All our old newsletters on file - Articles |
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MTS News Online - Issue 109
Posted by: MTS Admin on 28/11/2002 16:33:40
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THIS WEEK
Ouch! News from around our clients suggest that November is not producing the fireworks for the industry that Guy Fawkes night did.
Analysis by two senior MDs says that there is very little incentive or bonus to do business at the moment, so it is not all down the economy. The thinking goes that after such a strong year franchises fall into two camps, those that have done the numbers and who don't need to try any more, and those that haven't. They are generally so far off the pace that they might as well keep their money in their pockets and wait for January.
In the meantime there is certainly some corporate activity out there and not least amongst buyers for a couple of large Ford Groups who hit the buffers recently. Rumours are that the big are going to get bigger.
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MTS News Online - Issue 111
Posted by: MTS Admin on 10/12/2002 14:27:32
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THIS WEEK
I am sorry this is late this week - there are very good reasons as you will shortly see. We've been working very hard on a new web site, a much more flexible, professional and ultimately a much more effective site than we have ever had.
The problem is that we are very close to it, and perhaps cannot take a dispassionate look at it. Cannot cast a critical eye over it. Our belief is that there is no point in having a pretty site if no one looks at it. No point in having plenty of content if it is all 6 months out of date.
So, we would ask you to take a test drive - www.motortradeselect.co.uk - it isn't live yet, but all the jobs are up to date and most of the links work. Register on the site (it takes seconds and a password will be mailed to you. You can change it immediately if you wish) Using your registration you subscribe to our newsletter, which will arrive just the same way but be much easier for you and us to administer, and in time you will have content that mere browsers won't have access to.
But above all let us know what you think, either through the on-site poll, or through plain old email. Enjoy.
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MTS News Online - Issue 112
Posted by: MTS Admin on 24/12/2002 14:52:50
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INTRODUCTION
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into your mailbox, this arrives to remind you of your career and all the things you promised to do this year.
2002 has been an exceptional year for us. Our thanks go out to all our clients and candidates for making this by far and away our most successful year ever. If you we knew quite why it had gone so well, we would bottle it and sell it. But because we operate slightly differently to all our competitors, we can only assume these differences that make the difference.
Since we launched MTS News online over two years ago, we have had over 2500 subscribers come and go. There are currently nearly 1000 who receive this every week (slightly less frequently in the December as you know). Our IT systems also allow us to keep in regular contact regarding the 900 plus assignments that we have handled during the course of this year.
What also marks us out as different is that we refuse to head hunt. That means that anybody who is on our register has put themselves there, and has not been persuaded to register by smooth talk and promises of the earth.
Plenty has happened to our industry during this year, you and I know that plenty more will happen next. But whatever happens, we wish you all the very happy festive season and all the very best for 2003.
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MTS News Online - Issue 113
Posted by: MTS Admin on 10/01/2003 17:23:20
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Happy New Year
Welcome back to 2003. The world is still the same, though a lot seems to have happened over the Christmas break.
Ford's purchase of the rump of the Quartic Group is perhaps one of the most interesting developments.....
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MTS News Online - Issue 114
Posted by: MTS Admin on 21/01/2003 12:28:40
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WELCOME
My article this week is on the subject of bonuses, and also appears in this week’s edition of AM. As you know, we are very heavily involved in the production of the Sewells Annual Pay Guide for the industry, and also write a number of pay reviews for big groups during the year.
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MTS News Online - Issue 115
Posted by: MTS Admin on 29/01/2003 13:56:06
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OUR NEW WEB SITE
In case you wonder what has been going on recently, our new website is now ready to launch. We are very proud of it and it will allow us to change the site more easily and keep it and you up to date more effectively.
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MTS News Online - Issue 116
Posted by: MTS Admin on 06/02/2003 14:52:59
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WELCOME
Thank you to everyone who has tried our new site - we have been staggered by the traffic we have generated in such a short period of time. Or perhaps we have been staggered to discover just how much traffic our old site could have been generating.
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MTS News Online - Issue 117
Posted by: MTS Admin on 17/02/2003 12:00:30
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REGULATION
As the world's focus concentrates more on division and unrest, it is perhaps typical that government's everywhere concentrate on regulation to stop us doing what they don't want us to.
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MTS News Online - Issue 118
Posted by: MTS Admin on 21/02/2003 17:14:34
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I've just been taking a look at the viewing figures for our site. It is interesting as we can break it down into the hours, days and months that are most popular.
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MTS News Online - Issue 119
Posted by: MTS Admin on 28/02/2003 16:29:37
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The impending closure of Automotive On-Line, the extensive website run by Polk UK, reminds us once again that the false hopes and aspirations of many at the onset of the Internet boom were just that.
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MTS News Online - Issue 120
Posted by: MTS Admin on 10/03/2003 19:27:22
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This is of necessity brief as there seems to be so much to do at present. despite the slump in sales and the situation in Iraq, Block Exemption seems to be driving the market for change.
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MTS News Online - Issue 121
Posted by: MTS Admin on 17/03/2003 18:09:56
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With war imminent apparently, the phones have been strangely quiet. So, according to our contacts have the showrooms.
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MTS News Online - Issue 123
Posted by: MTS Admin on 31/03/2003 08:20:46
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The war in Iraq may not be going as well as it could, registrations may not have started quite a dazzingly well as other years, used car prices might be falling. Apart from that everything is alright.
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MTS News Online - Issue 124
Posted by: MTS Admin on 11/04/2003 17:25:28
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Quite a week this week both for the world and for the industry. Apart from the world witnessing momentous events in Iraq, there would appear to have been some quite serious goings-on in Europe.
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MTS News Online - Issue 126
Posted by: MTS Admin on 02/05/2003 18:06:09
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First of all the messy announcements. As you know we have had trouble with our ISP ("I'm an ISP, get me out of here" could be a great programme).
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MTS News Online - Issue 127
Posted by: MTS Admin on 09/05/2003 15:28:05
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Have the wheels finally come off the economy? With sales down 7% in April
and private sales down over 10% it might not look good, but March was
unexpectedly good and with big incentives there has probably been a big pull
forward.
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MTS News Online - Issue 129
Posted by: MTS Admin on 27/05/2003 12:51:52
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Bank holidays always throw us out - blame it on the traffic, and we know which industry is to blame for that...
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MTS News Online - Issue 130
Posted by: MTS Admin on 30/05/2003 16:30:49
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How long is it since the news on the industry was not about Europe?
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MTS News Online - Issue 131
Posted by: MTS Admin on 06/06/2003 17:18:12
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A bit of a paint and decorate on the site this week. We felt it was time we had a new look, but do not despair, all the old functionality is still there. I hope you like it.
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MTS News Online - Issue 132
Posted by: MTS Admin on 16/06/2003 09:19:26
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Employers will soon lay themselves open to litigation if they fail to come up with an acceptable policy to cope with stress. Wow, that shouldn't effect our industry then...
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MTS News Online - Issue 133
Posted by: MTS Admin on 23/06/2003 11:59:37
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Two stories caught my eye this week. They are about completely different subjects, but are directly relevant to each other.
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MTS News Online - Issue 134
Posted by: MTS Admin on 27/06/2003 16:57:53
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Looking at the news you probably feel that this is the one country in Europe that it is safe to work in the Motor Industry at present. Germany has well publicised problems and Fiat's recent announcmeents of 12,500 redundnacies to help balance the books do not make pretty reading.
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MTS News Online - Issue 135
Posted by: MTS Admin on 04/07/2003 16:40:28
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In a week when we see some really good news on retailing figures - up a staggering 15.7% in June in case you didn't know - a couple of European markets are showing similar signs. France and Spain (there must be something about the Western End of Europe) both rose substantially during the month as well.
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MTS Knowledge is born!
Posted by: MTS Admin on 11/07/2003 16:23:09
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Something brand new to tell you about this week. A labour of love, and a site we are justifiably proud of, MTS Knowledge is a concept that is completely different for our industry.
Launched yesterday, 4th September 2003, it aims to provide a unique combination of hard information, best practice guidance and ‘blue skies’ thinking for managers and aspiring managers in the UK automotive retailing sector.
The brainchild of seasoned automotive professionals whose careers combine senior dealership management, work with manufacturers, consultancy and industry analysis, the new website includes monthly online magazines on Sales, Aftersales, HR and General Management, downloadable business forms, strategic reports and other documents, and news analysis related to all the key commercial and market issues that pro-active managers need to anticipate and understand.
The four directors of MTS Knowledge Ltd are (in alphabetical order):
John Genge, a qualified accountant and Fellow of the IMI, former Dealer Principal, Finance Director and now the Director of the successful training and development consultancy 'The Business Clinic UK'
Guy Liddall (me!), who heads one of the UK’s leading automotive retail recruitment consultancies, Motor Trade Selection
Chris Oakham, a Graduate Engineer who has worked in the retail motor industry and for two vehicle manufacturers/importers, he is now an automotive consultant and researcher and has worked for Sewells and Alison Associates
Toby Procter, one of the automotive industry's leading journalists and analysts, formerly Editor of a range of Sewell's newsletters and Polk MITAC's Automotive Online.
Unlike other sites and trade media, www.mtsknowledge.co.uk is targeting individual managers and aspirant managers as well as companies, with subscriptions costing as little as £3.95 per month. But you can sign up until 1st December 2003 for nothing.
So do us a favour, take look around as soon as you can, let us know what you think and don't forget to sign up for the site's free weekly newsletter (I won't be writing it so you can relax).
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MTS News Online - Issue 137
Posted by: MTS Admin on 18/07/2003 16:43:41
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As our article writer (Guy) is on holiday this week and us, the Consultants, don’t have the time to keep you guys entertained with snippets of information as we are too busy trying to find you work. However, the important bits like the new jobs list has been updated and if you are about to go off on your holls,,,,have a good one!
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MTS News Online - Issue 138
Posted by: MTS Admin on 25/07/2003 16:05:26
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WANTED – NEW CANDIDATES
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We need candidates! Summer holidays are great for sun searching, but not good for consultants who are candidate searching! We need to hear from you if your have experience in the Retail Motor Industry. Forward your CV now.
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MTS News Online - Issue 139
Posted by: MTS Admin on 01/08/2003 16:42:29
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If you are thinking of re-entering the job market, now is the perfect time to get your CV in order. A properly prepared CV really does stand out. Keep it simple and concise and you will be well ahead of your rivals and secure that first interview. For help on drafting your CV see http://www.mtselect.co.uk/articles/cvguide.rtf
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MTS News Online - Issue 138
Posted by: MTS Admin on 08/08/2003 17:49:25
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You will probably know that I have been away on holiday (hence the slightly shorter than usual newsletters). Before you ask, yes, it was great and though we were somewhere hot, nothing prepared us for our return.
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MTS News Online - Issue 141
Posted by: MTS Admin on 18/08/2003 08:38:38
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You might be forgiven for thinking that there are mixed messages about the motor industry this week. With a number of major manufacturers reporting problems either in the UK or worldwide, with the head of Ford Europe going because of losses, the analysts are recommending motor retail as a good investment for the first time in years.
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MTS News On line - Issue 142
Posted by: MTS Admin on 22/08/2003 12:31:28
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It is debatable whether this newsletter will reach you at all in view of the chaos on the internet caused by various viruses. I personally received notifications of over 250 separate virus attacks that our server had deflected yesterday.
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Issue 245
Posted by: MTS Admin on 21/05/2004 17:46:41
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Bad news for the manufacturers last week when Peugeot were fined 49.6m Euros for alleged breaches of the European Competition laws. That looks like a lot of money and a good incentive to make sure you don’t get in the way of the free movement of goods. Except, of course, that we still know it is happening with some other manufacturers – they just have to get a bit more subtle.
We often talk about stories outside the UK because they are the biggest – here is a big story that is global but relates to little old us – Ford invested £166m in Land Rover last year, just a year after it had made its first profit under the company. The launch of new products this year would normally mean good news for the brand, but the market has not been kind. The company is tight lipped as to their fortunes for 2005 – only saying the trend is improving. No doubt protests by Greenpeace over 4x4s are not helping either.
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