Here is the discription a new sign-on from Connecticut.
>>>Stamford Ford is located in the heart of Stamford, CT. They sell new and pre-owned Ford and Lincoln cars and trucks. Stamford Ford was recently recognized for customer service by ranking 4th out of 185 Ford dealers in the region!
185 Ford dealers in this region alone!! A lot of potential. Signing on the first few are easy. Subsquent dealers will ask why should I sign up if there already are others offering miles. Where is the competitive advantage?
Here's where I hope Futura has instructed its sales reps to be good salespeople. It's not one dealer against the others. It's the idea of offering miles to all customers by all dealers which will bring in more money to each dealership. Have to discard the old ideas about competition. It's not about a Ford dealer competing against a GM dealer, or even with another Ford dealer across town. It's about the 4 largest US frequent flyer programs helping all 40,000 dealers in the US realize more sales.
That's why I think it a bit slow signing up new dealers in an area where already one or more have already signed on. The old way of thinking about using frequent flyer programs as a competitive method still is engrained on the mind. It's not about having a competitive advantage over other car dealers.
Need to think outside the box. What Futura has to show, and I hope they can do it within the next few months, that in communities where there are multiple dealers who have signed on, that ALL have benefited from increased sales/service by enrolling in a frequent flyer program.