Compared to facilities of yesteryear, modern dealerships are better organized and more ergonomic.
That makes for a more efficient operation, notes Joe Alfieri, a sales manager in the New England region for Lista International Corp., provider of dealership storage cabinets and modular work stations, especially for service departments.
“A lot of companies demand a clean and organized environment,” he says. “Others don't, and there's a lot of disorganization. I can tell you which is the most productive.”
An organized facility also projects a positive image to customers, he says. Conversely, a messy dealership is a customer turnoff.
“Disarray is not the look a successful service department wants to convey to people who are spending a lot of money to get their cars fixed,” says Alfieri.
Dealerships are a growing customer base for Lista. It also offers equipment lines specific to hospitals, universities and museums.
“It's a whole different selling process with dealers as customers,” says Alfieri. “It's more competitive. These guys like to buy the way they sell cars, by negotiating back and forth. They are interesting to do business with.”
