Automotive Retail and Electronic Media

How Automotive Advertising Has Changed Over the Years

JKRAdvertising / Automotive Advertising Advice, Automotive Marketing, Automotive Retail and Electronic Media /

June 5, 2013

The first job I ever had in the automotive business was during the summer of 1972 clerking at the Texaco purchasing department in Long Island City, New York. I was a sophomore in college, working for my father Gerard Baumann, who was a tough boss. My father was a buyer of fleet vehicles, and my job was to do what I was told.

It was there where I began to learn how complex the automotive industry is, and since then, it hasn’t gotten any simpler. At the time I had a general idea of what was going on, but the complexities of fleet sales in comparison to retail sales seemed a bit daunting. Now here I am some years later, and the complexities of retail sales in comparison to fleet sales have become nearly as complex.

Automotive Marketing Tip: If You’re Going to Promote, Promote Big

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News, Automotive Advertising Advice, Automotive Marketing, Automotive Retail and Electronic Media /

September 19, 2012

JKR client, Columbus Kia Autosport, [Georgia] wanted to do something significant and newsworthy to celebrate and promote their new location. In addition to special pricing and deals they gave away $1000 a day for forty-five days for a total of $45,000. In addition to paid advertising, the event was also given consideration as a news item known as earned media, the holy grail of promotion being that it is free. Whenever you do something that might catch an editors eye, send out a press release to the newspapers, radio and TV stations in your immediate market. Make sure there is more than the promotional message. In the example below, you’ll see how the dealer covers all the bases; a significant prize tied to civic pride.

Suntrup KIA Increases Electronic Media Campaign

JKRAdvertising / Auto Dealer Client News, Automotive Marketing, Automotive Retail and Electronic Media /

September 10, 2012

Suntrup Kia of West County partners with JKR Automotive Advertising to plan and buy an all electronic media campaign. Scheduled to start early September. Media will be cable and broadcast TV / Charter Communications/West County is the carrier, and Fox TV affiliate KTVI is broadcast.

Suntrup Kia of West County is a recent addition to the Suntrup Automotive Group. Located at 14116 Manchester Road in Ballwin, MO, this is the second Kia dealership owned by Butch and Craig Suntrup. In regard to KIA, The Suntrup Automotive Group is a perennial market leader, topping the charts several times for new Kia’s delivered in the state of Missouri over the past few years.

Suntrup Hyundai Pushes Automotive Advertising Throttle

JKRAdvertising / Auto Dealer Client News, Automotive Marketing, Automotive Retail and Electronic Media /

September 10, 2012

Suntrup Hyundai West, retained JKR Automotive Advertising & Marketing to execute an electronic media campaign beginning September 1, 2012. Media is comprised entirely of cable; Charter Communications/St. Charles is the carrier. Targeted toward the immediate geographic market, Suntrup Hyundai West is a new sale point for the dealerships owned by brothers Butch and Craig Suntrup.

Auto buying is evolving faster than ever

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News, Automotive Advertising Advice, Automotive Marketing, Automotive Retail and Electronic Media /

September 4, 2012

Auto buying is evolving faster than ever because buyers have more information at their disposal than ever before. They remotely search your lot and scour your inventory with real-time information and before you know it; they are there then they’re gone. On top of it all, today’s auto buyers visit fewer dealerships and websites before buying.

Let’s take a look at that.

Prospects visit fewer dealerships, how come?

First off, they can’t help themselves, there’s something about certain dealerships that draw and attract people like iron to a magnet, or better yet, like a beacon in the night or a foghorn in the murk. Is your dealership a destination or not? Do prospects ignore your dealership, or do they navigate toward you? Does the compass point to you when they are looking for direction? Are you even on their map?