HOLLYWOOD, FL — On the sun-drenched shore of Florida’s southern Atlantic coast, IWD (Independent Warehouse Distributors) Auto Pride/Truck Pride held its 19th Annual Membership Meeting on April 28 through May 2.
The event included participation from 117 members and their families, as well as 137 manufacturers/suppliers in attendance. While the members participated in more than 10 strategy and program sessions, the manufacturers hosted a booth show during the second day of the event.
The theme of this year’s meeting was “Implementing EDI Initiatives,” and the members addressed this theme during several of their meetings.
IWD set aside its traditional roundtable discussion session, replacing it with a presentation on technology by Dana Automotive Aftermarket Group President of Customer Relationship Management John Washbish. During the Auto Pride marketing meeting, Dick Leach of Leach’s Automotive Service in Lemoyne, PA, was named the 2003 Auto Service Expert of the Year. During his acceptance speech, Leach emphasized the importance of utilizing Auto Pride’s marketing programs to achieve his success. He singled out the 90-day same-as-cash Auto Pride AutoCard, which allows him to help his best customers afford more costly repairs, as one of the keys to his success. He claimed that by fully utilizing and promoting this program, he has grown his business “exponentially.” Leach’s Auto Pride affiliation is through IWD member Mid-State Products of Harrisburg, PA.
In addition to Leach’s award, the marketing meeting reviewed a technician training initiative called the Auto Pride Tech Training Program. The training program featured the cooperative efforts of both IWD members and their supplier partners. In this case, 25 members sent one technician each to either the Raybestos or Federal-Mogul training facility for a week’s worth of hands-on technical training. Based on a survey of the techs who attended, the program was a success, and many techs want to attend again even after first being somewhat apprehensive about the training sessions. Additionally, the group kicked off its Box Top program, which is new for ’04. By all accounts, IWD Auto Pride/Truck Pride remains a staunchly independent group that holds firm to its independent values by allowing its members the autonomy to participate (or not) in any program offered. Based on the success of the ’04 membership meeting, this group is having collective success, independently.
From aftermarketNews.com Staff & Wire Reports
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