The long expected slowdown in retail activity has happened -no surprise with the World Cup and Jubilee holidays in a traditionally quiet period. The response from some has been to bolt down the hatches, cut advertising budgets, refuse to purchase fresh stock and look for other ways to cut spending.

This is far from healthy. It could create more problems than it solves, given the way our industry's vulnerability to market sentiment. But private man's buying patterns have changed. Radically. Who would have thought November and December could explode into the frenzy of activity seen in the past couple of years?

A healthier approach is sitting on your forecourts. Freshen up your cars to make them that bit more appealing and address the balance of desirability by stocking something a little bit different.