An independent dealership expert is gaining steam with his new consulting firm launched earlier this year.

SmartGroups, which launched early this year by dealer educator Justin Osburn, already has multiple groups in place for small stores and for the nation’s largest independent dealers.

The latest group, known as Poseidon, will hold its first meeting Oct. 5-7 at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort and Spa Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C. There are still spaces available in the group, which is designed for dealerships that sell between 80 and 200 retail units per month.

An Army veteran, Osburn is certified sales trainer and self-described “student of the auto industry” with extensive experience as the owner of three independent dealerships as well as a sales professional, F&I manager and general manager.

Osburn previously served as retail 20 Groups moderator and consultant for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association and was the lead instructor for NIADA’s Certified Master Dealer course.

“SmartGroups are 20 groups reimagined, with a smarter schedule, smarter speakers and smarter technology,” Osburn said in a news release. “Like our other SmartGroups, Poseidon is exploding. We had nine dealer commitments for the group within 24 hours of launching it on our website.”

Director of SmartGroups Howard Bullock said the program’s “tremendous growth over a very short period of time has been nothing short of phenomenal.”

SmartGroups are 20 Groups designed to have a smarter schedule, smarter speakers and smarter technology, including LinUs — patent-pending software that is fully integrated with most dealer management systems for the most accurate financial comparisons.

“In fact, we are already the largest 20 Group host in the independent retail sector,” Bullock said. “That’s the result of our high level of dealership knowledge, industry-leading technology and a completely new way of conducting 20 Groups, as well as our desire to truly listen to our group members.”

 For more information about Poseidon, visit smart20groups.com/poseidon, and for more about SmartGroups, visit smart20groups.com.