Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 23

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y R O N B L AY L O C K P H O T O G R A P H Y

Wilson Auto Group, with stores in Mississippi and Tennessee,
has won every major customer satisfaction award from the
manufacturer, including being recognized as the #1 in Dodge
Sales in Mississippi for over 10 years, while consistently
remaining profitable for 18 straight years. The group added its
first KIA franchise in 2000 and another one in 2003, followed
by a Hyundai franchise in 2004. Wilson Auto Group is a
Chrysler 5 Star Award for Service Excellence (15 years), Service
Professional Award, Top 40 under 40, Top 40 fastest-growing
private companies in Mississippi and KIA Presidents Club
Winner.
Dealer Principal and President of Wilson Auto Group, Doug
Wilson was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, where he
attended public schools. He went on to graduate Cum Laude
from Ole Miss, with a BBA in Managerial Finance. A 2019
TIME Dealer of the Year award nominee, Doug is very active
in his local community, where he has served as president
or board member of several organizations, including Easter
Seal, New State Theatre and Better Business Bureau. He is a
Sunday school teacher, Deacon, and Men's Ministry Director
with Broadmoor Baptist Church. Doug and Melanie Wilson
have been married for over 30 years and have four children.
Join us in our interview with
Doug, as he talks about his positive
approach to overcoming disruptors
and disasters in retail automotive,
the importance of running a strong
used car operation and his experience
as an early advocate of the digital
revolution.
DEALER MAGAZINE: How did you
get your start in retail automotive?
DOUG: My father was the used

car manager for a Buick dealership
for many years, so I grew up in and
around a car dealership. I started
washing cars. Then I was a body
shop helper and a painter helper.
I worked in the mechanical shop.
During and after college, I worked
in the food business for a short time
before returning to the car business.
And that's when I started selling cars.
I was a fleet manager and a training

manager. After that, I became a
finance manager and then a sales
manager and general sales manager.
DEALER MAGAZINE: You were
only 27 when you started your own
store. What compelled you to take the
leap and buy a franchise?
DOUG: I left my father's dealership
and started my own store, a Dodge
franchise. Dodge, back then in 1988,

D I G I TA L D E A L E R . C O M

Continued on pg. 24

M AY 2 0 1 9

23



http://www.DIGITALDEALER.COM

Digital Dealer - May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Dealer - May 2019

Digital Dealer - May 2019
Contents
A Message from the Show Director
Data Doesn’t Lie: Improve Your Fixed Ops Department and Yield Higher ROI for Your Dealership
Buyers Pickier in Today’s Buy/Sell Market
The Greatest Threat for Survival Could Be You
The Tales of a Parts Pro...
Developing a Revenue Center
Top 5 Reasons Dealers Need to Engage Their State Dealer Association
Interview with Doug Wilson
Broadcast Advertising Back to the Future!
Demystifying Digital Marketing: Using Metrics to Assess Effectiveness
10 Traits of an Extraordinary Social Media Manager
The Whole-Dealership Data Layer: The Time Has Come to Unify Your Data and Measure ROI
Digital Dealer 26 Rewind
Inspire Your Guest to Invest
The 4 Laws of Influential Conversations –Part 2
Million-Dollar Question: Can You Sell Cars?
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Digital Dealer - May 2019
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Cover2
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 1
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Contents
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 3
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - A Message from the Show Director
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 5
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Data Doesn’t Lie: Improve Your Fixed Ops Department and Yield Higher ROI for Your Dealership
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 7
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Buyers Pickier in Today’s Buy/Sell Market
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 9
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 10
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 11
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - The Greatest Threat for Survival Could Be You
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 13
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 14
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 15
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - The Tales of a Parts Pro...
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 17
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Developing a Revenue Center
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 19
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Top 5 Reasons Dealers Need to Engage Their State Dealer Association
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 21
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Interview with Doug Wilson
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 23
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 24
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 25
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 26
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 27
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Broadcast Advertising Back to the Future!
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 29
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Demystifying Digital Marketing: Using Metrics to Assess Effectiveness
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 31
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 32
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 10 Traits of an Extraordinary Social Media Manager
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 34
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 35
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - The Whole-Dealership Data Layer: The Time Has Come to Unify Your Data and Measure ROI
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 37
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Digital Dealer 26 Rewind
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 39
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 40
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 41
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Inspire Your Guest to Invest
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 43
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - The 4 Laws of Influential Conversations –Part 2
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 45
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Million-Dollar Question: Can You Sell Cars?
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 47
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - 48
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Cover3
Digital Dealer - May 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/dd26showdirectory_042019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/digitaldealer/201708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com