By James Chevrette
As we enter a new year, we asked retailers what changes they’re making in 2026 or what new strategies they implemented towards the end of last year.
Retailers spoke of going higher end, reversing their policy on no Amazon walk-ins ,and expanding into non-automotive categories.
Pivoting Away from Amazon
Keith McCumber of SoundsGood Auto in Canada said he is done selling electronics on Amazon after it resulted in a costly dispute. “A customer purchased a Pioneer flip-out screen for roughly $1,000. The customer did a return via Amazon, but [he] sent in his own broken OEM radio in the box. We complained to Amazon and they sided with the customer. This transaction made me reconsider our Amazon sales direction,” said McCumber.
SoundsGood is also expanding into window tint by partnering with a local company that will send a technician to its location, so SoundsGood can provide in-house tinting. For the holiday season, it tested the portable Bluetooth speakers category. “This is a huge category for consumers. We are hoping this attracts new customers into our stores.”
Opening Doors to Outside Products
Angel Rivera of Laketown Speed and Sound in Utah said the shop is reconsidering its stance on products purchased outside of the store. In the past, the shop did not install products that were purchased online. “But this market is not going away. We will now at least audit the installation to see if we can accommodate it,” Rivera said.
The Power of Planning
Kimberly Trainer of Car-Tunes Inc. in Mississippi spoke about the importance of planning. “Our Black Friday sale was already planned out in September and was extended through December 10th. Besides promotions, we take planning employee time off during the holidays very seriously. It is very important to me that staff gets time to spend with their families, and you must plan accordingly. As we head into 2026, we have already put plans in place for the upcoming tax season by ensuring we have great finance options in February to try and pre-capture income tax refunds.”
Expanding Categories
John Muller, also of Laketown Speed and Sound in Utah, spoke about expanding into different categories including dash cameras, lifts, and vehicle accessories—with one caveat. “I want customers to come into our location to purchase these expanded categories, but at the same time we are focusing on getting these customers into our demo vehicles. While they are here, we want to focus on giving them the experience of better sound and try to WOW every customer.”
Going High End
Autosound of Lexington in Kentucky brought in new product lines and is gearing its offering toward higher end cars or extreme custom builds. It’s aiming for higher ticket sales as the shop is in an affluent area, said owner Chase Jones.
Not Changing a Thing
Ata Ehdaivand of Absolute Electronix in Maryland said, “I am not changing a thing! My plan for my business was set early in January 2025, and it’s working. We are busy, our business is firing on all cylinders, and we’re continuing this plan into 2026.”
When asked for advice to other businesses, Ehdaivand emphasized, “Expand when you’re busy, not when you’re slow. Too many stores stop growing when they are busy, then try to pivot after things have slowed down. Keep building on your business to ensure business doesn’t slow down.”
Your Turn
Retailers across the country are handling business challenges in different ways. What changes have you made in the fourth quarter of 2025 or plan to make in 2026? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
