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Who Can Afford SUVs and Pickups as Presents? Hint: Experian Will Help you Find Customers who Can

Published: January 7, 2019 by Guest Contributor

Automotive sales floor with customers looking at vehicles

Dealerships pairing past purchase histories with household-level marketing are finding opportunities in nearby ZIP™ codes they didn’t know existed. Many of our dealers generate a 10-point lift in average closing rates using this strategy, as it yields a more relevant view of customers in their markets.

Here’s a quick example:

If you watched much TV this holiday shopping season, you probably saw a commercial where a successful 30-something husband bought a new pickup truck and a new SUV for himself and his 30-something successful wife.

You probably asked “Who are these people and how can they afford to give Christmas presents like that?”

It’s a good question. It’s also a question every auto dealer should be asking, because whoever sold these vehicles probably profited handsomely. Couples like those depicted in the ad are dealership-marketing nirvana.

True, it’s just a television commercial, but these customers really do exist. Some are just a stone’s throw from your dealership. You’ve just got to know a little more about them to help you craft a surgical approach to find them.

That’s where hyper-local advertising comes into play. It starts with some basic market demographics, such as age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, income and number of children.  From there, consumers can be grouped into customer Mosaic profiles – groupings of people with similar attributes, down to the type of media they consume and the messaging likely to resonate with them.

The successful 30-somethings depicted in the commercial could be Fast Track Couples in Denver, or maybe Couples with Clout in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. They are probably young professionals with college degrees who are into fine dining and international travel. Experian tracks more than 1,500 attributes at the household level. Knowing and applying these consumer profiles can help dealers better target their audiences, plan their media budgets and hone their messaging.

Implementing this level of targeted detail in marketing and advertising initiatives has the power to increase conversion rates and sales, while being more cost effective in the long run.

So, if you’re wondering who in your local market can buy a pickup and an SUV for Christmas? Piece together customer profiles against the rich local data from Experian. That power couple is out there. We’ll help you find them.

To learn more, click here.

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We’re excited to share that Experian Automotive’s client Hamlin & Associates and Honda World have been named winners of the 2025 Automotive News / Ad Age Global Automotive Marketing Award for Best Use of Data — an honor that celebrates meaningful, measurable impact. Why this work stood out Hamlin & Associates' client, Honda World of Louisville, KY, faced a clear challenge: re-engage customers and recover declining service revenue, particularly for vehicles with open recalls. Hamlin & Associates approached the problem with a simple belief: clean, accurate data leads to better outcomes for customers and dealerships alike. They began with data hygiene, then enriched each vehicle record using Experian Automotive’s Recall VIN Verification solution. This created a precise view of who owned which vehicles, which recalls were still open, and when repairs could be completed — all essential to a smooth customer experience. A smarter, more human outreach strategy Over the course of a year, Hamlin delivered four waves of direct mail designed to cut through the noise. Each letter: Spoke directly to the customer Highlighted their specific vehicle Explained the recall in clear language Showed how easy it was to book a free repair The result was a data-driven communication plan grounded in trust and simplicity — and it worked Results that show what’s possible 26% response rate 1,953 repair orders $811,834 in service revenue Thousands of customers are now driving safer vehicles These outcomes reflect more than campaign performance. They demonstrate what happens when dealers, agencies, and data partners collaborate to guide individuals toward safer, more informed decisions. In their words John Hamlin, Hamlin & Associates:“Clean data builds trust. When we combine our hygiene process with Experian Automotive insights, dealers uncover opportunities they never knew they had.” Mike Porro, Honda World:“They keep it simple, and data-driven ‘simple’ gets done. We follow the process, train our staff, and see the results.” Looking ahead We’re proud to celebrate Hamlin & Associates and Honda World for showing what’s achievable when data, insight, and clear communication come together. Their work helps people stay safe, strengthens customer relationships, and sets a new standard for recall outreach. Congratulations to the entire team — and here’s to helping even more drivers move forward Learn more about how to enrich your first-party data with Recall VIN Verification insights!

Published: December 18, 2025 by Adrian Aguiluz

Experian Automotive Series | What Auto Marketers Are Prioritizing in the Second Half of 2025 As we close out our four-part series on what auto marketers are prioritizing in the second half of 2025, we’re shifting gears from strategy to execution. It’s time to explore how marketers are operationalizing data, seeking clarity, and building emotional connections that deepen relationships with customers. With the end of the year’s competitive automotive landscape, clarity and connection aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the cornerstones of growth and loyalty for 2026. Let’s start by exploring how clarity empowers today’s marketers to steer their strategies with control. Clarity: Putting marketers in the driver’s seat Data-guided auto marketers who leverage data insights have a clearer understanding of where consumers are on their car-buying journey. You can learn whether car buyers are gearing up for: A longer commute and want an electric vehicle (or a hybrid vehicle).1 Expanding their family and want a top-tier safety rating with cargo space. Factoring in market trends and wanting to be more economical.2 Creating a new and loyal customer base requires dealers, marketers, and OEMs to focus on clarity and connection. This will be more relevant than ever in the final days of 2025. Gone are the days when dealers and agencies used platforms and tools they did not understand. More businesses are simplifying their services and products by offering guides, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, tutorials, consultants, and webinars. At Experian Automotive, we're here to do just that, bringing clarity to our auto solutions, such as the Experian Marketing Engine (EME). While the EME tool has robust and dynamic data, two of our most widely used features — AutoAudiences and AutoInsights — stand out for their impact. Let’s break them down in the simplest way: AutoInsights helps marketers define where, what, and how. AutoAudiences helps reach who to target and when they might be in the market. For further clarification, savvy marketers leverage AutoInsights to strategize and understand their market, then activate AutoAudiences to curate marketing opportunities. With these tools empowering clarity, it’s equally important to focus on building genuine connections with car shoppers. Connection: Personalized experiences that drive sales Building a strong connection starts by truly understanding what consumers need and where they are on their car-buying journey. It’s important to know how consumers plan to use their vehicle and how they have serviced their cars in the past (or how they plan to service them in the future). By focusing on these details, marketers and dealerships can create more meaningful relationships and deliver helpful, relevant experiences that customers value. On the journey to better connections, consider your customers’ communication preferences, 2026 plans, and affordability.3 “Human connection...separates good stores from great ones,” notes Dealer Principal, Matt Birckhead at Sir Walter Chevrolet4 , while General Manager, Michael Wood at Jaguar Land Rover Virginia Beach collaborates with his Digital Director, Ryan Montville, to generate vehicle specs and feature descriptions that connect emotionally with target buyers 5 Key Takeaway: Automotive marketers who leverage data-informed clarity and authentic customer connection are best positioned to drive growth and loyalty in the final days of 2025 into 2026. By using innovative tools like Experian Marketing Engine, focusing on consumer needs, and personalizing every interaction, dealerships, agencies, and OEMs can optimize campaigns and foster lasting relationships. Mastering clarity with data and building emotional connections are the keys to success in automotive marketing today. Ready for clarity and connection with Experian data? Lead the way in creating customer-first experiences that fuel long-term growth. Connect with Experian Automotive and start driving measurable impact. Learn More https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights-hub/q3-2025-ev-sales-report-commentary/ https://www.experian.com/automotive/auto-credit-webinar-form https://news.dealershipguy.com/p/inside-q4-s-new-vehicle-trends-and-how-dealers-are-adjusting-2025-10-28 https://news.dealershipguy.com/p/one-price-vs-negotiation-what-four-operators-say-really-builds-trust-and-gross-2025-10-16 https://news.dealershipguy.com/p/5-powerful-chatgpt-hacks-car-dealers-are-using-to-supercharge-their-business-insights-2025-09-19

Published: November 11, 2025 by Chanté O’Neill

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Published: June 17, 2025 by Chanté O’Neill

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