SAN FRANCISCO – Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (the Alliance) kicked off its summer member meeting this week in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis. Members attended various committee meetings and received reports on key initiatives for 2013 as well as previews into the upcoming plans for 2014.
 
Alliance President and CEO John Washbish opened the supplier meeting on Tuesday with the announcement that Temot and the Alliance are becoming full channel partners. This move will put the Alliance and its members in a more competitive position and make them part of a completely global organization. (Click here for more details on this expanded partnership.)
 
Wayne Butts, vice president, product management & vendor channel partner relations for the Alliance, gave a complete review of the product and vendor relations activities and also introduced some of the newest supplier initiatives the group has launched and explained their importance to the membership.
 
Dale Hopkins, the Alliance’s chief information officer, followed with a recap of the My Place for Parts application and its overarching capabilities. Suppliers were given a technology report card that allowed them to evaluate their performance on some of the key My Place for Parts components.
 
Alliance Marketing Director Dan Williford reviewed the results of the "Big Game" contest for 2013 and took the opportunity to outline the upcoming 2013 "Drive to Daytona" Sweepstakes. This promotion will include trips and passes to the 2014 Daytona 500 as well as the giveaway of three new Ford Mustangs. The program will culminate with the awarding of a 2014 Corvette trackside at the race.
 
Wrapping up the meeting, Washbish provided details for the next vendor expo in Las Vegas during the AAPEX and SEMA shows. The Alliance says it is working closely with the associations to provide excellent content and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for technicians and counterpeople.
 
The week’s events concluded with a "Taste of San Francisco" dessert event held in Union Square.