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dBusinessNews.com - Seattle: Latest Research Finds Worldwide Mobile Operators Stand to Lose Billions Unless Action Is Taken to Address Gaps in Off-Portal Content Distribution SEATTLE — iGR Issues Groundbreaking Research Quantifying the True Costs Seattle

PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION Thursday, April 6, 2006
Northwest Herald - On page 2 of Wednesday’s Lifestyle section, a number was missing from an ingredient for a recipe for tapioca pudding. The ingredient should read 2 3/4 cups milk (whole, 2 percent or 1 percent). The Northwest Herald regrets the error. Accuracy is

For many car hunters today, leasing’s the way to go
USA Today - In March, 19.8% of all new vehicles were leased rather than bought, the highest rate since June 2001, Edmunds.com reports. At the same time, dealer financing on new car purchases has gradually been falling, reflecting in part the shift to leasing

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Automotive Sales Training, while not necessarily a
glamorous topic, is a subject that needs some
attention. Dealers, as they continue to battle the
manufacturers with the higher and higher CSI
demands, the need for continued and professional
automotive sales training will only grow.

Think about it for a second as we walk through a
typical scenario. A guy/gal just finishes college, or they
have heard from a friend how lucrative the automotive
sales business really is…so they wander on down to
their nearest dealership. (I am obviously over
simplifying here).

Once the dealership and this guy/gal decide that there
is a good fit; the automotive sales training begins. The
problem, however, is that we have found that the
majority of fast paced dealerships simply don’t have
the necessary time to sit down and ensure that their
new staff members are properly trained.

Sure, many of them are trained on the “steps-to-the-
sale,” but in today’s day and age, automotive sales
training needs to go much more beyond the basics.
Here are a few areas that automotive sales training
programs can no longer go without:

1. Sexual Harassment Training
2. Human Resources Training
3. Contract Training

An effective and efficient Automotive Sales Training
program that goes without proper “Sexual
Harassment” training is setting the dealership up for a
future lawsuit. Ok, having someone come in??do a 1
hour compliance seminar, then having the entire staff
sign a document stating that they understand the
elements of sexual harassment is not going to cut it.
Not in the least. We are hearing of dealerships that
still maintain 100% of the liability, as a sharp attorney
is easily able to pierce that “piece of paper,” arguing
that it is merely a piece of paper and not a true
intention of the dealership to act in good faith to
prevent these actions.

Speaking of effective automotive sales training
programs. If you do not take the next step and have
“Human Resources” training, the dealership is once
again looking for trouble: trouble that you just don’t
need and can easily eliminate. Look at it this way, by
simply engaging in a simple once-per-month course for
all 1st year employees to sit with the Human
Resources manager and go over the policies and
procedures of the dealership, you will be miles ahead
of any future lawsuits.

Last, but certainly not least, is “Contract” training as it
relates to your automotive sales training program.
What do I mean by “Contract” training? Well, as we all
know, most of the individuals working in the
automotive sales industry do not have a finance
degree. They do not understand the related contract
laws that apply in their state. However, these are the
same individuals that we rely on to ensure that
applications, customer statements and final paperwork
are documented properly. Granted, the finance
managers in most states are required to have some
form of “insurance license,” but this does not mean
that they get the proper training around contract law
and the nuances associated with the contract. We are
seeing day in and day out, simple mistakes being made
by staff at the dealership nullifying the legality of
contracts every day. This can easily be avoided with a
proactive management team.

My message here is simple: automotive sales training
does not end with the “steps-to-the-sale,” but actually
should just be the beginning of the new salespersons
training program. Dealers need to protect themselves
in every aspect, and this is not something that they
can decide to do later.

Visit www.mindsetforsales.com to learn how you can acquire the skills to stay ahead in this game!

About the Author

Specializing in the building and utilization of communications methods to increase sales and build clientele, Patricia Jones is a reputable marketer with years of experience in the industry. Find out how her team of communication experts can structure a communications strategy to increase your company’s visibility, by clicking automotive sales training. -

(BW) Group 1 Automotive Announces April Conference Presentations
Houston Chronicle, United States - Mar 31, 2006By Business Editors. HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 31, 2006–Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:GPI), a Fortune 500 automotive retailer …

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CRM software is only one component of Information Technology.

Information Technology (IT) should comprise all hardware and software data solutions; marketing and communication systems; and most importantly the design, testing, application and refinement of the methods of implementation.

In other words, IT is not just software and hardware, it is the central philosophy and methodology underlying the coordinated application of technological assets in the search for efficient growth.

IT Objectives:

Maximize capitalization of internet prospects
Maximize capitalization of global corporate data
Minimize Internet and/or BDC departmental overhead
Reduce third-party lead referral costs
Increase captive lead frequency
Strengthen ancillary revenue streams - parts, service and merchandise
Exploit horizontal market opportunities

As such, a CRM platform cannot not be considered - in itself - an efficient vehicle for growth. Rather, the coordination of CRM with all other IT assets, in concert with a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy - across all franchises (and beyond) - remains the key to attaining and sustaining a superior level of efficient growth.

With this in mind, the evaluation of any piece of hardware or software should include it’s ability to:

Work properly
Accommodate strategic goals and processes
“Talk” to other systems
Adapt
Be easy to use and understand
Work quickly
Work securely and privately

With regard to personnel, the ideal IT manager should not only possess a reasonable knowledge of hardware and software systems, but also a strong grasp of the retail marketplace, in addition to marketing and communications strategies. The IT manager will consolidate all technological assets and (working in conjunction with the principal(s)) develop new strategies facilitated via this nascent consolidation of datasources and communications systems.

Moreover, the IT manager is the most important piece of the puzzle; for it is through this key employee that all data and communications pass, all systems unite; and the successful, efficient utilization of this amalgamation via strategic marketing initiatives is dependent. No other single employee has the potential to control so much, and through doing so contribute so much.

In closing: Where most have welcomed and quickly capitalized upon technological advances in communication, the automotive retail industry - obstinate and myopic - has barely capitulated. Hence, the opportunities just over the horizon may be considerable for those who endeavor.

About the Author

Fabien Vegas is founder and president of www.fabienvegas.com, a CRM solution provider and applications development company. -

New plant in Tennessee to build automotive seats for Nissan
The State, SC - Mar 30, 2006Tacle Seating said it will open the 90,000-square-foot plant in 2007, when it will begin rolling out automotive seats for Nissan North America’s assembly plant …

(BW) Group 1 Automotive Announces Strategic Alliance with ADP …
Houston Chronicle, United States - Mar 30, 2006HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 30, 2006–Group 1 Automotive, Inc. … “Group 1 is a Fortune 500 company and a leader in the automotive retailing industry. …

Tower Automotive Closes Its Doors
Milwaukee Channel.com, WI - Mar 31, 2006The last truck frames rolled off the line at Tower Automotive. … It hurts, it hurts deep down, I hate to see it,” Tower Automotive employee Eddie Ballard said. …

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When you purchase a vehicle chances are you want to outfit it the way you want it to look, no matter how many options or accessories may have come with it. There is just something about a car that begs for a personal touch beyond what a factory, dealership, or previous owner can give to you. Companies specializing in automotive accessories know this and have you in mind when it comes to designing and developing products they think that you will like. Let’s take a look at some proven products that have been popularized by the accessories crowd.

Car Covers — More and more car owners are opting to purchase a car cover to protect their investment. Even owners who regularly garage their vehicles know that investing in a car cover can go along way toward protecting a vehicle’s finish beyond what a top notch wax can do. Dust, dirt, debris, and falling objects can harm a garaged vehicle while bird poop, rain, snow, ice, pollution, tree sap, and the sun can mar the finish of a car left outside. One company, Covercraft, has designed over 600 car covers ranging from one layer basic covers to four layered covers offering top protection and fitted with side mirror pockets.

Brake Dust Shields — How very nice it is to have a set of expensive alloy wheels on your ride. How awful it is to have those wheels looking like crap because of brake dust. A weekly chore to clean and they never look quite right! Besides, applying wheel cleaner gets expensive and tedious. Brake dust shields solve the problem as they are easily fitted into the wheel just like an inside hub cap. They are a very cost effective and inexpensive solution to a noticeable problem.

Dash Trim — Pimp your ride! No, really! Chances are your dashboard doesn’t do a whole lot for you…or your car. Why not trim it with model specific dashboard trim? Made of high quality velour, dash trim looks cool and comes available in a variety of colors including red, taupe, tan, brown, black, beige, and more. Some are even covered with low pile poly carpeting for that special look. Dash trim can also protect your dashboard from cracking and reduce sun glare.

Splash Guards — There was a time when mud flaps were basically made from rubberized material and available in just a few sizes: small, medium, and large. They never looked or fitted quite right; even though they served a useful purpose. Enter splash guards. Taking the idea of mud flaps one step further, splash guards are customized for individual models for an undeniably good looking fit. Made of durable material, splash guards are designed to match the look of nerf bars and running boards to ensure that you have a product that doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb!

Brush Guards — Owning a 4×4 means you do some off-roading or at least you travel where the average vehicle doesn’t go. This can mean driving down unpaved roads surrounded by overgrown brush and branches, any of which can scratch your car or break your headlamps. With a stainless steel brush guard in place, you can prevent damage and keep your truck looking great. Combined with a center grille guard or push bar, your brush guard will help protect your truck from damage.

Fender Flares — Bushwhacking never got better than with a brush guard and fender flares installed on your truck. With custom fitted brush guards, your front end is assured of protection, but the sides of your truck are still vulnerable. By installing fender flares, you can keep your wheels from throwing mud and dirt on the sides of your truck. Fender flares are designed to enhance the look of your truck and add value to its worth.

Depending on your vehicle there are as many as 500 auto accessories you can purchase to give your truck, van, SUV, or car that special look; such is an industry in tune with what consumers want and need. Shop around for the best accessories available to you at the lowest prices.

About the Author

Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan is The Auto Writer who covers topics from car parts and accessories to specific models and industry trends. You can accessorize your car, truck, van or SUV for a custom look and save money in the process. Matt invites you to find the auto accessories you want and need by shopping the Race Pages today! -

Upstate Alliance hosting reception tonight in Detroit 
Upstate Alliance representatives are meeting with decision makers from the automotive industry during the Society of Automotive Engineers 2006 World Congress this week.

Teradyne’s microFLEX Selected by Infineon Technologies as Exclusive Test System for Automotive Power ICs 
BOSTON–April 3, 2006–Teradyne, Inc. announced that it has been selected to supply its microFLEX(TM) test system as the designated automotive power IC test system to Infineon Technologies AG (FSE/NYSE: IFX), one of the world’s leading suppliers of integrated circuits (IC). In an agreement spanning four years, Teradyne will be the single automotive power IC device test equipment supplier for

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Abstract:

In these days of digital cameras, and on-line photograph development companies, individuals can be even more creative and create custom T-shirts or other cool items. Adding a personal touch into family pictures as well as other loves such as cars, and pets makes your T-shirt even more unique. If you walk around at many automotive events such as World of Wheels, New England Dragway, or NASCAR, auto enthusiast proudly wear a T-shirt that shows their interest, supporting Ford, Mopar, or Richard Petty. These shirts you see are usually mass produced. Now whether you have a Mustang, Camaro, street rod, or other custom vehicle you can proudly wear it. This article will give you some basic ideas that will help you transform your pictures into T-shirts that are different, unique and personal.

Creating Unique Automotive T-shirt Pictures
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A low cost digital camera coupled with some imagination can open the door for you to create unique picture clothing with images of your family and pets all the way to your special autos and motorcycles. For a few years now the home user could use special iron-on transfer paper to print a picture on a home printer then iron it on to clothing. It looks great initially, however, it tends to be stiff, and after a few washes fades. High end T-shirt printing was expensive, and restricted to large companies that were making many many of the same T-shirt. As with most technologies, as they evolve they improve and become less expensive.

The most common technique for printing onto fabrics was silk screening, which is an expensive processes that is not cost effective for an individual looking to create only one or two shirts. A process called sublimation has gained more popularity and is available through many of the on-line development houses. Sublimation uses special inks called sublimation ink. This ink is used to print your photograph on a special transfer paper, and that along with heat, and pressure transfers the image to a variety of materials such as cotton and polyester (T-shirts ), metals, plastics, ceramics, and special high temperature plastics such as Plexiglas, Mylar or melamine. Sublimation ink is unique where it has the ability to convert from a solid to a gas without going through a liquid form moving into the fibers of the fabric. This conversion and ink transfer process creates a crisp color with a highly defined image that is very durable.

Now that you the individual, have all this capability available, what can you do with it? The basic starting point is to take a digital picture and send it as is to one of these houses to create a standard photo shirt. Lets go beyond the standard picture and create custom pieces of art for yourself that you can proudly wear.

Software packages like Adobe Photoshop have many capabilities that allow you to customize your pictures. The question often asked is well what should I do? The intent of this article is to give you a few ideas to spark your creativity and see what fits your personality. Our focus at www.PalmieriConcepts.com has been on automotive art, so we will use automobiles for examples, although these ideas can be applied to family portraits, pictures of your loving pets, and even landscapes. You can exchange the word “car” for dog, cat, boat, girlfriend, etc.

When you are taking a picture of your car, do not just think about what you see in the viewfinder, but think about the final composition. Also think about other T-shirts that you have seen and what you liked and disliked. A few questions to consider are:

1. Will the car be a stand alone in the picture?
2. Will there be multiple images of the car merged together?
3. Will there be multiple cars?
4. Will there be different elements of the car used such as emblems?
5. Can the car be used as both a background element as well as a foreground element (Car overlaid over the engine as a background.)?
6. What unique features stand out?
7. What angles will look best? (Stand on a ladder to get that down view.)
…. and the list goes on.

Taking a digital picture does not cost you anything until you print it out, so I recommend that you take many pictures at different angles, and of all key elements. Looking through the viewfinder gives you only one perspective of the final picture, however, once the image is on your computer screen your mind will open the door to an unlimited world.

Things to consider when looking and photographing a car:
1. Is there a large surface such as a sloping trunk with a minimal amount of details? If so, this may make a great background where you could overlay a side view of the car on the trunk. To add to the personalized component, keep the license place in the picture so it ties the picture to the owner.

2. Are there any distinctive features such as a massive open grill as on many pre 1965 cars? This may also make a great background to overlay a side view of the car in the grill. Keeping any logos or license plate adds to the personalized impact.

3. Many of the older cars have trim pieces that are art in themselves. Take for example a 1958 Bel Air. The front fenders and sides have bullet like trim that would make a great border.

4. Do not just focus on the exterior of the car, think about the interior. How about those detailed and distinctive dash boards and large buss like steering wheels. These also make a great backgrounds. Imagine the car centered in the steering wheel where you get a glimpse of the gages. Or for that fantasy effect for a performance car, edit the speedometer to show a high speed, and slightly blur the car to represent the speed.

The points above are general picture guidelines, but when composing a picture for print on a fabric you must remember that fabric does not have the depth and color representation of photo paper to show the details. Fabric also has a matt finish so these additional points must be kept in mind.

1. Keep the T-shirt image less busy, meaning, focus on the car image, and less of background.

2. To minimize a hard edge around a square picture, have the picture blurred or faded around the edges so it fades into the fabric, This can be done by taking a straight edge and adding 10 pixels (on a 200 DPI) of fade, or even creating an irregular outline like a irregular cloud fading into a fabric.

3. Try to make the foreground bold colors “BOLD” so the car stands out.

4. Complement the picture with some descriptive text to further personalize it, even if it is just the year of the car, or if you are lucky to have 2 of more cars, even a saying such as “Just cant have one!”

5. Lastly, remember to add that small text at the bottom with your name for the added personal touch.

This is a brief list of things to consider, and in time your mind will run with the endless possibilities. Your biggest challenge will be to weed through those ideas, do some experimenting and pick the best ones.

For some examples of what is described here, refer to www.PalmieriConcepts.com in the “Examples” and “T-shirt” sections. Look at these examples think about how you can apply these to your own work. Have fun!

About the Author

Anthony Palmieri founded Palmieri Concepts after 20 years of creating custom art work for his own pleasure and enjoyment. This business grew out of a love for motor vehicles and was started to share with others what started out as a hobby. After taking how his own pride and joys (yes this really started with family pictures and not cars) and combining them with creativity, it became obvious that many others would like to showcase their tr -

Mazda Takes Stake in Changan Ford 
Mazda Motor Corp. said Tuesday that it has taken a 15 percent stake in a Chinese automobile joint venture set up by Ford Motor Co. and Changan Automotive Group to strengthen its tie-up with the two automakers in the growing Chinese auto market.

Eleven Suppliers Win Prestigious 2006 Automotive News PACE Awards 
Eleven automotive suppliers won 2006 Automotive News PACE Awards for innovation during a black tie ceremony last night at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, Mich. Two automotive manufacturers were also honored with the Automotive News PACE Innovative OEM Collaborator Award during the program.

Lear Comfort & Convenience Solutions Designed to Meet the Wants and Needs of Automotive Commuters 
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 3 — Comfort and convenience features used to be found almost exclusively in expensive luxury vehicles, but not anymore. Like most new technologies, automotive trends tend to become standard in more affordable vehicles as their popularity grows.