Yet another Motor Trade conference with an all male speaker line-up in an industry where the majority of car sales are influenced by females who are also the more likely gender to be organising where to have the family car serviced or repaired…

And who need courting by female friendly car dealerships before they do much more of their new car shopping online, telling their friends where the deals are…

This is what the Motor Trader conference states…

“We’ve lined up the absolute creme de la creme of the industry to share their knowledge and predictions with you…”

Now I am not disputing that the speakers concerned aren’t impressive names but it would be good to hear from some impressive women too; to represent the growing number of senior female dealership staff and on behalf of female car shoppers in future…

How about discussing how dealerships can market to/reach more women online by being seen as more female friendly in future?

Or how to use aftersales as an alternative route into the showroom?

Yes we do need to have a post scrappage debate – it is essential to stop the industry from slumping into a second and more serious trough in 2010 but this does require some imaginative thinking to stimulate otherwise unimaginative businesses that can’t see how to source sustainable sales for themselves…

Please involve more women speakers in future guys… female experts will be there if you look hard enough.

The industry needs to be seen as more female friendly in future and those that get this right ahead of others should reap rich rewards.

FOXY Steph