Tyron, GA (July 15, 2019) — Mark Rikess today announced the completion of his transfer of ownership of The Rikess Group (TRG) to his partner of six years, Mike Anderson. Rikess founded TRG in 1989 to help auto dealers improve customer satisfaction and business profitability through transparent, negotiation-free selling processes. Since then, TRG has continued to anticipate consumer and technological shifts, expanding its services to help dealership management and frontline personnel work effectively with Generations X, Y, and Z; fold Internet operations and social media into their businesses; and in the past 5 years partner with dealership software, mobile app, online marketing, and other solutions development firms, enabling dealerships to provide more customer-focused and profitable online and in-store experiences.
“Mike has been instrumental in TRG’s ability to help clients in a continually evolving environment,” Rikess said. “I am delighted that he will carry on our mission into the future. Mike is exactly the right person for the job,” he added. Rikess will continue on as an advisor to TRG.
Anderson began his automotive career more than 30 years ago. His combination of deep operational knowledge and leadership skills enabled Anderson to rapidly advance through management, ultimately obtaining the position of General Manager for a dealer group in Massachusetts and Georgia. In 1990, his commitment to efficient, customer-driven operations prompted him to transition his first stores to the negotiation-free sales philosophy, thus beginning a nearly 30-year relationship with The Rikess Group.
“I am very excited to take the reins at TRG,” Anderson commented. “Mark has been a wonderful partner and mentor for many years. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of research, training, and dealership transformation projects we’ve worked on together.” Looking forward to his new roles as TRG president and owner, Anderson explained the TRG team is excited to serve the automotive industry with many new products and services going forward.
“Auto dealers today are facing unprecedented business challenges due to consumer expectations shaped by Amazon.com, new competition from advanced mobility providers, and increasing expenses that are driving down profit margins,” he noted. “This all adds up to a need for dealers to take a hard look at their businesses and figure out how to become low-cost, omnichannel retailers,” Anderson said. TRG has in the past focused on specific aspects of dealership operations. Going forward, Anderson said, TRG will be working on combining in-depth operational assessments with total omnichannel transformations.
Anderson resides in the Atlanta, GA area with his wife Amy.
About The Rikess Group:
The Rikess Group (TRG), incorporated in 1991 and headquartered in Tyrone, GA, develops progressive leading-edge services and technologies for automotive retailers, manufacturers, and select vendors. Our comprehensive programs are expressly designed to improve the consumer’s dealership experience while increasing market share and improving profits. Over 400 auto franchises have transitioned to TRG’s Negotiation Free Selling programs and nearly 100 more have taken our lead handling training with many adopting a single point of contact or “Elite” sales consultant consumer experience. The Rikess Group’s Performance Consultants have graduated from some of our nation’s most progressive auto dealership groups. The Rikess Group is constantly bringing unconventional solutions to their clients to keep them abreast of market trends, leading to competitive advantages and optimized profitability. To learn more about The Rikess Group, visit www.therikessgroup.com