I've been to the remotest place on earth for the last 3 weeks.  It was a complete escape from...well...absolutely everything.  I couldn't even communicate with Mom.  No news, no phones, no cars, no business, no worries!  You can't even imagine...

WTF did I just come back to?

I want to sell the house, the car....awwww hell....I'll just declare bankruptcy and get out of this country as fast as I can.  What a miserable place the United States has become.  I had to fly back into the States through Miami and as soon as I got through customs it was not the America I once knew.  No happy faces, no excitement, no sense of adventure in Miami International.  Yeah, airport security is rough, but this was different.  I was still in vacation mode and didn't quite put my finger on it.  My layover in Charlotte multiplied these sad things I was noticing.

Then I got home.  I was walking in the clouds from the most amazing experience of my life and discovered all these people who just wanted to grab my feet and pull me into their hell.

For the first time ever I want to move to a different country.

But there is another side of me that wants to see all my friends, family, and colleagues see past this temporary funk we're in.  You might be cutting back on your spending habits, you might be seeing your net worth drop, or you may even be standing in the unemployment line, but ladies and gentlemen you still have it better than most of the world.  Have we forgotten about the things we take for granted?

1. Were you able to stand up this morning?
   
2. Were you able to have a meal or three?
   
3. Does someone else care about you?

If you can check those things off, you're doing well.

Of course you all knew that.  Motivational things don't work on you - too many Saturday morning meetings have taken their toll.  Well, here's some other things:

• The most Generals are made during times of war
  
• The biggest risk is in not
  
• You can do anything you want

Williams-Forrest, a creative technology solutions consulting firm, announces the launch of 44 redesigned BMW Regional Marketing Co-op websites (www.tristatebmw.com). This redesign will act to enhance the marketing capabilities of BMW dealerships within the US while unifying appearances and features of the sites with those users have grown accustomed to seeing on BMWUSA.com. Lancaster, PA (PRWEB) November 10, 2008

Williams-Forrest, a creative technology solutions consulting firm, announces the launch of 44 redesigned BMW Regional Marketing Co-op websites (TristateBMW.com). This redesign will act to enhance the marketing capabilities of BMW dealerships within the US while unifying appearances and features of the sites with those users have grown accustomed to seeing on BMWUSA.com.

As with the BMWUSA.com redesign in December 2007, Williams-Forrest provided all of the technical architecture, technical project management, and quality assurance services for the BMW Regional Co-op redesign. Additionally, Williams-Forrest provided all of the web development services. This significant endeavor included the creation of a custom BMW-specific CMS solution built with ASP.NET 3.5, C# 3.0 and the Microsoft .NET 3.5 framework. The redesigned websites also include high performance AJAX interactions, LINQ for data access, and Google maps integration. Innovative marketing partner Dotglu (Dotglu) was responsible for all of the information architecture and creative components of the redesign.

BMW NA recognizes four different marketing regions in the US in which dealers can pool their resources into marketing co-ops, each with their own website. These sites represent a key marketing opportunity for dealers and have generated over 8.5 million page views so far this year, with well over 1.5 million unique visitors.

The new Co-op websites have a greater range of content including all model information such as Standard Features, Packages and Options, Model Accessories and Image Galleries, as well as information on the latest financing and special offers available. Each site is customizable to the co-op with specific information on local events and complete dealer CPO inventories available. Users also have the ability to submit lead generating forms directly from the regional sites, such as Request a Test Drive, Contact a Dealer, and Get a Quote.

Williams-Forrest provides sustainable technical services and solutions utilizing leading-edge technologies for both web and software applications. For more information, please visit Williams-Forrest.

UDC, the nation's leading high line retail automotive BDC consulting, training and CRM software provider, today announced a 50% increase in CRM software sales for third quarter 2008. 

The company also reported a 22% increase in high line automotive clients since year-end 2007. UDC attributed the growth to its highly successful BDC consulting and training program which improves the sales of a typical dealership by as much as 35%, state-of-the-art CRM technology and partnerships with top high line auto manufacturers. Irvine, CA (PRWEB) November 11, 2008

UDC, the nation's leading high line retail automotive BDC consulting, training and CRM software provider, today announced a 50% increase in CRM software sales for third quarter 2008. The company also reported a 22% increase in high line automotive clients since year-end 2007. UDC attributed the growth to its highly successful BDC consulting and training program which improves the sales of a typical dealership by as much as 35%, state-of-the-art CRM technology and partnerships with top high line auto manufacturers.
"We've been very pleased with our expansion over the past several months," said UDC CEO Hans Van Order

"All of our business is referral-based, which means our clients are continuing to get the results from us they expect and need. We've also received incredible support and endorsement from leading high line manufacturers. Our OEM partnerships have enabled us to help dealers around the country streamline and enhance their sales and service processes."

Click to expand...

UDC was founded in 2000 as a luxury automotive BDC consulting and training firm. The company quickly developed a reputation for implementing highly effective BDC departments that included proven BDC policy and procedures, as well as the hiring and training of BDC staff to successfully handle inbound and outbound sales opportunities.

The high line specialist later extended its offerings to include two advanced CRM solutions, Momentum and Revolution. Momentum is a Web-based, sales CRM tool designed to boost sales performance. It integrates sales floor, BDC and Internet department customer data into on central database that can be viewed and shared by any sales unit in the dealership. Revolution is a service CRM solution that includes shop loading and capacity management features, real-time appointment scheduling, a TSD loaner management interface and advanced marketing tools to improve service department performance, and create more satisfied and loyal customers. Both CRMs interface with ADP and Reynolds and Reynolds.

In 2007, UDC was named an authorized Mercedes Benz USA and BMW of North America BDC/CRM consulting, training and software provider, becoming one of the few companies nationwide to receive vendor approval by both OEMs.

This year, Van Order was asked to create and facilitate BMW of North America's first series of nationwide peer performance workshops for sales managers. The meetings provided an open forum to discuss dealership processes, metrics and best practices to improve sales and customer satisfaction, and were considered a huge success by both the manufacturer and dealership participants. Van Order will return as the moderator for a new peer-performance workshop series being planned for 2009.

Van Order was also invited to participate in the Mercedes-Benz USA BDC/Sales Manager conference held in September, where he presented information and strategies on how dealers can bridge the gap between their BDC unit and sales floor.

In February, UDC launched its first international venture, developing and delivering a series of successful BDC workshops for Volkswagen Brazil. UDC will be returning to Brazil in 2009 for a follow-up series of seminars. Recently, the company closed a deal with Mercedes-Benz of Canada to conduct BDC training and consulting with dealerships in Toronto and Vancouver.

"Our focus at UDC has always been client care excellence," said Van Order. "Improving store sales and service processes, increasing efficiency and better managing customers is one of the easiest ways a dealership can generate more profits."

About UDC:

Headquartered in Irvine, California, UDC is a leading developer of CRM software solutions and a BDC consulting, training and hiring specialist for automotive retail sales and fixed operations. UDC combines state-of-the-art technology, industry expertise and proven strategies to increase bottom line profitability through client-care excellence. The company has helped dealerships nationwide enhance customer satisfaction, increase retention and loyalty. UDC is an authorized Mercedes Benz USA and BMW North America CRM/BDC consulting, training and software provider. For more information call 888-284-5833 or visit www.udcnet.com.

Cars.com, a leading online automotive shopping destination, today announced plans to kick off its 2009 marketing campaign by once again advertising during the Super Bowl. This is the second year that Cars.com will advertise in the Big Game. Super Bowl XLIII will air on NBC on February 1, 2009. CHICAGO — Nov. 10, 2008Cars.com

“We made significant strides in moving our brand forward through our Super Bowl ads and our overall marketing campaign in 2008,” said Mitch Golub, president of Cars.com. “We want to keep that momentum moving forward in 2009, and advertising on the Super Bowl - which was seen by a record 97.5 million viewers - gives Cars.com a way to kick off that campaign in a big way."

Click to expand...

Cars.com will have one 60-second commercial that will air during the second quarter. The spot will feature a new twist on its successful 2008 “Confidence Comes Standard” campaign. The campaign features car shoppers who are confident in their new car purchase because of the preparation they did on Cars.com. Their preparation keeps them from resorting to an outrageous “Plan B” scenario they initially thought they would need to get the deal they wanted from the dealer.

The Cars.com 2009 plan will be a national, integrated media campaign that will run throughout the year and will be backed by the local promotional power of Cars.com's affiliate network, which includes hundreds of leading newspapers, TV stations and their websites.

Since Cars.com launched its first national media campaign in May 2004, the company has continued to set records in the number of monthly unique visitors to the site. Today, more than 10 million people visit Cars.com each month.

"Cars.com’s media campaigns have always been about reaching high-quality, ready-to-buy customers and delivering them, ultimately, to our dealer partners," Golub said. “

Click to expand...

As we roll out our national media campaign for 2009, we will continue to drive recognition of the Cars.com brand and further establish the site as a leading car shopping destination so, as consumers begin looking for a new car, Cars.com is top of mind.”

About Cars.com - Cars.com is the leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible, easy-to-understand information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a car. With comprehensive pricing information, side-by-side comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory, Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping process with the information they need to make confident buying decisions.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo (NYSE: BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), The McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI), Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).