Dealer convention draws near

The 2019 National Dealer Convention & Expo will hear Sir Peter Cosgrove speak among several political leaders and industry experts.

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will host this year’s event which will run from September 9-11 addressing the reality that dealerships now, in 2020 and beyond, have two front doors.

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association describes the conventional front door as the physical one which people walk in through off the street, and the online portal through which a dealership’s next potential customers are making first contact.

The AADA says improving the first touch point for any dealer – the online front door – is the theme of the 2019 convention which will hear from Sir Peter Cosgrove, whose military career has not only rewarded him with a Military Cross, a knighthood of the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year, but also widespread respect.

Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK MC.

Cosgrove will present at the Carsales luncheon on September 11, with other feature speakers including Andy Koblenz, NADA executive VP of legal and regulatory affairs, minister for local government & small business Adem Somyurek MLC, and former AADA chief executive David Blackhall as he heads the Automotive Code Task Force.

Blackhall says the 2019 convention will deliver on multiple levels.

“The convention is a critical industry event and dealers should make attending a high priority,” he says.

“Our business model is under significant pressure, mainly due to the ever changing landscape of regulatory oversight, advancing technology, and the demands of the internet savvy, educated customer,” Blackhall explains.

The AADA urges dealer principals, sales managers and business development teams to take advantage of the convention’s plethora of informative speakers and content on offer as the industry faces challenges from all angles.

Special content will be presented by SpinCar, the North American Dealer Association, Carsales and Gumtree Cars, Op2ma, Toyota and Nissan financial Services and Jaguar Land Rover Australia, KPMG, Cox Automotive and Deloitte.

A special appearance will also be made – and is worth the price of admission – by none other than Sir Murray Rivers, QC, (aka Bryan Dawe, the other comically brilliant half of the late, great John Clarke).