Here in the mid Illinois area, sales in the 12V industry has continued to drop, as in most places

What are some things you as a shop owner are doing to recruit new customers?

I guess no one is doing anything

things are a little slow in new mexico ,however , like i always say " there is always always a ton to do in the shop to make things better . fun things ,not always .none the less lots and lots to do . we could close the doors for a month and work non stop to make our store better .

WERE ROCKIN! How ever I made this post under general and it applies here as well.
I can answer this I think! I have been a strong USACi supporter for years and it has never been a profitable venture. Its always been a cost of doing business expense. However in the years past has drawn a very small amount of customers in to the store but if you do well,as we have it does put you out there in front of the consumers a bit more giving a small advantage. Most competitors dont spend money with the dealers, they buy from the manufactures,online or a 3rd party to get the cheepest deals because this is a very expensive sport that has little return to the competitor other than bragging rights. ie If you race a Stock car and win you get a reward that helps off set the cost.

This sport has been changed by the manufactures over the years because of their ability to sponsor competitors to show that there brands are the strongest ect.

But now the times are bad and manufactures are not getting the sales so they are also struggling and droping support completely, whereas if this would have been handled correctly they would give or discount the products to the dealers to sell to the competitors at dealer prices everyone wins. the dealer makes a small porfit which is better than a goose egg. the competitors would have to go thur the retailers. The events would grow cause more folks could afford to compete. The Dealers would have more control of the products and What happen in 2007 to us would have never been an Issue as well.
The manufactures support is Instramental in running a major soundoff and as well for the retailer to turn a profit.
Just one thought.
so maybe we need to all propose a deal to all manufacture on a new plan of action that will allow the events to be profitable to the manufacture and the retailers but keep the prices of equipment down so more people can afford it.

Destroy Ebay.....or better yet start a ebay store

What has to happen is do what we do i rep for DC Sound labs & Shocker audio and Soundigital We do ont alow any Internet sales at all .

At the same time its first come first serve when it comes to my area what i mean is if i have a dealer in say ct i look at all the shops in the area if there is no one usen this product in a 50 mile sq radius ill offer the shop to become a dealer this way you don't have 2 or how many other shops running the same product this is bad business.

I keep all my dealers happy if they need help i try given them with in business Warranty product info stuff to look at and if i have some demo stuff for them to try well have at it help at there local shows anything with in reason. Can`t get that on Ebay let alone a good Warranty

Mine everything. Make your shop "THE PLACE" do you look just like another building from the outside? Is it the dust bowl inside? did you shave today? did your Installer? Is funstionality of everything working, blue tooth, I pod integration, nav.

Start calling around, not just dealerships, fleets, govn't agencies that use vehicles (USFS was big for me), call the police...& let them know what you can do...services wise, go to tall buildings downtown...find out who works there, offer a pickup/ delivery service for the upper end clients (not talkin moviestar class, but judges, DR., attornes), folks that don't have the time to go by your shop...& don't want to really...but don't quite have the funds to pay a personal servant.

Get off the internet, & get to work. #1 thing that helped me. Net is a big time waster. Get back that fire you had when you opened the shop, when you would stand in the rain, at midnite in your underware if it would bring in the customer. Stop working on your own Dung Pile, if it don't benefit the bizz, don't waste effort/time/money on it. You don't need a 15K custom system in your car to act as your demo, do it in the showroom, where you will ask for the customers money.

I could go on & on