{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"From Corporate to Rural Dealer: What It Takes to Win Today in Every Market | Michael Handwerger, President & Dealer Principal at Alpha One Automotive","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/from-corporate-to-rural-dealer-what-it-takes-to-win-today-in-every-market-michael-handwerger-president-dealer-principal-at-alpha-one-automotive","audioUrl":"https://chrt.fm/track/C6AG88/traffic.megaphone.fm/CREUR7989431717.mp3","description":"Today I’m joined by President & Dealer Principal at Alpha One Automotive. \n\nWe break down his jump from a corporate career into dealership ownership, and why social media became one of his strongest tools for credibility and recruiting. \n\nMichael also shares why acquiring rooftops is tougher than ever, how rural stores operate differently from metro dealerships, and what it takes to build a culture that actually performs. His perspective on customer segmentation, profitability expectations, and growth models gives dealers a clear look at the realities of operating in today’s market.\n\n\n\nThis episode is brought to you by:\n\n\n1. Foureyes - Foureyes fixes what’s underneath —by connecting CRM, inventory, website, and DMS data so it’s clean, connected, and flowing. Then all the stuff you've been stacking on top? It finally works. Collect, connect, and put your data to work – visit @ http://www.foureyes.io to learn more \n\n\n\n2.  AFSA - Get Revv’d Up for the Ultimate Vehicle Finance Event of 2026 February 3rd to 5th, 2026 | Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. The vehicle finance industry is evolving at breakneck speed. Are you ready to accelerate ahead of the competition? Join hundreds of industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers at the 2026 American Financial Services Association Vehicle Finance Conference & Expo—the must-attend event where cutting-edge insights, powerful connections, and game-changing strategies converge under one roof. World-Class Keynote speakers who inspire action, and sessions that put vehicle finance insights into overdrive. Secure your spot today @ http://vf-conference.afsaonline.org - The 2026 AFSA Vehicle Finance Conference & Expo – Where the Leaders in Vehicle Finance Accelerate to Success.⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\n\n\n3. CDG Circles - A modern peer group for auto dealers. Private dealer chats. Real insights — confidential, compliant, no travel required. Visit @ https://cdgcircles.com to learn more.\n\n\n\nCheck out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:\n\n\n\nFor dealers:\n\nCDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com\n\nIndustry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nDealership recruiting ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgrecruiting.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nFix your dealership’s social media ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.trynomad.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nRequest to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\n\n\nFor industry vendors:\n\nAdvertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgpartner.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nIndustry job board ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://jobs.dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nRequest to be a podcast guest ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.cdgguest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\n\n\nTopics:\n\n00:21 How did Michael enter the auto industry?\n\n01:28 Transitioning to dealership ownership how?\n\n05:03 How social media drives professional growth?\n\n08:49 Biggest challenge in rural dealerships?\n\n17:27 Leadership's role in community impact?\n\n24:21 Are rural dealerships still viable?\n\n25:12 Best growth model for rural stores?\n\n27:55 Transitioning to exotic cars: why?\n\n37:48 Future plans for the business?\n\n\n\nCar Dealership Guy Socials:\n\nX ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠x.com/GuyDealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nInstagram ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/cardealershipguy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nTikTok ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok.com/@guydealership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nLinkedIn ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nThreads ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠threads.net/@cardealershipguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nFacebook ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠\n\nEverything else ➤ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dealershipguy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"},"annotations":[{"startTime":104.8,"endTime":105.3,"type":"company","title":"Ford","url":"/glossary/ford","quote":"...dealer principal of a Ford and Chevy store in rural Texas.","canonicalId":"company:ford","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Ford is an American multinational automaker known for its trucks, SUVs, and cars, including the iconic Ford Mustang and F-Series trucks.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ford is a well-known car company that makes popular vehicles like trucks and sports cars."}},{"startTime":104.8,"endTime":105.3,"type":"company","title":"Chevrolet","url":"/glossary/chevrolet","quote":"...dealer principal of a Ford and Chevy store in rural Texas.","canonicalId":"company:chevrolet","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Chevrolet, often referred to as Chevy, is a division of General Motors that produces a wide range of vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado and Camaro.","simplifiedExplanation":"Chevrolet, or Chevy, is another famous car brand that makes a variety of vehicles, including trucks and sports cars."}},{"startTime":332.8,"endTime":333.8,"type":"company","title":"GM","url":"/glossary/gm","quote":"Like tell us about the transition now from corporate GM to owner.","canonicalId":"company:gm","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"GM stands for General Motors, one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, known for brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick.","simplifiedExplanation":"GM is a big car company that makes many popular car brands. They are known for making cars like Chevrolets and Cadillacs."}},{"startTime":349.0,"endTime":350.8,"type":"brand","title":"Audi","url":"/glossary/audi","quote":"open point Audi store.","canonicalId":"brand:audi","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Audi is a German automotive manufacturer known for its luxury vehicles and advanced technology, part of the Volkswagen Group.","simplifiedExplanation":"Audi is a brand that makes luxury cars, known for their stylish designs and high-tech features."}},{"startTime":1880.6,"endTime":1886.6,"type":"concept","title":"independent dealership","url":"/glossary/independent-dealership","quote":"I just felt like what, what I need to do to get back is probably open an independent.","canonicalId":"concept:independent-dealership","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"An independent dealership is a car dealership that is not affiliated with a specific manufacturer. They often sell used cars from various brands and may offer a wider selection than franchise dealerships.","simplifiedExplanation":"An independent dealership is a car lot that sells cars from different brands, not just one. They usually focus on used cars and can have many options."}},{"startTime":1893.6,"endTime":1898.1,"type":"concept","title":"used car","url":"/glossary/used-car","quote":"You're such a used car guy at heart. You're over here putting this facade with your franchise.","canonicalId":"concept:used-car","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"A used car is a vehicle that has had previous owners and is typically sold at a lower price than new cars. The used car market can vary greatly in quality and price depending on the vehicle's condition and history.","simplifiedExplanation":"A used car is a car that someone else has owned before. They usually cost less than new cars and can be a good option for buyers on a budget."}},{"startTime":1914.9,"endTime":1923.8,"type":"concept","title":"luxury and exotic cars","url":"/glossary/luxury-and-exotic-cars","quote":"So that was the start of alpha one was the exotic location alpha one motors. And it was a, it was a heck of a run retail.","canonicalId":"concept:luxury-and-exotic-cars","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Luxury cars are high-end vehicles that offer superior comfort, performance, and features, while exotic cars are often high-performance vehicles that are rare and expensive, typically associated with brands like Ferrari or Lamborghini.","simplifiedExplanation":"Luxury cars are fancy cars that have a lot of comfort and high-quality features. Exotic cars are very special and fast cars that are usually very expensive."}},{"startTime":2190.64,"endTime":2194.0,"type":"car","title":"Lancia Couple Beta","url":"/cars/lancia/beta","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/1978_Lancia_Beta_Coupe_%2819345378709%29.jpg","quote":"... don't want to confuse anyone, but we have like a couple beta groups, you know, where we're testing things and ...","canonicalId":"car:lancia:beta","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Lancia Beta Coupe is a compact sports car produced by the Italian manufacturer Lancia from 1972 to 1984. It is significant for its stylish design and innovative engineering, including a front-wheel-drive layout and a range of engine options. The Beta Coupe is often discussed for its unique character and as a representative of 1970s Italian automotive design.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Lancia Beta Coupe is a small, sporty car made in Italy during the 1970s and early 1980s. It's known for its cool looks and fun driving experience, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts who appreciate classic designs.","imageAttribution":"Kieran White from Manchester, England (CC BY 2.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Car Dealership Guy","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/from-corporate-to-rural-dealer-what-it-takes-to-win-today-in-every-market-michael-handwerger-president-dealer-principal-at-alpha-one-automotive/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}