Hyundai of the Shoals
How One Hyundai Parts Manager Quadrupled Sales and Transformed a Department
When Ryan Meachem took the reins as Parts Manager at Hyundai of the Shoals, he found himself staring down the barrel of a challenge: a parts department struggling to find its footing. The dealership had never had a parts manager, and with a mountain of obsolete inventory weighing down operations, it was clear Ryan had his work cut out for him. In just a matter of months, Ryan had transformed the department with a strategy that combined airtight processes, expert inventory management, and online parts sales.
But, how did he manage to take a department in desperate need of strong leadership to a pinnacle of efficiency and profitability? This is Ryan’s story of grit, innovation, and the strategic use of modern selling tools that has quadrupled sales in Hyundai of the Shoals’ parts department in under a year.
The Challenge:
A Department on the Brink of Change
When Ryan joined Hyundai of the Shoals in October 2024, the sales volume in his first month hovered just around $15,000. Ryan saw an opportunity for change.
His first order of business was to stabilize the department’s daily operations. “I knew I had to break bad habits for my employees and create good ones,” Ryan recalled. He started with the basics: inventory management. The team before him didn’t have a process for returning unsold parts, which led to a stockpile of unnecessary inventory collecting dust. So, Ryan added a new system for tracking special orders and keeping a healthy stock rotation.
Ryan isn’t the type to settle for simply keeping things running. He knew there was more potential in the department, which led him to propose taking the department online. His GM and directors were skeptical because this was new territory, but Ryan was confident. “They trusted my idea and ambition, even though they weren’t sure about the whole online thing at first,” he said. And it paid off—the results were almost immediate.
The Profitable Shift:
Online Sales for Explosive Growth
Ryan had been considering parts eCommerce in previous roles for years and finally found the right moment to pursue it. “I wanted to find a way to generate more revenue without relying on wholesale relationships, which were limited in our area,” he explained. After only eight weeks of experimenting with online part sales, Ryan quickly saw eCommerce was outpacing wholesale revenue at the dealership.
In his second month of selling online, his parts department grossed over $63,000, shattering previous records. “We’ve exceeded our expectations, and my GM and directors couldn’t be happier,” Ryan said. This instant success proved there was a huge market for Hyundai parts beyond local boundaries.
One of the biggest wins Ryan saw from selling online was the ability to move obsolete parts. “I can’t stress enough how important it is to clear out old inventory,” he said. Selling online has allowed him to offload parts that were just sitting around, turning them into cash. In two months, he knocked his 20% obsolescence down to an impressive 0%. “It’s crazy how quickly things move online,” Ryan admitted. “What was sitting on the shelf for months is now out the door.”
Selling online also made the department more profitable. Ryan managed to recover his upfront investment costs in the first month alone. “By October, we netted around $5,000 after covering all expenses,” he said. What Ryan once thought was an uncertain gamble turned into a calculated success that has the department running at full throttle.
Ryan’s Parts Department Pro-Tips
Ryan’s success offers invaluable lessons to any parts manager or other dealership leader looking to maximize the earning potential of their parts department. If you’re thinking about making the leap to online part sales, here are some of his tips that could help a beginner start on the right foot:
Prioritize Inventory Management
First things first: get your inventory under control. Inventory management is the backbone of any successful sales strategy. “You need to know what you have and how to sell it,” he says. He keeps things organized with daily inventory checks and a reliable system for tracking special orders.
Take Time for Details
When it comes to online sales, details matter. Ryan emphasizes that the quality of your product listings can make or break a sale. “Take quality photos of parts and post them online,” he recommends. “When customers can see what they’re buying, they’re more likely to make a purchase.”
Be Prepared for a Learning Curve
Launching a parts webstore isn’t always smooth sailing—there’s bound to be some hiccups along the way. But Ryan believes you can navigate it. “Embrace the chaos,” he suggests. “If you stay organized and focused, it can lead to significant rewards.”
Train Your Team
Don’t forget about your team! Ryan believes in empowering his employees to take on more responsibilities. “Train your employees to be better than you,” he states. It’s not just about making your life easier—when everyone feels confident in their roles, it shows in their performance.
Adapt to Customer Expectations
Ryan highlights the importance of excellent communication when you’re selling to online customers. “You have to be quick and responsive,” he advises. With his organized approach to daily operations and commitment to timely fulfillment, he has created a customer experience that keeps buyers coming back.
Ryan’s Aspirations for 2025
Ryan is optimistic about where online parts sales can take him and the Hyundai of the Shoals team. He plans to turn the parts department into a six-figure grossing operation by the end of 2025. “We’ve grown our part sales by 400% within a year, so I know we can reach that target,” he said confidently. “With the right strategies in place and a focus on online sales, the sky’s the limit,” he remarked.
For parts managers and dealership leaders looking to level up, Ryan’s story serves as a roadmap to success. Shifting to online sales has created a new profitable revenue stream and the success has empowered his parts team. As the automotive industry continues to change, bringing in digital tools will be the big difference for teams committed to staying competitive and driving sustainable growth.
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