The Winter 2012 issue of LMG Finance Advance is now available! In this season’s edition our feature article talks about selling F&I at Trade Shows. We also take a look into the operations of two highly successful LMG dealer partners and introduce you to our newest LMG team member (as well as announcing the birth of two little LMGers).
LMG Finance is celebrating our 10th year as Canada’s leading F&I outsource solution! On behalf of everyone here at LMG Finance, we would like to give our sincerest thanks to all of our business partners across Canada for your support over the past decade! LMG has positioned our business partners for a record setting 2012, and we are convinced that we can help make the best of this “new financial world” that we currently find our businesses operating in. We truly believe that given the opportunity, LMG can assist you by providing the financial services and support required to increase sales, reduce expenses, and create substantial dealer finance revenue on every deal presented to our office.
This new financial world requires all of us to embrace change. The lending landscape for leisure and recreational vehicles continues to change with new processes and requirements. Customers, dealerships and business partners are continuing to change and gain confidence in the power and efficiency of F&I outsourcing. LMG is continuing to move forward with our focus on new lending programs, technology, and personalized service in order to thrive in the new economy and take advantage of the opportunities change creates.
Let’s make 2012 the best year possible! Please feel free to contact LMG at any point to help you be more successful.
As always, thank you for choosing LMG Finance!
RW
I can focus on sales and can rely on the professionals at LMG to take care of my customer’s financing needs.
- Kelly Fernandes, Salesman, Listers Motorsports LMG’s Winter 2012 Dealer Spotlight
One of the dealerships LMG is showcasing this season is the highly regarded and very successful dealership, Listers Motorsports, located in Whitehorse, YT.
Listers Motorsports first opened their doors to the Whitehorse community in 1967 as a service shop. Brian Edelman has been the primary owner of the dealership since 1980 and has seen it grow from a small service shop with a handful of product lines, into the highly established and successful dealership it is today! Listers Motorsports carries a very impressive line up of the top marine and powersports manufactures in North America, including BRP: Evinrude, Lowe, Weldcraft, Harbercraft, Hewescraft, Campion as well as Arctic Cat, Kawasaki, Stihl, Suzuki, Yamaha. Listers salesman Kelly Fernandes, who has been at the dealership for 11 years, says that “having such a diverse selection of products has really helped our business thrive, even through tougher times”.
As the biggest marine dealer in the Yukon, Listers Motorsports has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including being a four-time winner of Arctic Cat’s “Top Canadian Arctic Cat Dealer”. Even with such an impressive reputation, the staff at Listers don’t let it get to their heads. “A lot of our customers refer to the dealership as “Cheers”, because it has the same warm, inviting and friendly atmosphere as the popular sitcom had, and a lot of our customers come by just to visit! It was actually a huge reason why I chose to continue in this career path” reveals Kelly.
The team at Listers work hard, but play hard as well! As busy as they are, a thriving dealership like Listers Motorsports encourages a recreational lifestyle that includes spending time with close friends and family, whether it be on the water, in the snow, or on the trails. Owner Brian Edelman is very involved in local racing while Kelly is a member of Whitehorse’s motorcycle club (YCCMA), which the dealership also sponsors. Salesman Jake Jacobs is an “up and comer” snowmobile and dirtbike racer and Listers’ mechanic, Ryan Vaillancourt, actually produces extreme snowmobiling DVD’s called Summit Savages! The dealership loves to support local events as well and always have a strong presence in the community.
Listers Motorsports have used LMG’s finance and insurance outsourcing service for over two years now. Kelly says his F&I relationship with LMG “makes my job that much easier, I can focus on sales and can rely on the professionals at LMG to take care of my customer’s financing needs. I was handling the financing on my own previous to working with LMG, but now my customers can receive the best customer service possible. I can focus my efforts on the customers needs during the sale and LMG can take care of all the financing process. LMG is trained to be the best at financing, they know how to use the tools to the customer’s best advantage, and I definitely see a lot more approvals!”
It has been a great partnership for LMG as well, the team at Listers are a great group of professionals that have also turned into friends.
Dan Klimach joined the LMG team in the Spring of 2011. He brings with him over 10 years experience working in the auto industry as a finance manager. Within those ten years, he also specialized in the auto/RV trade and the marine industry as well! Dan is extremely well versed in all aspects of the finance and insurance process and ensures that each application LMG receives is either successfully approved or worked aggressively until a final resolution is determined. Dan is always willing to go the extra mile to get a deal bought and to make customers happy. With his people skills and business background he’s a perfect fit for LMG!
LMG Business Managers are the ones that make deals happen, always staying up to date with the latest financial info so they can secure the best loan options. When asked what his secret is to being a successful Business Manager, Dan replied “being a great Business Manager means being a good listener and conversationalist. Every deal, no matter how big or small, is a big deal for the customer. Getting all the information the first time and ensuring the accuracy of the transaction makes the financial process an easy one for the customer and dealer alike.”
When he is not at work, Dan is an outdoor enthusiast. During the warm, sunny months, Dan takes advantage of the endless hills and trails by freeride mountain biking, and closer to the city he plays on a competitive baseball team! He also enjoys taking his wife and three kids camping throughout our beautiful province.
The LMG team would like to introduce not one, but two new members of the extended LMG Family! Congratulations to Business Manager Shane Harris and his wife Raylene on their daughter Bree Noelle Harris, born on December 20th, 2011! Another congratulations to Administrator Leea Swank-Hillis and husband Paul on their daughter Marti-Jayne (MJ) Nicolyn Hillis, born on December 28th, 2011!
After another busy and successful summer season, business isn’t slowing down for the dealer who’s grabbing our attention in this edition of LMG’s Finance Advance.
Proline Motorsports & Marine first opened their doors in Saskatoon in April 2000 and is owned and operated by the entrepreneurial Gerry Christie. With an unbeatable selection of powersports and marine products in the Saskatoon area, Proline Motorsports & Marine has something for everyone! The dealership carries Arctic Cat and Yamaha ATVs, snowmobiles, side by sides, street/dirt bikes, personal watercrafts and scooters. Their marine section includes Stingray, Alumacraft, Campion, Marine Master and South Bay. In addition to carrying a remarkable line up of recreational products, Proline Motorsports & Marine is dedicated to being there for their customer's long term and developing relationships with them. “My favorite part about this job is seeing the satisfaction from our customers after they have had their first weekend out with their unit, and they're grinning from ear to ear. They cannot wait to tell us their story!” expresses Owner Gerry Christie.
With an incredible sales team lead by Gerry, the dealership has worked their way to the top, receiving multiple monthly awards for their retail numbers. The outstanding efforts of the Proline Motorsports & Marine Sales & Service team have also seen them receive the prestigious 2011 Arctic Cat Circle of Excellence award. The dealership is thriving, and it is the result of a hard-working, passionate and business savvy team. With the same business philosophy and enthusiasm, it’s no wonder that when Proline Motorsports & Marine partnered up with LMG Finance at the start of 2011, it was such a great fit. “As soon as we signed with LMG Finance, more lenders came to the table that were not willing to come to us independently. We have seen a substantial increase in penetration and profitability with all of the add-ons in the deals” reveals Gerry, adding “LMG also allows my salesmen to focus on what they are great at – selling! LMG takes care of the F&I from start to finish.”
A firm part of the community, Proline Motorsports & Marine has been supportive of many different local events. The Saskatoon Track n Trail Club, Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association, and Saskatoon Snowmobile Club are just a few of the local clubs the dealership takes pride in sponsoring and participating in! The staff and customers alike also look forward to the variety of motorcycle and snowmobile demo days the dealership puts on throughout the year!
Gerry and the rest of the team at Proline Motorsports & Marine continue to offer superior customer service and are dedicated to making your recreational experience a happy one. It’s not a surprise that they are one of the leading dealerships of their kind in Saskatchewan!
Providing F&I at trade shows can be a key element that sets you apart from other dealers at the show. Let’s face it, trade shows are full of competition. If a potential customer doesn’t like something about the services you offer, the units you sell, or even the salespeople you employ, that customer can walk a few steps away and purchase from another dealer. Click this link to read the full feature article of our Winter newsletter and find out more about selling F&I at Trade Shows.
If you have said "NO" to any of these questions, you may be leaving thousands of dollars of F&I revenue on the table!
Let LMG help you sell more units and make more money!
If you wish to promote COMPETITIVE FINANCING at your dealership or get the LMG link set up on your website, all you have to do is get into contact with us:
Why not spread the word about LMG? For every dealer you send our way we will enter your name into the LMG referral contest. Let us reward you in recognition of your continued support of our services!
It couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is any one of the following options and we’ll take it from there:
It’s as simple as that! Refer us and let us reward you. For more information please give us a call at 1.877.806.6247 or contact us at http://www.lmgfinance.ca/.
Congratulations to the Fall 2011 season’s winners!
We consider your referrals of LMG’s F&I service to your fellow dealers the biggest compliment we can receive. Thank you Janet and Jim.
If you have new staff members, product line(s), or new/preferred e-mail address, please make your LMG Business Manager or Business Relations Manager aware of it so we can make sure we are taking care of the F&I details for your dealership.
Also, please add newsletter@lmgfinance.ca to your e-mail’s address book or safe list so it knows this newsletter isn’t junk mail! This way, whether you’re on the road or at your dealership, you can stay on top of all our latest news!
