Dealers Trade
Insider Secrets at AADA 2008
Auto dealers from around Australia
gathered at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast
last week for the annual Australian Automobile Dealers
Association (AADA) National Dealer Convention. The theme
this year was 'Exposed: The Secret to Achieving Industry
Best Practice', and the 500-plus delegates who attended
certainly got their money's worth.
Highlights included sessions conducted by U.S. experts
Jim Ziegler, Tim Deese and Shawn Evans, and the welcome
return of perennial favourites Tom Stuker and David Martin.
Business futurist Craig Rispin, personal development
trainer Ian Harvey and customer service guru Martin Grunstein
made us look outside the square, while Stella Axarlis,
David Hawkins, Simon Bowkett and Andrew Noble rounded
out an excellent program.
Then there were the inspiring speakers from other walks
of life. Authors and journalists Gerald Stone, Paul Barry
and Peter FitzSimons entertained and informed; Jacqueline
Pascarl and Li Cunxin pulled at the heartstrings; and
John Tickell reminded us that all we need to be happy
and healthy is moderate exercise combined with as much
laughter, sex, vegetables and fish as we can get. And
the entire event was smoothly hosted with his usual panache
and professionalism by our old friend, Ian Leslie.
The trade village was full of interesting and innovative
products and services, with many exhibitors claiming
to have done better business than in previous years.
And as always at a AADA Convention,
the entertainment program was first-class. The Beach
Boyz kicked things off at the Welcome Function, before
music legends Brian Cadd and Daryl Braithwaite rocked
the house on Thursday and Friday night respectively.
Then on closing night, Steve Armstrong and the Flirtettes
gave a brilliant performance at the Grand Finale Dinner,
followed by the beautiful and talented girls of M'Devine.
Carsales.com.au was kind enough to allow the Bailey's
Day Silent Auction to intrude on its event, and delegates
dug deep to help our favourite charity.
Once again the success of the convention was a tribute
to the quality of people involved in the retail automotive
industry. As so many people commented, it was like a
business convention had been combined with a giant family
reunion. If you were there, you know what we are talking
about, and if you weren't, do yourself a favour and get
along to AADA 2009 in Melbourne. You won't regret it.
The AADA National Dealer Convention attributes much of
its success to the continued support of the sponsors,
being: Australian Dealer Insurance, carsales.com.au,
carsGuide, Castrol, Courier Mail, Drive.com.au and Drive,
Fairfax Media, GE Money Motor Solutions, Glass’s
Information Services, Herald Sun, MotorOne, MSX International,
MTAA Superannuation Fund, Pentana Solutions, St George
Auto Finance, Swann Insurance, The Age, The Sydney Morning
Herald and Trading Post and TradingPost.com.au.
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