Carmigo elevates Chris Michael to Vice President of Operations

Carmigo elevates Chris Michael to Vice President of Operations

Michael is a nearly three-year veteran of the company, and now serves as a Vice President alongside new responsibilities

Carmigo has announced the promotion of Chris Michael to Vice President of Operations.

Michael started at Carmigo in April of 2021, just three months after the company’s founding. He has remained a foundational member of the Carmigo team, and has lead its operations department across multiple company wide initiatives.

Carmigo started as a solely consumer-focused platform with in-market inspectors across the Southeast. Michael oversaw the inspection and post-sale teams when they were in-market, managed the transition of those teams to headquarters based roles, and is now in charge of managing in-market operations for Carmigo’s growing dealer-to-dealer network.

“It’s hard to imagine Carmigo without Chris,” said Andrew Warmath, CEO and Co-Founder of Carmigo. “I asked him to join the company when there was no promise of a future. Since then, we’ve thrown a lot of changes at him, and he’s handled each one with precision and candor.”

Michael’s newest set of responsibilities come following the launch of its wholesale platform – Carmigo Turn. Carmigo has more than tripled its salesforce in the first quarter of 2024, and alongside this growth comes a need for operational support in markets across the south.

“We’re seeing a growing need for inspector and post-sale efficiency as our network grows and our sales increase,” said Michael. “It’s all about perspective. Our dealers demand a level of service and support on par with our national competitors, and we must meet those needs in order to stay competitive.”

Michael will be focusing on rapidly growing the Carmigo Inspection Team as they eye expansion across the southeast throughout 2024.

Carmigo launched Turn alongside a suite of improvements for its users on February 1.

Visit carmigo.io/turn/ to learn more.

About Carmigo

Carmigo is an online marketplace and wholesale platform for dealerships. They provide tools to help dealerships increase used inventory turn and source consumer cars for their dealership. The startup works with dealerships across the nation, but is based in Tupelo, MS, and is rapidly expanding its team.

Carmigo welcomes new Vice President of Sales, John Tharp

Carmigo welcomes new Vice President of Sales, John Tharp

Tharp comes to Carmigo with more than 35 years of experience in the automotive industry

Carmigo has announced the appointment of its new Vice President of Sales – John Tharp.

Tharp most notably served as the National Program Manager for Insurance Auto Auctions, where he oversaw a team of more than 80 direct reports. He was responsible for maintaining relationships with hundreds of dealerships nationwide, and working with them to meet their inventory acquisition needs.

Tharp left his role as General Sales Manager for America’s Auto Auction – Baton Rouge to join Carmigo, and has also served as a general sales manager and used car director at the dealership level.

“Carmigo is in a prime position to help dealerships’ evolving inventory management needs,” said Tharp. “Carmigo’s wholesale platform brings a lot to the table, especially as the market is challenging used car managers like never before. After I got to know the team, I knew I could play a role in serving and growing their dealership network.”

Tharp has joined Carmigo immediately following the launch of its wholesale platform – Carmigo Turn. He will be working alongside the company’s product and marketing teams to bring the platform to new dealerships across the southeast, and use their feedback to shape its future offerings.

“John has joined our team at the perfect time,” said Andrew Warmath, CEO and Co-Founder of Carmigo. “We’ve already seen how Turn can help dealerships protect their profits and navigate a never-before-seen used car market. John is going to help us bring that to more dealers and serve the buying and selling needs of those in our network.”

John will also be focusing on rapidly growing the Carmigo Sales Team as they eye expansion across the southeast throughout 2024. Carmigo has already tripled its salesforce in the first two months of the year, and they anticipate even more growth in the months that remain.

Carmigo launched Turn alongside a suite of improvements for its users on February 1. Visit carmigo.io/turn/ to learn more.

How to Use Carmigo’s Automated Rules to Increase Turn

How to Use Carmigo’s Automated Rules to Increase Turn

The used car market is hard to navigate, and 2024 brings even more challenges for dealerships. But we're here to help.
Carmigo is dedicated to bringing you solutions designed to increase inventory turn and protect profits.
Carmigo Turn’s Automated Rules helps you move your cars for more BEFORE they start to slow turn.

You can set your automated rules right now. Follow the video for step-by-step instructions or contact your Dealer Sales Rep.

Table of Contents

Deep Dive: Carmigo’s Automated Rules

‘Set it and forget it’ only works if you, well, set it.

Last month we announced the biggest product update in our company history. Carmigo Turn is our new wholesale platform designed to help you increase used inventory turn.
At the center of Turn is our Automated Rules:
Average days to turn on used inventory is at a five-year high.
Change pricing based on age guidelines that you set
Flexibility to use internet price, wholesale price and cost as your basis

Is the “Affordability Crisis” Here?

This newsletter from the Car Dealership Guy caught our attention.

You can read the full newsletter here, but here is a quick summary:

• Average negative equity for consumers is highest since 2020

• Manufacturers pursuit of higher margins and supply chain issues are to blame – among other factors

• This is creating a very competitive used car market

So what does this mean for your dealership?
Your used inventory strategy in 2024 should be very intentional – and it won’t be easy.
1. Focus on acquiring cars that data shows won’t slow your turn

Turning every stone to find affordable models that fit the needs of your customer base is key, even if it means looking outside of your traditional acquisition channels

2. Move the cars you know aren't a good fit

In a highly competitive market, you can’t run with ankle weights. Make an honest assessment of your used inventory and get rid of the cars slowing your turn before you’re in too deep.

Surprise, surprise – we can help with both. Talk with your Dealer Sales Rep today about how we can help.

Your FAQ’s Answered

Last month brought a lot of big changes for us. And in tow came a lot of great questions from all of you. Check out some of our most frequently asked questions below to help guide you through some of the biggest changes we rolled out to the Carmigo experience.

Meet Brandon and Mike, Carmigo’s Newest Dealer Sales Representatives

Meet Brandon and Mike, Carmigo’s Newest Dealer Sales Representatives

They bring more than 30 years of automotive experience to Carmigo

We’re thrilled to welcome the two newest members of the Carmigo team – Brandon Crouch and Mike Benke. They have joined as Dealer Sales Representatives as we continue to expand our dealer network. Combined, they bring more than 30 years of automotive experience to Carmigo.

 

Crouch joins us from Collierville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram where he worked as the General Sales Manager. He has an extensive background in the dealership world with previous posts at Gossett Motor Cars and Ford ProfitBuilder. Brandon is now bringing his more than 10 years of automotive experience to our Memphis market.

 

Benke served as the Territory Manager at ACV Auctions where he was responsible for the buying and selling relationships of dealers throughout Southwest Virginia. He brings a wide range of experience from both the dealership and auction world, working roles at Capitol City Auto Auctions and Advantage Ford. Benke is now responsible for launching our Roanoke market.

 

This newest expansion of our team directly aligns with the launch of Carmigo Turn – our new wholesale platform designed to help dealers increase their used inventory turn. If you’re in one of their markets and want to see how Carmigo can make it easier to manage your lot, give us a shout. We’d love to help.

Meet Angelia and Shannon, Carmigo’s Newest Dealer Sales Representatives

Meet Angelia and Shannon, Carmigo’s Newest Dealer Sales Representatives

They bring more than 30 years of automotive experience to Carmigo

We’re thrilled to welcome the two newest members of the Carmigo team – Angelia Madderra and Shannon Short. They have joined as Dealer Sales Representatives as we continue to expand our dealer network across the Southeast. Combined, they bring more than 30 years of automotive experience to Carmigo.

 

Madderra joins us from America’s Auto Auction in Birmingham where she worked as a Digital Sales Representative. She has an extensive background in the auction world with previous posts at ACV Auctions and Auto Auction of Montgomery. Madderra is now bringing her more than 13 years of automotive experience to our Montgomery/Columbus market.

 

Short previously served as a Market Expansion Manager at EBlock where she was responsible for the go-to-market strategies for nine states. She brings a breadth of experience from both the dealership and auction world, working roles at KAR Global and Dealers Auto Auction. Short is now responsible for launching our Mobile/Pensacola market.

 

This newest expansion of our team directly aligns with the launch of Carmigo Turn – our new wholesale platform designed to help dealers increase their used inventory turn. If you’re in one of their markets and want to see how Carmigo can make it easier to manage your lot, give us a shout. We’d love to help.



Carmigo Turn Launches February 1st

Carmigo Turn Launches February 1st

The used car market is hard to navigate, and 2024 brings even more challenges for dealerships. But we're here to help.
Carmigo is dedicated to bringing you solutions designed to increase inventory turn and protect profits.

Table of Contents

Last week, we announced Carmigo Turn

It’s kind of a big deal–one of our biggest announcement ever.

Here's what you need to know:
Average days to turn on used inventory is at a five-year high.
Used car values have plummeted since the pandemic.
In light of these market trends, we created Carmigo Turn to help you increase used inventory turn.

All new buying interface

We listened to your feedback.

Alongside Carmigo Turn, we’ll be releasing our updated browsing interface for our one-day auction and marketplace.

These are just some of the biggest changes we’ve made. We’ve also introduced a watchlist, new filters and flags for listings you’re high bid on and where you’ve been outbid.

Have you set up your inventory integration?

Your DSR can help. If your inventory feed isn’t integrated with Carmigo you won’t be able to use Carmigo Turn, our marketplace or have the ability to push your listings to other nationwide marketplaces. Talk to your DSR today about getting integrated so you can start increasing your turn.

Meet Stacy, Carmigo’s Alabama Dealer Sales Representative

Meet Stacy, Carmigo’s Alabama Dealer Sales Representative

She has 15 years of experience in the auction and automotive industry

We’re thrilled to welcome Stacy Williams to the Carmigo team in her role as our Alabama Dealer Sales Representative. Not only does she possess a wealth of knowledge in the auction world, but she also holds a well-rounded accounting background rooted in the automotive sector.

 

Stacy began her career in accounting at Wilson Dodge and Gray Daniels Auto Family in the Jackson, MS market. In addition to standard accounting practices, Stacy’s responsibilities included managing wholesale and retail accounts, auditing, cash control, and inventory management

 

Most recently, Stacy worked as a Field Sales Representative for IAA in Birmingham. She was responsible for building out a buyer network for auctions, negotiating sales, and managing relationships with customers and providers.

 

Stacy’s extensive automotive background, combined with her knack for forging connections, makes her a perfect fit for Carmigo’s customer-centric approach. As we expand further into the Alabama market, we are excited to see Stacy’s skills in action, furthering our mission of making managing your inventory easy.

 

Stacy’s primary focus is connecting with dealers in our Alabama market. If you’re in Alabama and want to see how Carmigo can make it easier to manage your lot, give Stacy a shout.

Meet Toni, Carmigo’s newest Dealer Sales Representative

Meet Toni, Carmigo’s newest Dealer Sales Representative

With an exceptional track record and a deep understanding of the industry, Toni brings a wealth of experience to Carmigo.

We’re excited to welcome Toni Paige to the Carmigo team as our newest Dealer Sales Representative.

Toni is no stranger to the world of auto auctions. She entered the industry as an Auction Coordinator for IAA. There, she was in charge of setting up new provider contracts, registering new buyers, and a myriad of other responsibilities that helped build their pipeline of inventory in her six-year tenure. Toni then joined Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auction as their Professional Sales Representative, which has historically transacted over 15,000 vehicles annually.

Toni’s keen ability to empathize with dealers’ needs makes her a perfect fit for Carmigo’s customer-centric approach. As we embark on exciting ventures, we are thrilled to harness Toni’s skills to help our mission of making managing inventory easier.

Toni’s first focus is helping dealers in our Jackson, MS market. If you’re in Jackson and want to see how Carmigo can make it easier to manage your lot, give us a shout.

Carmigo Hits 5,000 Cars Sold Milestone

Carmigo Hits 5,000 Cars Sold Milestone

5,000 Cars Sold latest in series of achievements for the automotive tech startup

We just sold our 5,000th car on the Carmigo Marketplace. 

And this comes on the heels of a $7 million Series A fundraising round, recognition as one of the Emerging 8 companies making a difference in the technology and automotive space, and selection for the VillageX incubator in New Orleans. 

The last two years of hard work are starting to pay dividends, even with month-over-month declines in the used car market.

We had an inkling the Carmigo Marketplace would work — which is why we’re all so invested in it. But to work this well, this fast feels exciting and affirming. 

How We Did It

We did it by making things easier.

Sure, we’re oversimplifying, but that’s what we do, we take a complex process and handle the tricky parts so our buyers and sellers don’t have to.

With our online marketplace, used car dealerships all over the country have access to front-line ready consumer cars that we’ve already pre-inspected and vetted. They make offers on the inventory they want without having to inspect a bunch of drive-ups in person.

And our mobile scanning technology allows sellers to list their car from their phone, so they can sell their car without ever leaving their driveway.

Carmigo’s team handles the legal paperwork, title transfer, loan payoff, ACHs the money to the seller and picks up the car. 

For our services, we charge a flat, $350 fee taken out of the final sale price. It’s a win-win-win. 

Carmigo Named an Emerging 8 Company

Speaking of easier, Cherokee Media Group named Carmigo an Emerging 8 company, an award given to “companies that improve a specific aspect of the automotive industry through technology.”

That is certainly a validation of our mission statement: Make it easy. 

Here’s what the Cherokee Media Group said about this year’s class — “We are thrilled to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s honorees who are setting new standards for excellence in the automotive industry,” Cherokee Media Group president Bill Zadeits said. “The Emerging 8 award program was developed to fulfill our commitment to honor companies that push the boundaries of innovation.”

As a part of the recognition, Carmigo is featured in the April issue of Auto Fin Journal and will be recognized at the April 19 Auto Intel Summit in Raleigh, N.C. Our CFO, Daniel Kim, is going to be there to accept the recognition and speak on a panel. 

Here’s what our CEO Andrew had to say —“Being named an Emerging 8 company is special to us because it reflects our mission,” said Andrew Warmath, Carmigo founder and CEO. “We have the words ‘Make it easy’ covering a wall in our office because we want to use our technology to make buying and selling cars easier. This recognition affirms our mission.”

We’ll leave you with one more quote from the kind folks at Cherokee Media Group:

“The 2023 Emerging 8 honorees are making significant contributions to the automotive industry through their innovative use of technology,” said Amanda Dunlap, EVP of events and marketing at Cherokee Media Group. “We are proud to recognize their ingenuity and we look forward to celebrating their success at this year’s Auto Intel Summit.”

Carmigo Selected for VillageX Incubator

Carmigo was also selected as a VillageX Incubator startup in 2023, giving our founders the opportunity to present to investors and learn from other innovators and entrepreneurs. 

“The goal of the VILLAGEx accelerator program is to identify the entrepreneurs who are the future business leaders for our region and give them the tools needed to grow their companies,” said Jon Atkinson, CEO of The Idea Village, in a press release. “The results will be more good jobs, more investment in our city and more economic opportunity for the Gulf South.”

Carmigo was one of 13 startups selected from a pool of more than 60 based on market potential, growth trajectory, industry potential, product stage, team readiness and traction.

$7 Million Series A Fundraising Round

After a year-and-a-half of operation, Carmigo conducted a Series A funding round and secured $7 million from both the original investors as well as new investors.

This funding round brings the total investment in Carmigo to $10 million since its launch in January 2021.

Here’s what Andrew said, “This round-close is a significant milestone for Carmigo. Our team created Carmigo after recognizing a significant pain point in the automotive industry. Our virtual platform creates a convenient and competitive environment for consumers, while helping our dealers source quality inventory. We are proud of what we have built, but this recent investment makes us excited for what’s to come.”

A major investor in the round was Southern Bancorp in partnership with Advantage Capital.

“Our core values stem from our commitment to invest in small businesses and grow communities,” said Brian Anderson, Principal at Advantage Capital. “Carmigo is the perfect example of this dedication. They are committed to bringing jobs to Tupelo and fostering the job market.”

Bill Wright, CEO of Southern Bancorp’s Western Region added, “The investment by our revolving loan fund in Carmigo meets Southern’s commitment to make flexible lending available in markets where capital is less readily available.”

Thinking About Selling Your Car?

List your car on the Carmigo marketplace in 10 minutes or less and start getting offers in as little as a day. 

Most sellers on the Carmigo marketplace get multiple offers and sell in less than a day. 

It’s always free to list, and you don’t have to take a penny less than your bottom price.

A Youtuber Gave Us an Honest Review and We Couldn’t Be Happier

A Youtuber Gave Us an Honest Review and We Couldn’t Be Happier

YouTuber Realistick used our service to sell his truck, which went so well that he posted an honest review on his page.

Time for a Pop Quiz

Table of Contents

An Honest Review

YouTuber Realistick (Tyler) has a great car review channel, but the other day he took a break from reviewing cars to leave an honest review of Carmigo. 

He used our service to sell his truck, which went so well that he posted about it on his page.

It felt like we woke up to a teacher putting a pop quiz on our desk, only to later find out we made an A-. 

The feedback was specific, and since the review was posted, we’ve already made some pretty big strides in improving our transportation as well as the ease of our in-app experience from end to end. 

We couldn’t be prouder to see our marketplace saving people time and getting people money.

Here’s what he said on his Youtube page: “While imperfect, Carmigo offers a way to sell your car that allows you to get maximum dollar without the incessant scammers or lowballers of Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.”

There’s even a comment from someone else who sold their car for $6,000 over their best trade-in offer. 

How Carmigo Works

Go to https://app.carmigo.io/ to answer a few questions about your car. Then, the Carmigo app will use our virtual inspection tool to help you take 13 pictures of your car. Finally, set your price.

It takes most people less than 10 minutes, and we can have it on our 24-hour marketplace within the day. 

Most sellers get multiple offers in less than a day. 

If you sell, we handle all the paperwork, title transfer, and logistical details. We’ll even pick it up!

Check out the honest review to see the full Carmigo process at work.