The National Alliance of Buy Here, Pay Here Dealers (NABD) hosted dealers, experts and operators in Las Vegas May 19-23, 2013 to learn and to interact during five days of education and networking during Buy Here Pay Here Week. “Our Dealer Academy which preceded the National Conference included dual tracks for both new and experienced operators,” said Ken Shilson, CPA and conference chairman. “Overall attendance included approximately 1,800 attendees. The Dealer Academy focused on all the important operational and financial aspects of the business, and stressed the importance of compliance. The NABD 2013 National Conference updated attendees on the latest benchmarks and trends, technology, capital, inventory acquisition and reconditioning tips and techniques, and the latest regulatory and compliance updates.”
Shilson indicated that attendees left with the knowledge needed to face new challenges in the months ahead. “Legal and regulatory compliance issues and ways to control risk and minimize losses were areas we focused on in both the Dealer Academy and the National Conference this year. Our attendees enjoyed individual sessions with experts in the Dealer Academy roundtables this year. We also heard some new ideas and opinions during the open forums session at NABD 2013. All of the sessions were very interactive this year,” Shilson said.
Dealer Academy highlights included sessions covering: BHPH critical decisions, building a successful business model, acquiring and financing the right inventory, integrated technology solutions, accounting/tax strategies and metrics, compliance, using credit data, payment devices, finding good customers, new inventory sourcing technology, keeping customers paying with pay portals and maximizing recoveries. NABD announced the development and release of checklists covering the critical decisions, DMS selection and payment devices. “These checklists will provide invaluable future reference tools after the Academy,” Shilson said.
The National Conference included a presentation by Erik Kibler, Manheim, who discussed the latest used vehicle market trends. Legal and regulatory compliance was thoroughly covered by five of the nation’s leading attorneys – Patty Covington, Mark Edelman, Tom Hudson, Terry O’Loughlin and Steve LeVine. And a current developments update was provided by Used Car News and Subprime Auto Finance News.
Other sessions included the induction of John Linnehan, Jr. into the NABD BHPH Hall of Fame, updated BHPH benchmarks and trends, special finance integration by Greg Goebel, operation and collection best practices panels and twelve concurrent workshops covering accounting and tax updates, finding the best customers, recoveries, compliance, credit information, capital, the internet, inventory acquisition and reconditioning tips, payment devices and integrated technology solutions. “Over 75 speakers and panelists shared their extensive expertise with attendees and the networking was exceptional,” Shilson noted.
“The National Conference featured the largest exhibit hall in BHPH history and included all the newest products and services operators need to increase efficiency, profits and cash flow,” Shilson said. “These sponsors made these conferences affordable for attendees. NABD strongly encourages its members to patronize those who support the BHPH industry,” Shilson stated.
NABD will offer audio recordings for both events and all PowerPoint presentations can be downloaded from the NABD website at www.bhphinfo.com.
NABD also announced a BHPH Boot Camp at Ingram Walters’ dealership in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 17-18. Walters and Shilson will provide “hands on” training to a limited number of attendees who will have the opportunity to see one of the nation’s most successful operations during two days of interactive training. NABD also announced its East Coast BHPH Conference is set for November 3-5, 2013 in New Orleans.
