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Digital Dealer Conference — DealerRefresh Vendor Library
Digital Dealer Conference & Expo is a biannual automotive industry conference and expo — held in spring (DealerPoint) and fall (Digital Dealer Conference…
Digital Dealer Conference
a Emerald Holding company
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71 DealerRefresh discussions
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About suggest a correction →
Digital Dealer Conference & Expo is a biannual automotive industry conference and expo — held in spring (DealerPoint) and fall (Digital Dealer Conference & Expo) — that brings together dealership leaders, OEMs, solution providers, and thought leaders for education, networking, and hands-on access to the latest automotive retail technology. It also operates year-round media properties including Dealer Magazine, DigitalDealer.com, and the Digital Dealer Now on-demand training platform. The event is focused on helping dealers improve marketing, advertising, sales, and dealership operations performance.
What you do with it
attend structured education sessions led by industry practitioners and thought leaders, so they can return to the dealership with actionable tactics to improve sales and marketing performance
When a dealership leader needs to stay current on marketing, technology, and operational best practices
walk the expo floor and meet vendors face-to-face, so they can make faster, more informed vendor decisions without lengthy separate discovery processes
When a dealer or vendor wants to evaluate new retail technology and solution providers in one place
participate in a concentrated in-person gathering of dealers, vendors, and OEM stakeholders, so they can build and maintain a trusted professional network that compounds value over multiple years
When an automotive retail professional wants to strengthen relationships with peers, speakers, and industry voices
Community evidence → Stable
The DealerRefresh community—spanning dealers, vendors, and industry contributors—speaks about Digital Dealer Conference with predominantly positive sentiment, citing consistent value in education sessions, speaker quality, and the irreplaceable density of peer networking across many years of attendance. Long-tenured attendees specifically highlight relationship-building and face-to-face vendor access as the conference's most durable returns. Vendor discovery and deal-making on the expo floor are mentioned as concrete outcomes, with at least one member crediting an Orlando event directly with a signed vendor contract. The sole notable negative is an isolated account of a personal ban from a micro-conference, and there is no recurring community criticism of content quality, cost, or relevance.
Peer networking and relationship-building8 mentions
Educational session quality and speaker content9 mentions
Vendor discovery and expo floor access4 mentions
Long-term loyalty and repeat attendance5 mentions
Conference as a venue for product/service launches3 mentions
Virtual/format adaptation (COVID pivot)1 mention
Access or conduct issues1 mention
71 mentions · 35 positive · 6 negative · Scored from 20+ years of candid DealerRefresh discussion. Scores shift as new conversations happen.
POSITIVE
"Those of you who went to last April's Digital Dealer Conference were treated to a Dave Anderson lecture. Our dealership enrolled in his management training program (DVD's) and I really like what he has to say."
An Open Letter to Customers →
POSITIVE
"If you are attending the 7th Digital Dealer Conference in Nashville Tenn. and would like the chance to WIN a FREE Flip minoHD video camera courtesy of DealerRefresh and now DrivingSales"
WIN a FREE flip MinoHD Video Camera from DealerRefresh →
POSITIVE
"Enjoy this presentation by Larry Bruce at the last Digital Dealer Conference on his 7 Myths of How People Search For a Car Online."
7 Myths of How People Search For a Car Online →
POSITIVE
"some note they do maintain presences at more technology-focused events like Digital Dealer. The thread concludes with recognition that NADA is missing an opportunity to position itself as a leader in setting technology standards and facilitating dealer relationships with major tech platforms, unlike the more tech-centric Digital Dealer conference."
One thing I couldn't stop asking myself at NADA... →
POSITIVE
"I have been working on this project since I returned from the digital dealer conference."
Vendor Bombardment →
NEGATIVE
"Alex Jefferson shares dubious statistics he heard at the Digital Dealer Conference, which sparks a discussion revealing that vendors are indeed making exaggerated or fabricated claims to dealers."
New Industry Stats Company Released! →
NEGATIVE
"A Digital Dealer conference's decision to hire Jordan Belfort as a keynote speaker has sparked debate among automotive professionals about whether it damages the industry's reputation and sends the wrong message about ethical standards."
Jordan Belfort Digital Dealer Keynote Controversy →
NEGATIVE
"Banned from attending future Digital Dealer conferences. I was personally kicked out of a DD micro conference in Baltimore."
April Fools joke??? →
NEGATIVE
"Forum users report receiving excessive unsolicited calls and emails from vendors after registering for the Digital Dealer conference, with disagreement over whether they consented to having their information shared. A Digital Dealer representative clarifies that the company doesn't sell attendee lists but does provide them to exhibitors for pre-show marketing, while critics argue this should be opt-in rather than opt-out"
Digital Dealer Spam →
NEGATIVE
"Jerry Thibeau launches a scathing critique of Digital Dealer conference organizer Mike Roscoe, alleging that he's systematically cut costs and reduced vendor perks while maintaining high profitability (~$1.8M annually), treating vendors as second-class citizens despite them being the primary revenue source."
Halloween Horror Stories From Digital Dealer →
NEGATIVE
"confirming plans to develop a smaller DR conference for 2013 with 150-200 dealers in an intimate educational setting, modeled after a previous Google event rather than the larger Digital Dealer conference format"
DR Meetup (Mid-Atlantic) - Who would be interested? →
MIXED
"the 2009 Digital Dealer Conference in Nashville, which begins on Sunday, November 1st—problematic because it falls on a Sunday, the day after Halloween, and at month-end when dealerships handle payroll and reporting"
2009 Digital Dealer Conference in Nashville →
MIXED
"A user critiques the Digital Dealer Conference website for lacking a printable PDF agenda and auto-playing videos, suggesting it misses lead-generation opportunities... Susan Tyson, the new Marketing Director, addresses the concerns by confirming a PDF agenda is now available and committing to website improvements for the spring conference."
dIgiTaL DEalER wEb sItE →
MIXED
"Automotive professionals discuss their attendance and expectations for Digital Dealer Conference #8, with mixed enthusiasm about the value of presentations versus the networking opportunities in the halls... The thread ultimately reflects that Digital Dealer is considered the best conference for digital-focused dealership professionals, despite its presentation quality being inconsistent."
Digital Dealer Roll Call →
MIXED
"Automotive industry professionals discuss their experiences and takeaways from the Digital Dealer 9 Conference, with mixed feedback on session quality and content depth. While attendees praised engaging speakers like Todd Smith, Kevin Frye, and Joe Webb/Bill Playford, many criticized foundational "101-level" content and panels with limited data backing their claims."
Digital Dealer Conference →
MIXED
"Forum members discuss their experiences attending Digital Dealer conference sessions, with sburges2 praising presentations by Ray Fenster, Joe Webb, Jonathan Ord, and Brian Pasch for being genuinely helpful rather than purely sales-focused. The thread highlights frustration with automotive industry conferences that prioritize selling over sharing useful insights."
Update From Digital Dealer →
NEUTRAL
"DealerRefresh organized a panel discussion at the 23rd Digital Dealer Conference titled "Freshen Up!" to tackle three industry topics: automotive attribution, e-commerce, and vendor accountability."
"Freshen Up!" - DealerRefresh Discussion Panel at DD23 →
NEUTRAL
"5th Digital Dealer Conference Review by Kevin Frye"
5th Digital Dealer Conference Review by Kevin Frye →
NEUTRAL
"You'll hear more about this at the upcoming Digital Dealer conference in Orlando, but the self-serve nature of a shopping cart for vehices + F+I can relieve this pressure"
The problem with conversion ratios for Dealership Websites →
NEUTRAL
"I just saw a post for a presenter at the upcoming Digital Dealer Conference that will be: "providing engaging content for using SMS at a Dealership.""
Does Text Messaging work for Dealers? →
NEUTRAL
"A late Review of the 5th Digital Dealer Conference with Gerald Hand"
A late Review of the 5th Digital Dealer Conference with Gerald Hand →
NEUTRAL
"I too was speaking to a few people from GOSO at the last Digital Dealer conference."
Wow Facebook Dealer Sites? →
NEUTRAL
"VinSolutions Showcases Its DIY and Inventory Management Module at the Fall 2008 Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition"
VinSolutions Showcases Its DIY and Inventory Management Module at the Fall 2008 Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition →
NEUTRAL
"I'm in FL for the Digital Dealer Conference but wanted to get this out encase anyone was interested on knowing about it."
eBay sells 3 mmmmillion vehicles →
NEUTRAL
"I am looking for Avinash Kaushik keynote at DD14, I can't find it, anyone help? [url=http://www.digitaldealerconference.com/keynotes/#avinash]15th Digital Dealer Conference & Exposition – Las Vegas – October 2013 | Keynotes for the 14th Digital Dealer Conference[/url]"
Uncle Joe's Make Over Diary →
NEUTRAL
"The Digital Dealer Conference - a week later"
The Digital Dealer Conference - a week later →
NEUTRAL
"6th Digital Dealer Conference Review by Kevin Frye"
6th Digital Dealer Conference Review by Kevin Frye →
NEUTRAL
"Kevin Frye's Annual Digital Dealer Conference Review"
Kevin Frye's Annual Digital Dealer Conference Review →
NEUTRAL
"ahead of the November Digital Dealer Conference"
Open Call For Dealer Inventory Modules and Website Vendors →
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