SAN ANTONIO, TX – O’Reilly Auto Parts and Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (Alliance) announce with great regret that after almost 30 years of affiliation O’Reilly will be terminating its shareholder status effective Dec. 31, 2007.
David O’Reilly, chairman of O’Reilly Auto Parts, and longtime board member of the Alliance stated, “This is a very tough decision for our company. We have many great memories and relationships in the Alliance. We have benefited in countless ways through our association with some of the very best operators in the business. Our company has reached a point where it has become very difficult for us to maintain product line compliance which is the core driver of the association’s effectiveness.”
Dick Morgan, president of the Alliance, said “We certainly hate to see the O’Reilly’s leave our association. They have been a part of Auto Value, and then the Alliance, for almost 30 years. The separation is on a completely amiable and mutual basis, and it simply represents their need to do what is in the interest of their shareholders, and for the Alliance to continue its strong commitment to our vendors with regard to product conformity by our shareholders.”
With regard to the independent jobber marketing programs, which O’Reilly has more than 200 locations affiliated with, O’Reilly CEO Greg Henslee states: “We regret having to move on from the Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper affiliation, but are announcing at this time a new jobber marketing program for all of our independent jobbers. It will be called “Parts City Auto Parts” and will have strong ties to the O’Reilly Auto Parts programs, advertising and appearance. We are very excited to use this change as an opportunity to strengthen our direct relationship with our jobbers, and to offer them a closer tie to the O’Reilly concept of selling auto parts.”
COO of O’Reilly, Ted Wise, said that the plans are to introduce the entire program to the jobbers within the next two weeks and “we plan to have the entire system converted by year end. This will include new signage, interior dÉcor package, installer programs, and the whole gamut. We believe that once our jobber customers hear the full scope and strength of the program that they will also be very excited about the future potential of this new opportunity.”
Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance is one of the largest auto parts distribution and marketing organizations in the world, marketing the Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper brands. With parts store and certified service center locations throughout North America and Europe, they are a source for quality parts and service for over 4,700 parts stores and more than 2,500 certified service centers. Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance prides itself on responding to the individual automotive needs of each customer and providing proven, quality service.
