by Amy Antenora
The Week in Review offers a snapshot of the most read stories of the week as seen on aftermarketNews. To access the complete stories, simply click on the highlighted links. If you missed reading one of our daily news emails, click on any of the dates listed at the bottom of the page to begin catching up on the latest industry news.
Protecting valuable intellectual property is a primary concern for all manufacturers today, so it’s no surprise that aftermarketNews (AMN) readers were very interested in this week’s report about the arrest of a Chinese national wanted in Louisiana on two counts of illegal use of counterfeit trademarks. Authorities have been trying to catch Yuan Hongwei, 52, for more than a year. Yuan owns a Chinese chemical company — Hunan Magic Power Industrial Company Ltd. — that has been the focus of trademark complaints for selling, between January 2001 and March 2006, cleaning, lubricant, adhesive and other products using the brand name of ABRO Industries.
Offering more positive industry impact was our exclusive Executive Interview with Steve Handschuh, president and COO of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association. In the well-read interview, Handschuh spoke with aftermarketNews about AASA’s upcoming Vision Conference, its first members-only event, which will focus on the important issues of the North American aftermarket supplier industry. He also talked about the association’s plans for the coming year, including what’s in store at this year’s AAPEX show out in Las Vegas.
AMN readers also showed a high level of interest in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s newest business venture, Voodoo Ride. The company, which makes vehicle appearance products for auto enthusiasts, is launching a line that will include seven products for DIYers. Voodoo Ride was co-founded in early 2007 by Earnhardt Jr. and Christopher Ferraro, former president and CEO of VentureBrands LLC, a marine and automotive surface company.
Babcox Publisher Jon Owens’ editorial column from the September issue of Counterman magazine (AMN’s sister publication) was also among the highest read articles this week. In this month’s column, Owens talks about the newest trend among consumer-product retailers — “store-brand” products.
The financial health of the retail sector is always an important measuring stick for the health of the automotive aftermarket so it makes sense that AMN readers would keep a close eye on financial reports from the likes of Advance and AutoZone. AutoZone’s fourth quarter report was among the top five stories this week. In the fourth quarter, the auto parts retailer reported net sales of $2 billion, a 3.3 percent increase from that same quarter of 2006.
To view all of the news from the past week, simply click on the link for each corresponding day:
