MOKENA, Ill. – In response to the increase in the number of service and repair professionals and independent shop and store owners participating in the annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), the co-owner associations today announced the new Service Professionals Program for the 2014 event, slated for Tuesday, Nov. 6, through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center.
“Service professionals attend AAPEX each year for the opportunity to see the newest products and latest technology, gain valuable industry knowledge and management tips and network with industry leaders,” said Bill Long, president and chief operating officer of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). “We’ve joined with our partner association, the Auto Care Association, to provide additional value to this important AAPEX constituency.”
“AAPEX has evolved far beyond a traditional trade show to a premier industry event, known for its quality educational opportunities for repair and store owners and managers, jobbers, WDs and professional technicians,” said Kathleen Schmatz, Auto Care Association president and CEO. “As auto care industry professionals find the demands on their time to attend trade shows, conferences and events on the rise, the AAPEX business model is gaining traction for busy businesspeople at all levels,” said Schmatz. “Recent focus groups of service and repair professionals resulted in requests for more education and training, which we are delivering.”
Attendee evaluations consistently rank the ROI of AAPEX for being the one annual venue where all the education, training and networking and all the products and people from around the world convene at one place at one time during the year, according to the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association.
AAPEX 2014 will feature a customized program specifically designed for service professionals. The 2014 AAPEX Service Professional Program will include:
· Expanded AAPEXedu education track sessions including:
o Branding, mobile apps, and relationship and digital marketing
o Management training to increase repair shop profits
o Best practices for mobile diagnostics in the shop and diagnostics for connected cars
· Facilitated roundtable discussions:
o Dialogs on common challenges and best practices
o Networking and peer problem solving
In addition, in-booth technical demonstrations on the AAPEX tradeshow floor will focus on new products, diagnostics and new vehicle technologies. Shop owners and managers also will have the opportunity to attend unique events hosted by leading aftermarket companies and network with the industry’s leaders during AAPEX.
AAPEX will partner again in 2014 with the AVI Training Conference, set for Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 3-4, during the event. The 2014 AVI Conference will feature more than 20 high-end technical classes and management classes, all designed to give attendees a competitive edge. For more information, or a full list of classes and instructors, visit the AVI Conference website at www.aviconference.com <http://www.aviconference.com> or contact AVI directly at 800-718-7246.
The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register.
