Ford Product Trainer Shares Insights - Mark Banfield Interview

Beechmont Ford relentlessly works to improve their relationships with their customers.  Beechmont Ford surveys their customers daily to truly understand their needs and surpass their expectations.  The staff attends ongoing training sessions to educate themselves on the latest product enhancements to provide exemplary customer experiences.  They also meet with various Ford Motor Company employees to increase their market share and positioning.

Recently, Andy Warner, Internet Sales Director at LorMar Auto Group interviewed Mark Banfield, Product Trainer for Ford Motor Company.  Mark openly shared Ford’s upcoming plans for 2010 and 2011.  Mark impressed on the team what the customer truly needs and how Beechmont Ford can be there for the customer.  The interview enlightened the Beechmont Ford team to their strengths in the market and working with customers.  The interview also helped the team learn areas where they can improve that much more to surpass their customers’ expectations.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Mark.  We look forward to more of your training sessions.

Andy Warner (AW):  What is your role with Ford Motor Company?

Mark Banfield (MB):  I am a Product Trainer focusing on new vehicle introductions with some Sync training.

AW:  How is Ford improving their product line?

MB:  First, by focusing on what the customer wants and needs.  Buying a vehicle today is more than just needing 4 wheels.  It’s also about quality that will last and the tech to allow them to do what’s needed while driving.

AW:  How is the Beechmont Ford sales team improving their customer service?

MB: Well, I would say by fully partaking in the training available to them to enhance their knowledge to better consult with customers.  Better trained and more knowledgeable sales staffs succeed.

MB:  By aiming marketing to the segment, unlike the past where it was more of a one size fits all. For Beechmont to succeed into the future, they need to do the same.  Use ALL of the resources available.  TV, radio, and newspapers are still the best medium for certain customers.  On the other hand, Facebook and Twitter, not to mention texting, need to be the method for others.  Whether you call it go with the flow, or change with the tide, adaptability is the key to tomorrow’s leadership.

AW:  What are Ford’s strengths and/or weaknesses in comparison to the competition?

MB:  The easiest to see is the foresight Ford management had in getting started early to head off the crisis GM and Chrysler went through.  Ford may have caught some flack for it, but it’s allowed them to not only have great, state of the art vehicles now and in the pipeline for the forseeable future, it allowed them to do it without needing the government’s assistance.  The only weakness I see is the one that affects all of us, does success make us “fat and comfortable’?  The hope I always have is that we learn from our past to make a better future.

Related articles

• 2011 Ford Fiesta Pre-Launch Guide (beechmontfordblog.com)
• Ford Sync Training: Online Registration (beechmontfordblog.com)
• Drive One For Your School at Este High School (beechmontfordblog.com)
• 2011 Ford Super Duty Questions and Answers (beechmontfordblog.com)
• (Beechmont) Ford in the News (beechmontfordblog.com)

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