solutions Group, "Thrifty Car Sales is currently expanding its base of franchises, anticipating hundreds of franchise locations in the near future. With this rapid expansion, they were quick to realize the importance of training, and how these elements can help maintain and improve operational efficiencies and profit margins for each franchise. We are very excited to be working with them on this undertaking."

Reynolds' training and professional services combine people, process and technology to build consulting and education solutions to auto dealerships.

Thrifty Car Sales (www.thriftycarsales.com), with its affiliate Thrifty Car Rental, are subsidiaries of Thrifty, Inc., headquartered in Tulsa, Okla. Thrifty Car Rental is one of the world's largest international car rental franchise networks, consisting of over 1,200 locations in 62 countries around the world.

Reynolds and Reynolds (www.reyrey.com) is a provider of integrated solutions that help automotive retailers manage change and improve their profitability. With 75 years of experience serving automotive retailing, Reynolds enables car companies and retailers to work together to build the lifetime value of their customers. The company's product, service and training solutions include a full range of retail and enterprise management systems, networking and support, e-business applications, Web services, learning and consulting services, customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, data management and integration, and leasing services. Reynolds serves more than 20,000 customers. They comprise 90 percent of the automotive retailers and virtually all car companies doing business in North America. Its CRM consulting practices span more than 20 countries around the world.