R. L. Polk & Co’s Ask the Industry Takes a Sneak Peek at the
For the first time ever, this year’s AAPEX show will feature a new "Green Zone," which will showcase environmentally friendly automotive products. The automotive aftermarket and truck fleet markets are fully embracing the reality that they must become more environmentally conscious and have recently begun promoting a wide variety of innovative ‘green’ initiatives — from eco-friendly bedliners to complete corporate environmental initiatives. In honor of the new “Green Zone” at AAPEX, we asked a few aftermarket companies to tell us what new products, technology, or maintenance procedures their companies launched this year to help motorists be more environmentally conscious.
Put in Your Two Cents: Are You in the “Green” Zone?
This year’s AAPEX show will feature a new “Green Zone,” which will showcase products that repair shops and retailers can sell to consumers to help make their vehicles more efficient and environmentally friendly. As an aftermarket executive and a motorist, do you make efforts to minimize your impact on the environment and if so, how?
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry: What Makes for a Good Location for Business Travel?
Business travel — it’s something most of us do. Las Vegas always seems to pop up on our business travel schedules at least once per year — and for good reason. Las Vegas boasts all the ingredients for a successful business meeting, conference or trade show — lots of meeting space, lots of hotel rooms and, of course, world-class entertainment and dining. This week, we asked a few well-traveled road warriors about what makes for a good business travel spot.
CALL FOR COMMENTS: What Do You Do to be a More Environmentally Conscious Motorist?
This year’s AAPEX show will feature a new “Green Zone,” which will showcase products that repair shops and retailers can sell to consumers to help make their vehicles more efficient and environmentally friendly. As an aftermarket executive and a motorist, do you make efforts to minimize your impact on the environment and if so, how?
R.L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Business Cycle Changes
For a variety of reasons, Fall tends to be a busy time for aftermarket companies as they prepare for upcoming trade shows, meetings and the 2008 selling season. This week’s Ask the Industry asks a variety of aftermarket professionals if Fall is their busy time of year and if their business cycle changes throughout the year.
R.L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Steering in the Collision Industry
Although illegal, many collision repair shops believe that steering routinely happens across the collision industry. For this week’s Ask the Industry, we asked several collision repair shops about their perceptions of steering and how it has impacted their businesses.
R.L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at AAPEX Preparation
Believe it or not, but Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week is 75 days away. And that means that most companies are either in the middle of, or are starting to, shore up their Industry Week plans. Since Industry Week is such a big deal (and a major expense) for aftermarket companies, this week’s Ask the Industry seeks to find out what companies are planning to do at the show, or what their goals are.
R.L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at the Recent PAACE Automechanika Mexico in Mexico City
PAACE Automechanika Mexico took place for the eighth time from July 11-13 in Mexico City. Around 500 companies exhibited at the event, which attracted some 15,000 visitors. We asked some industry executives what they thought of this year’s show, as well as their general thoughts about the importance of the Mexican aftermarket.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Technology’s “Next Big Thing”
In honor of the annual Aftermarket eForum taking place today and tomorrow in Chicago, Ask the Industry this week explores the topic of technology. In our recent Executive Interview with Jim Franco, we asked the Autologue Computer Systems CEO, what he thought was ‘the’ new technology today that is doing the most to help make the aftermarket industry more efficient. Franco’s answer: the Internet. Franco wasn’t the only one to sing the praises of the ‘Net. We asked a number of aftermarket professionals working in the technology arena to answer the same question.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry: Do Technicians Care Where Parts are Made?
As a low-cost option for manufacturing parts, outsourcing to countries like China and India is no longer just for the ‘forward thinkers’ in this industry. at the very top of the distribution channel, the comfort level with offering product that isn’t “Made in the USA” has increased greatly. You could say it’s no longer even an issue, given the realities of today’s marketplace. But what about the other end of the distribution channel – what do the technicians think? We asked a couple local technicians how much country of origin matters when selecting parts for repairs. Simply put, we asked if they care where a part is made.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Budgeting for Education and Training
In a recent five-part series written exclusively for Counterman, industry consultant Tom Easton said, “Business impact and ROI are the only reasons for training and employee education programs.” For automotive aftermarket suppliers, knowing that your end-user has a good working knowledge and understanding of your product is vital. It not only ensures that your product will be used or installed correctly and safely, but is also yet another way to reinforce your brand’s image and reputation of quality – something all aftermarket suppliers strive for today.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at the
In our most recent Executive Interview we asked Jeff Stauffer, senior vice president of global group marketing for Affinia Group, Inc., for his thoughts on ‘cherry picking’ — the growing trend of aftermarket customers selecting their suppliers to suit their needs. At a reader’s request, we opened this question up to several executives from other aftermarket parts makers.