The 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division (AAD) announced it is redesigning its sales force network to more closely align with today’s collision industry customers. Having been entrenched in the collision repair industry for decades, the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division sales team says it prides itself on being close to the customer. As the automotive aftermarket has shifted from being comprised of thousands of independent collision shops and independent distributors to many national and regional MSOs and distributor partners with national footprints, 3M says it saw the need to adapt to the changing landscape.

As a result, 3M says it will implement a “Customer First” key account management initiative in the 3M AAD sales organization, with some structural market changes.

“We have created specialist roles focused on both national and regional MSOs. We have also expanded our specialists focused on national and regional channel partners,” said Jim Falteisek, sales and marketing director, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “These AAD specialists are implementing new ‘Customer First’ approaches to build joint business plans and develop flexible service models for these accounts.”

The company says this change allows the 3M AAD Collision Repair Specialists to focus more time on training and demonstrating productivity enhancing solutions to end-user technicians and collision shop managers at both independent collision shops and regional shop organizations.

“The 3M AAD Collision Shop Specialists will continue to focus on the independent collision repair shops where we have built our business. This focus is an expansion of our reach and customer touches on a daily basis,” said Falteisek. “The 3M AAD sales organization is changing to adapt to our marketplace, all with the customer front and center. We are looking forward to a great year in 2016!”