Financial support for sector
The Marque Group has unveiled how it will support the automotive industry in New Zealand during the Covid-19 restrictions to help set it up for success post-lockdown.
The three-phase plan outlines the group’s support and approach to ensure business continuity, starting with the removal of fees and costs for existing customers while trading has temporarily ceased.
Further to its phase one of the framework called “acknowledge and connect”, Marque Group’s two New Zealand-based businesses have announced fee holidays for clients of lead management and digital-sales tool platform AutoPlay, which has informed its customers of a two-month hiatus on charges – effectively making it free for users in April and May 2020.
And specialist loyalty programme provider Smart Loyalty has announced it will not be charging monthly management fees over the same two months, which will apply to customer spend during February and March of this year.
As members of Smart Loyalty’s various programmes will have reduced capacity for earning rewards points during this period, it has also announced it will freeze the expiry of programme members’ points for April, May and June 2020.
“These are unprecedented times,” says Mike Sexton, pictured, managing director of Marque Group NZ. “As a result, we have taken unprecedented steps quickly to help our customers now. Being connected and supportive as a community has never been more important, and we’re committed to playing our part as people and as a business.”
Beyond the initial stage of initiating the hiatus on fees, the group’s framework includes two additional stages to support its network during and beyond the coronavirus crisis.
Stage two – dubbed “focus” – will see it “re-gear and re-tool” its existing business strategy to meet changes in market demand. During this stage, the Marque Group will analyse product roadmaps and communication platforms with the view of fast-tracking tools and initiatives to help its clients continue to move forward in a new economic environment.
When business returns and the “new normal” is established, during stage three – known as “recover and thrive” – the company will “look to lead through innovation and collaboration”. The Marque Group and its businesses are looking to help their customers drive the rebound in consumer confidence “and, in doing so share” in its customers’ long-term success.
“The game has changed and continues to change rapidly in the New Zealand and global automotive markets,” says Mike Pratt, director of business development.
“While we traditionally love the face-to-face element of doing business, things are going to be more digital for a while. We need to think about how we factor this into our strategy for 2020 and beyond. This is why we’re taking a staged approach in dealing with this situation.”
