OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -

NCM Associates launched a new, free information and training resource for dealers and their managers Monday.

The NCM Institute Center for Automotive Retail Excellence rolled out a new blog and e-newsletter called Up To Speed.

Director Garry House explained the online products will feature informational articles from the entire NCMi faculty on topics including merchandising strategies and processes, improving transactional quality and employee productivity, expense and asset management, goal setting and leadership and accountability.

House added that from time to time articles from industry-recognized guest experts will be featured to provide additional perspectives.

To demonstrate the kind of information subscribers will enjoy with Up To Speed, NCMi is offering a free, 34-page e-report on the mathematics of dealership sales and the importance of running a dealership using consequential sales metrics to maximize the selling efforts of every department.

House authored the e-report, “It’s All About The Numbers! Understanding the Mathematics of Dealership Sales,” and is offering it at no charge to early Up To Speed subscribers.

House insisted his report examines what really happens in dealerships relative to lead and opportunity management. He believes his report can provide a proven structure and practical analysis tools to help department managers, general sales managers, general managers and dealer operators understand and use the critical sales metrics that will improve their effectiveness and drive more sales revenue into the dealership.

“It’s a great one-two punch for those dealers and managers who need to kick-start a structured approach to managing their dealership departments by the numbers and who desire ongoing support through the robust content they’ll get each week in Up To Speed,” House highlighted.

“And by making the content available through the Up To Speed blog,” House added, “we’re providing a discussion forum where they are free to share their experiences and observations in the safety of the Up To Speed user community of like-minded subscribers.”

NCM Associates reiterated that the NCM Institute is one of its divisions designed to equip dealership operators and managers for long-term success in retail management through its core curriculum and value added training features that support its students long after they leave the training room.

House expects the Up To Speed information service to expand the Institute’s reach and help make skills development and learning a bigger part of the retail automotive culture.

“I am excited to now offer broad-based exposure to the exceptional insights and guidance the expert NCMi faculty shares in our training curriculum through Up To Speed,” House explained.

“We want all automotive retail managers to have access to this kind of valuable information to not only enhance their professional skills, but to serve as the catalyst for driving increased efficiencies and profit improvement in their departments and throughout their dealership operations,” he went on to say.

NCM chief executive officer and president, Paul Faletti Jr. declared, “The introduction of Up To Speed caps off a banner year for the NCM Institute.

“With focused energy, the NCMi team has developed fresh new content, expanded its offerings via strategic training alliances, and added convenient regional training options for its students,” Faletti continued.

“NCMi is striking the right chord with our franchised, independent and buy-here, pay-here dealers and by their support have made this NCMi’s most successful year ever,” he concluded.