R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Ponders Predictions for the Next Decade in the Automotive Aftermarket
On Wednesday several hundred aftermarket executives will converge upon Chicago for the 10th annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. Inspired by the theme for this year’s event — “Lessons from the Past, Perspectives on the Future” — we’ve asked some of the industry’s leading executives to give us their predictions for the future of the aftermarket.
Executive Interview with Mort Schwartz, Chairman of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium
Next week, the tenth annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) will take place (May11&12) in Chicago. Celebrating this decade of annual events, the theme for this year’s GAAS is “Lessons from the Past, Perspectives on the Future.” In honor of the this tenth-annual event, we asked Mort Schwartz, chairman of GAAS, to reflect back and give us his own perspective on changes taking place in the industry in the past ten years as well as his favorite memories from past symposiums.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Offers Advice to New Graduates
As graduation season nears, what words of encouragement or advice would you give a young person entering the aftermarket? Would you encourage a young person to pursue a career in this industry? Read on to find out what aftermarket executives from a range of professions had to say.
Executive Interview with Steve Marks, Chairman, National Car Care Month Committee
Steve Marks, senior vice president of marketing and advertising for Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, is currently serving as chairman of the National Car Care Month Committee, the group charged with the task of promoting and organizing National Car Care Month in conjunction with the Be Car Care Aware campaign. Here, Marks give us an update on the progress of this year’s National Car Care Month initiatives and some background on his involvement in the campaign.
Out of the Ordinary: Executive Interview with Tom Dattilo, Cooper Tire & Rubber President and CEO
To get a sense of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and its chairman, president and CEO, you need look no further than Tom Dattilo’s corner office. Unlike the vistas other captains of industry enjoy from their lofty perches, Dattilo’s third-floor office overlooks Oler’s Drive Thru, a convenience store that stands as a stark reminder of who the real boss is – the retail customer.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Checks Out National Car Care Month Events
It’s April and Spring has sprung. While springtime marks the start of many seasonal rituals, the Car Care Council wants to make sure that consumers add vehicle maintenance to their springtime to do lists. From event planning kits, to brochures, signage and promotional efforts, the Car Care Council has made it incredibly easy for aftermarket manufacturers, distributors and installers to get involved. It’s a win-win situation — the aftermarket gains a better image, better reputation and hopefully more business; the consumer walks away with a safer, better maintained car, increased vehicle knowledge and awareness and (hopefully), an improved perception of our industry. To find out how the industry is taking advantage of this opportunity, we asked a repair shop and a manufacturer: What are you doing for National Car Care Month?
Executive Interview with Keith Wilson, Vice President and General Manager, Affinia Under Hood Group
Our latest Executive Interview features Keith Wilson, former Dana employee and current vice president and general manager for Affinia’s Under Hood Group. Read on as he brings us up to speed on the transition from Dana AAG to the newly created Affinia. Wilson also talks about the recent sale of Beck/Arnley and the future for the aftermarket industry.
Pronto Adds A & Jay Automotive to Member Roster
National Pronto Association announced late yesterday that A & Jay Automotive of Redford, Mich., has become the newest shareholder in the programmed distribution group. A & Jay Automotive is an undercar specialist servicing professional installers and jobbers in the Detroit metro and Southeast Michigan areas through two locations. The company’s president is Tom Van Cleave.
Executive Interview: Bill Maggs and Michael Mitchell Talk About the Recent Merger of Pronto and RPM
Following on the heels of RPM Group’s merger with Pronto, Mitchell and Maggs sat down for a phone interview with aftermarketNews. The two men gave us the scoop on what changes are on the horizon for the newly merged group as well as their thoughts on the future of programmed distribution.
Executive Interview: Bill Maggs and Michael Mitchell Talk About the Recent Merger of Pronto and RPM
Following on the heels of RPM Group’s merger with Pronto, Mike Mitchell and Bill Maggs sat down for a phone interview with aftermarketNews. The two men gave us the scoop on what changes are on the horizon for the newly merged group as well as their thoughts on the future of programmed distribution.
Executive Interview: Bill Maggs and Michael Mitchell Talk About the Recent Merger of Pronto and RPM
Following on the heels of RPM Group’s merger with Pronto, Mike Mitchell and Bill Maggs sat down for a phone interview with aftermarketNews. The two men gave us the scoop on what changes are on the horizon for the newly merged group as well as their thoughts on the future of programmed distribution.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Talks to Shop Owners About Counterfeiting
For several years now, the automotive aftermarket, as an industry, has made great strides to increase awareness of the issues of counterfeiting and intellectual property rights violations. With these efforts, we’ve come to learn of the startling problems taking place. While efforts are being made to stop trademark violations at the manufacturer level and to keep imported knockoff auto parts from entering the country, if a counterfeit part were to make it into the distribution chain, would shops know what to look for? For this week’s Ask the Industry, we talked to two shop owners to learn more about their knowledge and experiences with counterfeit auto parts.