This can make it difficult to grow parts department sales revenue. <\/span><\/p>\n Sound familiar?<\/span><\/p>\n Your parts team might not be tapping into its full potential. <\/span><\/p>\n There are many tricks and tips the experts use that your team can implement to grow parts department sales and squeeze more profit into the dealership each month.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are 6 expert tips that will help you sell car parts at your dealership<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Nowadays, your customers have access to a lot of information. There\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ve researched the parts they need online before coming to your dealership.<\/span><\/p>\n Creating a personalized connection with your customers goes a long way in building customer loyalty. <\/span><\/p>\n This, in turn, increases the chances that they\u2019ll come back to shop with you next time!<\/span><\/p>\n Establish your dealership as a trustworthy and credible source of information on everything they need to know about cars.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re feeling ambitious and really want to go the extra mile, start up an auto blog they can refer to for installation guides and other automotive topics.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Instead of applying the same pricing across the board, try breaking down your inventory into smaller categories and repricing them accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a lot of ways you could break your inventory down, you can break them down by:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” custom_padding=”|||43px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For something small and inexpensive, like nuts, bolts, and screws, apply a larger pricing margin. Instead of selling at MSRP, which might only be around 15-20 cents, you can easily set up a matrix that marks it up to around $1.<\/span><\/p>\n For online sales, setting different margin pricing across your inventory is absolutely essential. <\/span><\/p>\n Without <\/span>a pricing matrix<\/span><\/a>, you often end up overcharging for expensive parts and undercharging for cheap parts.<\/span><\/p>\n This will either scare away potential shoppers or cause you to sell parts at a loss. <\/span><\/p>\n Price parts accordingly and pay attention to where you need to change your pricing structure.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>7 Pricing Mistakes that are Hurting your Parts eCommerce Store<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_4_font_size=”26px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The best way to improve your parts sales is to always have the products customers need readily on hand. If you don\u2019t have it, you can\u2019t sell it!<\/span><\/p>\n Listen to customers and monitor your sales. <\/span><\/p>\n What sells the most? <\/span>What sells the least? <\/span><\/p>\n If you know you can sell a LOT of something, you might even be able to order a larger pallet and qualify for a better bulk order discount.<\/span><\/p>\n Differentiate between what you sell from inventory and what you order specifically for a customer. <\/span><\/p>\n This kind of classification will improve inventory management and help you make better stocking decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also use your inventory to compare what parts customers are buying from other dealers and include them in your future inventory.<\/span><\/p>\n Data-based decisions will lessen the risk of overstocking or understocking parts and accessories.<\/span><\/p>\n You can also try stocking fun novelty items! Shoppers are always attracted to fun items from their favorite car brands, so use this to your advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” custom_padding=”|||43px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Since auto parts are not always the most attractive items to put on display, use these items to liven up your counter.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span>The online automotive parts market is expected to reach $22B in sales by <\/a>2023, and you don\u2019t want to miss out on the opportunities!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The internet exposes you to new national and global markets at a fraction of the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n Launching your own parts website adds a valuable new channel for the parts department and can generate tens of thousands of dollars each month in sales. <\/span><\/p>\n Marketplaces like <\/span>eBay Motors\u00a0<\/b>and\u00a0Amazon<\/b>\u00a0grow larger every year\u2026 <\/span>so why not sell auto parts there, too?<\/span><\/p>\n Solutions like RevolutionParts make it easier than ever to plug in and start selling, so don\u2019t worry about being \u201ctechnical\u201d enough to grow parts department sales using the internet.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Obsolete parts tie up money and warehouse space that you could otherwise invest in fast-moving parts. <\/span><\/p>\n While it\u2019s nearly impossible to <\/span>get rid of obsolete auto parts<\/span><\/a> by just selling them at the counter, we have a few tricks you can use to keep them at a minimum.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Special-Order Deposit” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”15px||15px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Ask special-order customers to make a deposit, and communicate clearly that you will return the auto part to the manufacturer if it is not collected within a specific timeframe.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Review Reports” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||400″ icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”15px||15px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Analyze your inventory reports to identify fast-moving parts that are not selling as much or slow-moving parts that are picking up to balance your inventory.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Sell to Other Dealers” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”15px||15px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Alert other dealerships in your auto group of the parts you have on hand to make sure they don\u2019t order a new part you already have, or offer it at a discount.<\/span><\/p>\n The trick is to check for obsolete parts on a regular basis and analyze your inventory to avoid overstocking on parts that may soon become obsolete.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Sell Obsolete Parts Online” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”15px||15px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The internet is a great place to get rid of your obsolete auto parts. <\/span><\/p>\n It may be unlikely that a shopper in your local area will be looking for that part, but you might be able to find a buyer when you sell online and tap into a national market.<\/span><\/p>\n Auto part shoppers often know that obsolete parts will be tricky to find, so online marketplaces like <\/span>eBay Motors are one of the first places they\u2019ll look to buy from<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n When you offer these parts on eBay or a standalone parts website, you can still make a sale instead of tossing the part and throwing that money down the drain.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_3_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_3_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Ultimately, these strategies only work if people know you have auto parts and accessories for sale!<\/span><\/p>\n If you have an internal marketing department, they should be helping you with a marketing strategy specifically dedicated to the parts department. <\/span><\/p>\n However, that\u2019s not an option for many dealerships. <\/span><\/p>\n There are plenty of easy DIY marketing tricks you can use to help drive more parts department sales.<\/span><\/p>\n Use online marketing tools to your advantage. <\/span><\/p>\n Email marketing, digital advertising, social media, and many more digital marketing tools can help your parts department grow its revenue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Understandably, not all parts departments have the time to do their own marketing, nor do they have the internal support or expertise to market parts. <\/span><\/p>\n In this case, they may read out to outside marketing agencies. <\/span><\/p>\n Wherever you choose to do your marketing, you want to be sure they specialize in marketing parts if you want to see a high return on investment. <\/span><\/p>\n For example, dealers using RevolutionParts Marketing Services see an average return of $8.75 for every dollar spent on advertising. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.revolutionparts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/parts-marketing.png” alt=”pie chart of how parts departments market” title_text=”parts marketing” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font_size=”34px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you want to grow parts department sales, it requires deliberate effort and innovation from the team. <\/span><\/p>\n These tips are a great place to start, but you can always find new ways to improve!<\/span><\/p>\n While there are many strategies you can employ, leverage your creativity as a team to come up with the best sales plan. <\/span><\/p>\n Take risks, utilize online platforms, and always place the customers\u2019 needs at the center of your decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to learn more about how you can increase parts department revenue by selling OEM parts online, download our free guide to learn the 8 Keys to Success<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.revolutionparts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/8-keys-download-banner-2.png” title_text=”8-keys-download-banner-2″ url=”https:\/\/www.revolutionparts.com\/ebook\/the-8-keys-to-successfully-selling-oem-parts-online\/?utm_medium=revparts&utm_source=mkt:%20blog&utm_campaign=selling-online&utm_content=6-expert-tips-to-increase-parts-sales” url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Parts departments are filled with EXPERTS on auto parts but many may have little sales experience. This can make it difficult to grow parts department sales revenue. Sound familiar? Your parts team might not be tapping into its full potential. There are many tricks and tips the experts use that your team can implement to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61838,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Parts departments are filled with workers who are EXPERTS on parts but have little experience in sales. That makes it SO HARD to grow parts department sales. Sound familiar?<\/p> As a result, your parts team might not be tapping into its full potential. There are probably quite a few tricks and tips your team can implement to grow parts department sales and squeeze some more profit into the dealership each month.<\/p> Check out our list of tips to grow parts department sales at your dealership.<\/p> <\/p> These days, your customers have access to a lot of information. There's a good chance they've researched online before coming into your dealership.<\/p> Creating a personalized connection with your customers goes a long way in building loyalty. This, in turn, increases the chances that they'll come back to shop with you next time!<\/p> Establish your dealership as a trustworthy and credible source of information on everything they need to know about cars.<\/p> If you're feeling ambitious and really want to go the extra mile, start up an auto blog they can refer to for installation guides and other automotive topics.<\/p> RELATED: 5 Customer Service Fails that are Driving Away Customers<\/a><\/strong><\/p> Instead of applying the same pricing across the board, try breaking down your inventory into smaller categories and repricing them accordingly.<\/p> There\u2019s a lot of ways you could break it down, but here are some suggestions:<\/p> For something small and inexpensive, like nuts, bolts, and screws, apply a larger pricing margin. Instead of selling at MSRP, which might only be around 15-20 cents, you can easily set up a matrix that marks it up to around $1.<\/p> For online sales, setting different margin pricing across your inventory is absolutely essential. Without a pricing matrix<\/a>, you often end up overcharging for expensive parts and undercharging for cheap parts.<\/p> This will either scare away potential shoppers or cause you to sell parts at a loss!<\/p> RELATED: 7 Pricing Mistakes that are Hurting your Parts eCommerce Store<\/a><\/strong><\/p> The best way to improve your parts sales is to always\u00a0have the products customers need readily on hand. If you don\u2019t have it, you can\u2019t sell it!<\/p> Listen to customers and monitor your sales. What sells the most? What sells the least? If you know you can sell a LOT of something, you might even be able to order a larger pallet and qualify for a better bulk discount.<\/p> Differentiate between what you sell from inventory and what you order specifically for a customer. This kind of classification will improve inventory management and help you make better stocking decisions.<\/p> You can also use your inventory to compare what parts customers are buying from other dealers and include it in your future inventory.<\/p> Data-based decisions will lessen the risk of overstocking or understocking parts and accessories.<\/p> You can also try stocking fun novelty items! Shoppers are always attracted to fun items from their favorite car brand, so use this to your advantage. Try selling things like:<\/p> Since auto parts are not always the most attractive items to put on display, use these items to liven up your counter.<\/p> Of course, there\u2019s always the option of taking your parts business online. The online automotive parts market is expected to exceed $12B in sales in 2019<\/a>, so you don\u2019t want to miss out!<\/p> The internet exposes you to new global markets at a fraction of the cost it would take to open a physical store.<\/p> Launching your own parts website adds a valuable new channel for parts department sales and can generate tens of thousands each month in sales.\u00a0Marketplaces such as <\/span>eBay\u00a0Motors or Amazon<\/strong><\/a> grow larger every year\u2026 so why not sell parts there, too?<\/span><\/p> Solutions like RevolutionParts make it easier than ever to plug in and start selling, so don\u2019t worry about being \u201ctechie\u201d enough to grow parts department sales using the internet.<\/p> READ MORE: Top 6 Benefits to Adding a Parts eCommerce Sales Channel<\/a><\/strong><\/p> Obsolete parts tie up money and warehouse space that you could otherwise invest in fast-moving parts. While it's nearly impossible to\u00a0get rid of obsolete parts<\/a> by just selling at the counter, we have a\u00a0few tricks you can use to keep\u00a0them at a minimum.<\/p> Ask special-order customers to make a significant deposit, and communicate clearly that you will return the part to the manufacturer if it is not collected within a specific timeframe.<\/p> Analyze your inventory reports to identify fast-moving parts that are not selling as much or slow-moving parts that are picking up to\u00a0balance your inventory.<\/p> Alert other dealerships in your auto group to make sure they don't order a new part you already have, or offer it at a discount.<\/p> The trick is to check for obsolete parts on a regular basis\u00a0and\u00a0analyze your inventory to avoid overstocking on parts that may soon become obsolete.<\/p> There's also the easy option of selling these obsolete parts online. It\u2019s unlikely that a shopper in your local area will be looking for that part, but you might be able to find a buyer when you sell online and tap into a global market.<\/p> Part shoppers often know that obsolete part will be tricky to find, so eBay Motors is one of the first places they'll look to buy it<\/a>. When you offer those parts on eBay or a standalone parts website, you can still make a sale instead of tossing the part and throwing\u00a0that money down the drain.<\/p> Ultimately, these strategies only work if people know you have parts for sale!<\/p> If you have an internal marketing department, ask them to help out. If that\u2019s not an option for you, there are plenty of easy DIY marketing tricks you can do to help drive more parts department sales.<\/p> For example, why not take advantage of the captive audience in your service department? Post promotional flyers on the walls or stack some coupon cards at the tables. Customers can browse your offers while they\u2019re waiting around for their car to be ready.<\/p>1. Prioritize Customer Service and Communication<\/strong><\/h2>\n
2. Review Your Auto Parts Pricing Strategy<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
3. Improve Your Stocking Practices<\/b><\/h2>\n
Aside from auto parts, try selling things like:<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
4. Launch an Online Sales Channel for Auto Parts and Accessories<\/b><\/h2>\n
5. Eliminate Obsolete Auto Parts<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
6. Try Parts Marketing\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/h2>
1. Prioritize Customer Service and Communication<\/strong><\/h2>
\u00a0<\/h2>
2. Review your Pricing Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>
\u00a0<\/h2>
3. Improve your Stocking<\/strong><\/h2>
\u00a0<\/h2>
4. Launch an Online Sales Channel for Parts and Accessories<\/strong><\/h2>
\u00a0<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.revolutionparts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/demo-CTA.png?_t=1515194179\")
<\/a><\/p>\u00a0<\/h2>
5. Eliminate Obsolete Parts<\/strong><\/h2>
Special-Order Deposit<\/strong><\/h4>
Review Reports<\/strong><\/h4>
Sell to Other Dealers<\/strong><\/h4>
Sell Obsolete Parts Online<\/strong><\/h4>
\u00a0<\/h2>
6. Try\u00a0<\/strong>Marketing<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Start](\"https:\/\/www.revolutionparts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/StartSellingPartsonAmazoneBay-linkedin-2.png?_t=1549566057\")
<\/a><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,66],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-fixed-ops"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n