Skills Needed to Become an Auto Parts Manager
An auto parts manager has many managerial job duties beyond selling parts, reaching his sales quota, limiting loss and organizing a stocking area. Although he would benefit from formal education, the parts manager might be a promoted technician or parts assistant who is good at his job. Even though professional skills can be learned, some skills should be a part of overall personality, such as sales ability and strong managerial skills.
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Sales Ability
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The parts manager will be responsible for reaching a sales quota. He should be able to up-sell a product or negotiate deals. Because he will be responsible for ordering parts, he will benefit from negotiating wholesale prices to stock the parts shelves.
Organizational Skills
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Parts need to be stocked on the shelves and easily located when needed. The parts manager may stock as he sees fit, but must make sure that he does not lose parts. Wrongly categorized parts can affect profits for both the dealership and the manager. The parts manager will also have to order his inventory to handle customer or dealership demand and be sure to have popular items in stock.
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People and Communication Skills
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Beyond being a successful sales person, the parts manager should be able to address customer concerns. He will have to build report with his customers to increase repeat business, and effectively hand complaints and concerns about a faulty product, price or action of an employee.
Supervisory Skills
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The parts department may have a parts assistant or several other employees. The parts manager will hire and fire his staff. Additionally, he will have to train the staff to his expectations and motivate his personnel to sell products and establish good customer relationships.
Technical Skills
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The parts manager has to have intimate knowledge of parts and options. Customers will ask the manager for help or information to chose the right product.
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References
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