Surviving and thriving in today’s economic climate is all about creating new opportunities.

So said USAutoforce as it held its annual American Car Care Centers dealer meeting at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., in late February. With ACCC dealers in from eight states, USAutoforce put together a program that focused squarely on sharpening skills and developing new sales and customer relationship opportunities.

Heading up the agenda was Jody DeVere, president and CEO of AskPatty.com, who spoke about attracting, selling and gaining loyalty with women customers. AskPatty.com is a well-recognized Web-based community providing valuable information to women car buyers and delivering training to car dealers to help them more effectively assist female car buyers. DeVere has been expanding the site to include auto service and tire buying tips and information.

As DeVere pointed out to the dealers, while 85% of women – married or single – in the U.S. today are involved in car buying and service decision making, winning them over as long-term loyal customers takes a lot more than just clean restrooms. Dealers need to do a better job listening as they explain vehicle issues or tire needs, and then take the time to educate them so they can make a confident and comfortable decision.

Also on the agenda were product and program presentations by ACCC’s primary tire suppliers – Continental Tire North America, Michelin North America and Yokohama Tire Corp., as well as an update on ACCC’s ongoing re-imaging efforts and 2009 marketing programs by Jeremy Lewin, ACCC’s national marketing director.

Patrice Clark from Children’s Miracle Network was also on hand to outline ACCC’s new ACCCelerating Miracles sponsorship effort.

Also on the meeting agenda was a market outlook presentation by Tire Review editor Jim Smith, and a look at USAutoforce’s ACCC support programs by Brian Decker, USAutoforce marketing manager.