Anthony Musero,
Business Development Manager,
Liberty Toyota Scion
Autobytel Dealer of the Month
We'd like to congratulate Anthony Musero, Business Development Manager of Liberty Toyota Scion in Burlington, New Jersey, for being named Autobytel's Dealer of the Month for December 2013.
The Autobytel Dealer Awards Program honors exceptional dealers from a competitive field of thousands of automotive retailers who employ the highest standards in customer service, Internet automotive retail sales and lead management processes.
We sat down with Anthony recently to talk about the success of his dealership and the way he and his team engage with their customers and stay on the "cutting edge" to best serve the needs of today's car buyers.
Tell us about yourself and your store. What is your official title, what brands do you sell and what are your primary markets?
My name is Anthony Musero and I am the Business Development Manager for Liberty Toyota Scion. Our dealership sells Toyota and Scion, but we sell off brands as well, since we have a very large pre-owned lot and inventory. Our dealership is located in New Jersey, but we sell cars up and down the East Coast.
How long have you been an Autobytel dealer and what do you think are the primary benefits of being on the Autobytel program?
Our dealership has been with Autobytel for many years, and personally, as a manager, I have been with the Autobytel program at this dealership for about three years. I feel the primary benefit to being on the Autobytel program is the tremendous exposure it offers us. It really allows us to get our name out there. Autobytel is such a reputable company, and one that consumers trust, and we really benefit from that.
What do you think makes you so successful at meeting the needs of today's Internet consumers? Please share a few of your best practices in terms of managing Internet leads.
I am very engaged with my team and we like to be on the cutting edge. I'm on the phone just as much as all of my reps and I get feedback from my reps every day - several times a day. I ask my customers for feedback also, and as a result, we are constantly fine tuning our process. Additionally, I am constantly in contact with my Autobytel rep, and I can't say enough good things about him (Josh). He is always available to me, and he is instrumental in helping me out whenever I need it, if I ever have a problem, or even if I have an idea about something new I want to do or want to try. If I want to bounce some ideas off him or get info about my options, he is there. We aren't afraid to try new things at Liberty Toyota Scion.
What are your thoughts about being named an Autobytel Dealer of the Month?
I was shocked. I know Autobytel has a lot of dealers on its program, so to be picked was an extraordinary feeling. I was surprised. Not only was I selected for this honor, I was presented with a plaque and they brought in a huge cake. It was pretty fantastic to be recognized!
What are some tips or advice you would give other retailers when it comes to effectively managing Internet customers?
My biggest piece of advice is to be engaged. You have to be on top of everything, know what you are sending out, know what your team is doing and what is going on, and most importantly, know what your customers want when they inquire. Be engaged... with your team, the customer, the Autobytel program, and all of your vendors. Know what's going on in your dealership.
What are your general thoughts about the auto industry right now? How are sales? Any interesting things happening at Liberty Toyota Scion or with the brand that you'd like to share?
There is a lot going on in 2014 with Toyota. They just came out with the new Tundra, a new Highlander, a new Corolla, and there are many great programs available. Everyone in this business also seems to feel the same way I do... this is going to be a big year for the industry, and I'm excited! Right now, I'm trying to get everything in order for a spectacular year, and we do a lot that other dealerships don't. For example, we offer our customers a lifetime powertrain warranty on all new purchases. Not too many other dealerships do this. I feel it's important to give back to customers. They want a good deal, they worked hard to get it, and we want them to feel well taken care of.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself... what do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or interests of note?
I'm a golfer, and have been for a while now. I golfed all throughout high school and college. I am very active outdoors - I ride dirt bikes, I love to be on a boat for just about anything, I love to fish, I mountain bike, and I play baseball, too. I also ride motorcycles. I bought a Harley this past year, and I enjoy participating in charity rides. One ride I did was for an organization that benefited children, and another ride I did helped benefit Veterans.
Each month, Autobytel's sales and dealer operations teams evaluate prospective candidates from a competitive field of thousands of automotive retailers in the Autobytel network, with a monthly finalist selected based on key online automotive best practices, including conversion rates, lead management processes, customer service principles, customer and brand retention analytics and Internet department practices, among others.The Article Autobytel Dealer Spotlight appeared first on Automotive Digest.