For most of the industry leaders I’ve talked to recently, getting though this year has taken a lot of effort. Satisfying wary customers and clients with tight budgets meant paying attention to the smallest of details like going that extra mile to make a tough decision which in the end makes things harder than ever.
Many companies basically just seemed to try to survive while doing some long term planning. Working just to make ends meet doesn’t leave a lot of room or time to look at the big picture.

If you’re reading this and your company or your employer has survived this year, congratulations. You should be proud and have a story to tell for years. You know your company or employer must be doing something right if you managed to ride out the storm while spending slowed to a small trickle.
Heading into the new year of 2010 we have a lot to look forward to but also a lot to plan for. Look at where your company is heading not only for the show/race season but for the next 2 years, 5 years, and more.

With winter on its way a lot of engine building will be going on. What does this mean for companies a good time to make sales, and for the consumer that means excellent prices on their favorite parts. 2009 was a year to forget or we hoped we would be through it as quickly as possible.
However the car show and race scenes nationwide are still strong including attendance at most of these events. It will take more than an economic slowdown to pull people away from what they love doing showing and racing their dream cars.

For most companies now is the time to plan for the 2010 long haul. With what happened this year and some guesses on what will be ahead, along with some suggestions on how best to get there- The opportunities in the sport compact and drifting industry seem promising.

People may think that with economic hardship in full force, spending money on hobbies like show cars, drifting, drag racing, road racing and etc would have decreased in 2009. That was the case somewhat but there is something to be said about the dedication enthusiasts in our industry have.
There has been a lot of diversity in our industry this year, a lot of things you wouldn’t normally see or become part of this scene has. Business seems to be heading the right direction for most. Business is picking back up and heading in the right direction for 2010.

With that in mind there are many things businesses in this industry can do to improve business for 2010. There are basically three things businesses need to keep their focus on to take advantage. They should be grabbing and repairing customer relationships to improve market share first off. Secondly, provide a high quality product at an affordable price this is a win/win for any customer. Third off your company should be more involved in events and in the field right along side of the customers.

I expect 2010 to be a busier year; people are still going to be cautious where they spend their money. They want the best bank for their buck. The company that can offer them premium parts and goods, reliable power at a good price is going to drive business and make you successful. Advertise your forte! If you’re a specialty shop you need to get the word out on what you specialize in. There are probably a million businesses out there that specialize in the same thing you do, what makes your business so special? You need to use your skills and experience to your advantage. Give the customer the security of knowing they are getting professional work done right the first time. A lot of enthusiasts like to do it themselves to save money and it ends up costing them more in the long run because of their lack of experience. You need to broaden your businesses horizons and learn about the newest technology and product improvements to stay on top. The customer is always looking tomorrows newest thing not today’s.