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.
Executive Interview with Guy Bargnes, Director of Marketing, North American Operations for BASF Corp. Refinish Group
Guy Bargnes has spent his entire life in the collision repair industry. He was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, where his father ran a family business, V. H. Bargnes Co., Inc., which distributed automotive paints, supplies and equipment to area collision shops. In 1992 Bargnes joined BASF full-time, and he is now director of marketing, North American Operations, for the Refinish Group. Bargnes recently sat down to a phone interview with aftermarketNews and shared with us some of the insights from his lifelong career in the industry. Join us as Bargnes talks about BASF’s four leading principles, trends in the refinish business and the return of paint companies to industry trade shows.
Executive Interview with Mike Schultz Executive Vice President – Federated Auto Parts
A veteran of more than 30 years in the automotive aftermarket, Mike Schultz has served as executive vice president (EVP) for Federated Auto Parts since 2003. Federated is one of the industry’s premier programmed marketing groups, with more than 3,800 Federated Auto Parts Stores and 2,400 Federated Car Care Centers nationwide. Schultz recently brought aftermarketNews (AMN) up to speed on his role at Federated, having celebrated his first year as executive vice president. He also shared with AMN his thoughts on the future of programmed distribution groups and Federated’s role in the marketplace.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Supply and Demand Issues of R-134a
Reports have been coming into our office about the rise in price of R-134a, mobile air conditioning system refrigerant. Sources have told us there are several factors behind it, namely the increase of offshore R-134a demand, both from Europe and Asia, uncertainty over the future use of the refrigerant (especially in Europe) and increased demand for R-134a for non-vehicle applications such as industrial. We asked top experts from the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide to help us sort out this issue. Read on to find out what’s really going on with R-134a.
Executive Interview with Tom Marx, President and CEO of The Marx Group
The Marx Group was founded in Los Angeles more than two decades ago, in 1984. Since 1997, the full service marketing communications company has been based in Northern California, and includes a staff of eight, with locations in Chicago (public relations), New York (creative), Los Angeles and Denver (account services). The Marx Group began as an advertising agency serving the apparel agency. Today nearly three-quarters of its business is focused on the automotive aftermarket. Join us as the company’s founder, Tom Marx, shares his experiences from a colorful career as a professional race-car driver, repair shop owner, author and advertising executive, and gives us the keys to getting sales and marketing to work in collaboration.
Executive Interview with Jeff Berman, Managing Director, Bosal US
As managing director, Bosal U.S., Jeff Berman is responsible for all of Bosal’s aftermarket customers in the NAFTA region. He was recently appointed to this position and is now responsible for managing operations, sales and marketing for Bosal’s U.S. aftermarket and performance divisions at Bosal USA, Inc., based in Whippany, NJ, as well as the sales and marketing for Bosal Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Recently, Berman took time to talk with aftermarketNews.com about the company’s OEM heritage and its role in the aftermarket. Berman shared his insights on the future of the import segment and the keys to tapping this segment.
Executive Interview with Dave Ellingen, President and CEO of Mitchell 1
Mitchell 1 got its start back in 1946 when Glen Mitchell started a business out of creating simplified parts replacement books. In those days, OE parts replacement books could be complicated and difficult for the counterperson to use. As a counterperson himself, Mitchell saw a better way to organize parts replacement books, and from his vision, Mitchell 1 was born. Dave Ellingen, president and CEO of Mitchell 1, shared with aftermarketNews.com some of his thoughts on the roadblocks to getting more repair shops to embrace technology, and how parts suppliers are working to move the effort forward.
Executive Interview with Michael Scheiven, Director, Aftermarket Channel, Philips Automotive Lighting North America
Our latest Executive Interview features Michael Scheiven, director, Aftermarket Channel, Philips Automotive Lighting North America. Just about two years ago, Scheiven joined Philips after a long and successful career with General Motors (GM). Scheiven spent 19 years at GM, serving as director of AC Delco Aftermarket Operations with General Motors Brazil, International Marketing Manager with GM Service Parts Operations US, Commercial Director for GM Service Parts Operations-Mexico and South America Sales Manager for General Motors Corp. It was precisely this background that led Philips to recruit Scheiven, as the company sought to revitalitize its aftermarket business. Scheiven recently spoke with aftermarketNews.com about Philips’ Automotive Lighting business and the changes in this market segment.
Mike Lambert and Mike Kamal Share Details on ADN
On Jan. 14, aftermarketNews.com broke the news of the merger between the Parts Plus and IAPA programmed distribution groups. This major news follows closely on the heels of the merger between Quebec’s Uni-Select and New York-based MAWDI, which seems to confirm the sea change that has been taking place over the past few years — with strong but small groups merging to form even stronger collaborations, in an effort to ensure their future in the automotive aftermarket distribution market. Mike Kamal, executive director of IAPA and Mike Lambert, president of Parts Plus, will serve as co-presidents of the new group, to be called the Automotive Distribution Network (ADN). Yesterday, Kamal and Lambert spoke at length with aftermarketNews.com about the merger – how it came together, the synergies involved and thoughts on the future of The Network.
AAIA’s Aaron Lowe Shares the History and How-to’s for its Annual Legislative Summit
Our latest Executive Interview features Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. On March 1 and 2, more than 200 aftermarket executives will gather in our nation’s capitol for the 2005 Aftermarket Legislative Summit. The annual event gives representatives of the aftermarket the opportunity to provide policymakers with the information they need to make educated and informed decisions about issues that impact the aftermarket. Major issues to be highlighted during this year’s Summit include: The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act; association health plans; anti-counterfeiting; and asbestos litigation reform legislation. Lowe recently shared with us some history about this industry-critical event and how you can get involved.