Meet the innovators of the auto industry
All- canadian Automotive conference & expo takes niagara on April 11
this is a one-stop destination that provides the most comprehensive trade show and the best in education.
The vehicles that Ontario automobile dealers sell may be designed in other parts of the world, but the Automotive Conference & Expo, being staged in Niagara Falls on April 11 and 12, will be 100 per cent pure Canadian.
“Ontario automobile dealers aren’t simply American automobile dealers in a different location,” says Larry Lantz, president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association ( TADA), which represents more than 1,100 new car dealers across Ontario. “We face unique challenges and need to develop unique solutions that are tailored to the Ontario market. We’re presenting Canadian speakers who will provide Canadian-focused educational content targeted directly to Canadian dealers to help them take their dealerships to the next level.”
The event combines the educational TADA Innovation Series with the largest retail automotive dealers trade show in Canada. The conference has attracted more than 80 Canadian vendors to the showroom floor.
“Our speakers are also prominent Canadians — a collection of world-class speakers you would probably never find together in the same venue,” says Lantz. “We have more than a dozen keynote speakers that include news broadcaster Peter Mansbridge, entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den star Michele Romanow and retail futurist Doug Stephens.”
Canadian rock star Kim Mitchell also make an appearance at the conference kick-off.
Education is one of TADA’s prime focuses and all of the presentations, workshops and breakout sessions are designed to keep dealers in the know so they can help provide the best retail experience possible to customers. Topics covered include remarketing auction trends; women in auto; sales strategies; digital marketing; leadership strategies; advanced customer experience; recruitment strategies; fixed operation insights; crucial IT information; finance and insurance; economic forecasting; and data and analytics.
“All of the educational sessions provide information, insights and best practices that are 100 per cent tailored to the Canadian dealer experience,” says Lantz. “The presenters are all experts who are knowledgeable about the Ontario regulatory landscape for automobile dealers.”
In addition to being TADA’s president, Lantz is owner of Hanover Honda in Hanover, Ontario. He’s been in the automobile business for 40 years and has seen a significant evolution in what it takes to run a dealership.
“The business keeps evolving,” he says. “You need to evolve with it. Here, you get to meet the innovators of the automobile industry and look at the trends impacting the industry. You can also sample cutting-edge technology and products available to dealers.”
But Lantz says that one of the unique benefits of attending a conference of this magnitude is the level of personal interaction it offers.
“Lightning is more likely to strike when you meet someone face to face,” he says. “I can’t overestimate the value of strategizing and networking with your peers. For any problems and challenges I might be facing, somebody else has already gone down that road. They can either provide advice or they’ve already discovered a solution to that problem. There’s no problem so tough that we can’t overcome it together. If you’re contemplating trying out a new product or service, someone at the conference can probably share their own experience using that same product.”
He also notes that vendors attending the show will have unique access to the decisionmakers they most want to reach.
“Vendors have told me that they get to speak to multidealer owners on the conference floor, who they’ve been trying to get appointments with all year,” says Lantz. “They can get face- to- face meet- ups and talk directly with almost anyone at the conference.”
While previous TADA events have been held in Toronto, the association chose to shake things up a little with a move to the Niagara Region, with the main events held at the conference facilities at Fallsview Casino Resort.
“It’s a non- stressful drive down the QEW,” says Lantz. “It’s also a cost-effective destination, with lots to do within walking distance for family members who decide to come along. Holding the event in Niagara also helps to support Canadian tourism.”
Lantz notes that, for busy automobile dealers, time is the most valuable asset.
“If I had to pick one event for Ontario automobile dealers, it would be this one,” he says. “This is a one-stop destination that provides the most comprehensive trade show and the best in education. I can guarantee that you’ll leave with renewed energy, new goals and new ideas.”