Some careers follow a straight line. Others are built by recognizing opportunity, solving problems, and scaling what works.
In this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, we welcome Matthew Wilmsen, Chief Revenue Officer, and Eric Wilson, SVP of OEM Partnerships at Fixed Ops Marketing, to the show.
Both Matt and Eric bring deep experience from high-level automotive, data, and growth organizations—and in this conversation, they break down why fixed operations is one of the most overlooked and underutilized profit centers in the dealership world today.
From their first impressions of Fixed Ops Marketing to their vision for scaling the company, they share what made them join, what they see missing across the industry, and how dealerships can unlock massive growth by leveraging better data, smarter communication, and stronger partnerships.
This conversation goes far beyond sales and marketing tactics. It’s about discipline, leadership, relationships, and why dealerships that embrace change and data-driven strategies will win in the next era of automotive.
This episode will challenge the way you think about fixed ops, customer retention, data strategy, and what it really takes to scale a dealership in today’s market.
We talk about:
- What drew Matt and Eric to Fixed Ops Marketing and why timing matters
- The biggest mistakes companies make when trying to scale
- Why communication and relationships are the foundation of real growth
- How great sales teams focus on problem-solving—not just selling
- The importance of discipline, planning, and process in building revenue
- How Matt’s military background shaped his leadership and accountability style
- Why most dealerships are missing the mark on fixed ops marketing
- The power of clean, actionable data—and why it’s the new currency
- How dealerships are losing customers without even realizing it
- Why service retention is one of the biggest untapped opportunities
- How to align sales, marketing, and partnerships to drive real results
- The difference between selling a product and building a true partnership
- Why educating customers (not selling them) builds trust and long-term loyalty
- How dealerships can better adapt to changing consumer behavior
- What high-performing teams do differently when it comes to growth
- The vision for scaling Fixed Ops Marketing and doubling dealer count
Matt and Eric also share insights on leadership, adaptability, and what it takes to build a company that’s truly ready to scale—from the foundation up.
Their message is clear: stop relying on outdated strategies, start leveraging data, and focus on fixed ops as a core driver of long-term profitability.
This is a direct, insightful, and forward-thinking conversation about growth, leadership, and the future of fixed operations in automotive.
Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today: https://calendly.com/don-278
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Join Managing Partner and Host Russell B. Hill and Co-Host Charity Dunning as they discuss life, automotive, and the human journey in What the Fixed Ops?!
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