Anderlea Butters Marketing Consultancy

04/06/2026

As part of UK Small Business Week, I wanted to give a shout-out to two brilliant independent automotive businesses who are also taking part.

First is A P Hynes & Co • Low Mileage & Prestige Car Specialists in Altrincham.

They specialise in the sale of low mileage and prestige vehicles, and are a great example of an independent automotive business built around trust and reputation.

The second is Promotive in Newport, South Wales.

They’re BMW and MINI specialists offering maintenance, repairs and diagnostics, and this year they’re celebrating an incredible 30 years in business 👏🏻

Both are great examples of the commitment and specialist expertise that exists across the independent automotive sector.

Small businesses are stronger when we support one another, and one of the things I really like about this campaign is that it encourages us to recognise others doing brilliant work in their own communities and industries.

Please do take a look at what they do and show them some support.



Entrepreneurs Circle

02/06/2026

Great to meet with Andy Bettley, New Business Director at Brand Britain Autohub, last week.

Brand Britain is a brand and packaging design agency that has worked with some of the UK’s biggest brands and retailers across packaging, shopper marketing campaigns and category design.

And they’ve recently diversified into supporting the automotive industry through Brand Britain Autohub, led by a team with years of experience working with automotive clients.

�Having automotive specific experience is important because the sector has multiple different compliance, regulatory and brand requirements that need to be met and from our conversation it’s clear the team understands the importance of getting the balance with creativity right.

Having seen samples of their previous work, there are many really strong creative solutions that could support a range of automotive business needs all while ensuring all assets compliment each other.

And they’re based in Leeds, which makes it even better to see more automotive-specific talent here in the North!

Looking forward to an in-person catch-up in a couple of weeks.



01/06/2026

Complimentary Automotive Growth Opportunity Review

To celebrate UK Small Business Week, I’m offering a complimentary automotive growth opportunity review for automotive business owners who book a review between 1st - 7th June, to help you identify opportunities around local visibility, customer trust, bookings, retention, and specialist positioning.

To request your review, send a message via my website and I’ll send you the details:

https://www.anderleabutters.com/contact

I’m a small business. I’m proud to be taking part. And I’d love to help more automotive businesses identify opportunities they may be missing.



Entrepreneurs Circle

29/05/2026

I’m proud to be supporting UK Small Business Week because small businesses deserve recognition for the effort and commitment that goes into keeping everything moving forward, particularly behind the scenes.

The early mornings, late nights, constant decision-making, problem-solving, business development and personal development, all while trying to keep all the plates spinning.

And in the automotive industry so many businesses are run by people who are brilliant at what they do, but don't have the time or headspace to step back and look at how the business is being marketed.

So, next week I’ll be sharing something specifically for automotive business owners who want to understand where they may be missing opportunities.

More on Monday.

Have a great weekend all!



Entrepreneurs Circle

28/05/2026

Direct mail campaigns are often viewed as unexciting, and dare I say, boring?

But, when implemented as a strategic and carefully targeted approach, personalised direct mail can be very effective.

Take this example…

Targeting Toronto's affluent neighbourhoods and armed with a camera, laptop, printer, and Porsche Carrera 911 S, local dealer Pfaff Porsche and creative agency Lowe Roche created an instant direct mail campaign, with each home receiving its own personalised postcard.

The results?

32% of the households targeted responded by visiting the Porche website and booking a test drive!

So, it just goes to show a bit of creative thinking can get you in front of your target market.

Check out the link below to see the team in action:

https://youtu.be/KE8oQP2c19M

With a camera, laptop, printer and Porsche, Lowe Roche created the first instant direct mail piece for Pfaff Auto, Toronto.Advertising Agency: Lowe Roche, To...

27/05/2026

Do you know exactly which marketing activity is generating enquiries for your dealership?

And can you accurately attribute which marketing activity, whether online or offline, is contributing to actual sales or conversions?

Based on anonymised call tracking and attribution data from April 2025 to March 2026 gathered through Mediahawk's software, Mediahawk's automotive trends report indicates that calls per dealer are up an average of 12% across the first quarter of 2026 and that Google Business Profile maintains number one for driving calls with 56% share of calls.

So, it's clear we must treat Google Business Profile as a 'digital dealership' and prioritise reputation management.

It’s also vital that we gain a clear understanding, from a marketing perspective, of the genuine ROI from various channels and campaigns, and accurately attribute them to potential customers.

Mediahawk's marketing attribution software provides a comprehensive view of the customer journey, from start to finish, and invaluable insights to streamline customer experiences and optimise engagement across campaigns.

And most importantly, it enables me to make quick and confident decisions by offering concrete data on what strategies are effective and which ones need adjustment.

If a solution incorporating call tracking and marketing analytics sounds like something that would benefit your dealership, I'm happy to share my feedback and experiences with you.

14/05/2026

It was fantastic to meet with Jason and Ebony recently and visit the new CARS of Grimsby facility.

The family-owned vehicle repair centre relocated last year, but this was my first opportunity to visit the new site and it’s seriously impressive.

Offering smart repairs, accident support, fleet services and expert vehicle care trusted by both drivers and insurers, the attention to detail throughout the facility immediately stands out.

Walking in feels more like entering a contemporary high-end hotel than a traditional vehicle repair centre, which says a lot about the standards the business has set itself.

It’s very clear that the customer experience delivered by the team matches the environment perfectly, so the whole customer journey is consistent from start to finish.

And with customer expectations continuing to rise, it’s the businesses that invest in both the environment and the overall customer journey that are setting themselves apart. There’s certainly a reason the business is multi-award-winning!

And from the conversations we had, it sounds like there are some very exciting plans in the pipeline…watch this space!

13/05/2026

Wonderful to receive a surprise Kate Lister Flower Design bouquet from a client yesterday.

I always try to build strong relationships with the clients I work with and leave a positive impression, so this genuinely meant a great deal.

And not only does the bouquet look beautiful, but the fragrance throughout in the office is incredible.

A big thank you to my client for the thoughtful gesture and great to catch up with Tony Smith when he popped in to deliver it.

12/05/2026

I visited a Polestar showroom inside a shopping centre recently.

I’ve spoken before about why I think retail-style automotive spaces work really well because they remove a lot of the pressure people normally associate with the traditional dealership environment and make the experience feel far more approachable.

As someone who already drives a Volkswagen ID:5 EV and works with automotive businesses, I was genuinely interested to experience the customer journey firsthand.

The space itself looked absolutely fantastic with strong branding and presentation.

But what I found slightly disappointing was that during the time we browsed, neither of the two staff members acknowledged us (of course, the team members could have been busy dealing with other priorities) and it became abundantly clear just how close the link is between marketing and customer experience.

Brands can spend significantly on creating awareness and generating footfall, but the human interaction and instore experience is going to define the lasting impression, and ultimately, what steps the consumer takes next.



Photo credit: Official image used for illustration purposes.

11/05/2026

It was great to visit Gemini Systems in Lincoln last week to discuss their upcoming dealer seminars, including the fully subscribed event in Milton Keynes later this month and the seminar taking place at Leeds United Football Club in June.

Alongside the presentations, product discussions, demonstrations and networking opportunities, one thing I think they’re doing particularly well with these events is giving dealers the opportunity to speak directly with existing Gemini Systems customers who will also be in attendance.

After all, if you’re considering changing your Dealer Management System, hearing from the very people already using the platform is likely to be far more valuable than simply hearing from the supplier.

The seminars are also going to cover upcoming developments across the EvolutionDX platform, workshop and aftersales applications, reporting tools, sales functionality and future product plans.

It’s not surprising that the Milton Keynes seminar is already fully subscribed, but I understand there are still a limited number of places available for the Leeds event in June.

So, if you fancy taking some time out of the business to learn more about where the automotive industry is heading, explore ways to improve day-to-day operations and spend time networking with industry peers, this looks like it will be a worthwhile event.

If you’re interested, here’s a link to sign up for a free ticket:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-of-dealer-management-systems-with-gemini-systems-cloud-tickets-1983939273774