It’s hard to tell which is Dave Caracci’s stronger characteristic: humility, humor or enthusiasm. He’s got all three in spades and applies this passion to his role as chairman of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). The 2009 GAAS takes place May 6-7 in Chicago, amid crisis in the struggling auto industry. Commenting on why it’s more important to attend this year than ever before, Dave had this to say: “There are many leaders on the front lines of the aftermarket, trying to make decisions that not only affect them and the others working beside them today, but that may affect their survival for years to come. Who do they listen to? Where do they go for leading edge concepts or to identify short term shifts from long term trends? That is what GAAS is all about.” Read on to hear more about the 2009 GAAS from Symposium Chairman Dave Caracci.

Dave from what I’ve heard, the GAAS program has been altered this year. Can you tell us what has been changed and why?

As everyone who has attended GAAS in the past several years knows, we pay for and use an electronic polling system during GAAS to survey the audience on feelings, opinions and satisfaction. Some people may think this is for show. It is not. I can tell you that as a result of the data we collected from the electronic polling, some speakers and subjects for 2009 were eliminated from consideration and others have been added or asked back. One strong request from the audience was for “new faces.” Not new to the industry, but new to GAAS. For 2009, GAAS has almost all new people appearing, with new subject matter. There are a few subject experts that the audience asked to return. But, I can tell you that of the 23 aftermarket leaders on the program this year, 17 have never presented to the GAAS audience before. And three of the six that have appeared before, have not presented at GAAS in nearly a decade.

Other audience input was the request for longer networking sessions. We were told by the attendees that they wanted more time between presentations, to talk to the presenters and to the other attendees regarding industry issues. In 2009, we have expanded the coffee breaks and lunch break, as well as eliminated the lunch speaker to allow for more networking during lunch.

GAAS is about learning from other industry leaders, and the GAAS program committee has kept that foremost in their planning.
 
Dave, budgets are tight these days, however, a strong case can be made for attending events like GAAS in such challenging times. What would you say to someone who’s still trying to justify the cost of attendance?

Simple: If you want to win in the aftermarket in 2010, you can’t afford NOT to be at GAAS 2009.

But more to the point, the answer to the question of why invest your company’s money having someone in management attend GAAS, it depends on who is asking.

To the audience in general, all of us are frustrated by trying to make business decisions based on economic forecast presented by an entertainment-minded media with a preset agenda? Are you looking for uncut, unedited professional views of our economic future? At this year’s GAAS, you will hear from and can talk to, in person, the Senior Economist and Economic Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Chief Investment Officer of Citi Global Wealth management and the Vice President of BB&T Capital Markets as well as many other analysts who are paid attendees. Whether you are running a NAFTA parts distributorship, a global parts manufacturer or considering personal retirement options, what these guys have to say at GAAS 2009, is important to YOU.

General knowledge helps any business, but with aftermarket suppliers trying to save all the money they can, why is attending GAAS a good idea this year?

Every parts supplier that attends GAAS and interacts with the presenters and attendees, SAVES money, by learning at GAAS.

From a customer contact point of view, the supplier will hear from and visit in person with the leading purchase decision-makers for some of the largest auto parts store chains in the world.

From a competitive knowledge stand point: Jack Cameron has a panel of aftermarket manufacturers that will address successful survival strategies for today’s parts manufacturers.

Dr. John Wormald will fly in from England to address environmental issues that, if addressed properly, could provide terrific outcomes for the parts manufacturers smart enough to attend GAAS.

Any parts supplier would spend several thousand dollars on airfare and expenses seeing the customers that we will hear from and visit with at GAAS. And, that same supplier would pay many thousands more hiring consultants to look for ideas for new market and business growth concepts and economic insights.

With all of the above in one place at one time, figuring the cost of GAAS registration, hotel and travel, an aftermarket parts supplier will save thousands of dollars having someone on the management team attend GAAS 2009.

Saving money at the supplier level is important, but what about the distribution segment, retail, wholesale, etc. Is GAAS still a cost effective tool for these channel partners?

Actually Amy, this year’s GAAS may be more important for the distributor’s survival than the parts supplier. When you think about it, the typical parts supplier leadership team is ‘on the road’ either in person or with representatives. The parts supplier is exposed to many more models and opportunities than the channel partner who is often operating in a more stationary location. GAAS is the opportunity to interface with many aftermarket participants in one place with one cost. GAAS is like an ADWA one-on-one convention on steroids, with the addition of access to economists, research analysts, retail participants and stock analysts all in one location at one time. Want to know something? Walk up at the coffee break or lunch and ask!

For the parts distributor or retail chain trying to expand sales and profits while reducing operating cost, GAAS 2009 will offer many opportunities to grow sales and profits. The perfect example is this year’s panel examining Internet business models. Not hypothetical but real existing aftermarket business models that produce sales and profits.

So, what are you most excited about at this year’s GAAS?

Two things, both related to learning new ways to make more money in the aftermarket:

First, new research. We will hear the newest research findings on aftermarket consumer trends. Insights from NPD research to help us all grow the DIY and the DIFM business. Not take share from each other, but to actually increase volume.

Second, new people. The GAAS attendance promotion committee of volunteers has created the largest promo campaign in GAAS history. We are going to have aftermarket leaders that never attended GAAS before. And for those of us savvy enough to walk up and network with them, we will learn new ways to grow our businesses in 2009.

Dave, leaving the GAAS event for a minute, what’s your take on the industry, as you travel and interact with various channel participants.

It is very interesting Amy. It is as they say “the best of times and the worst of times.” Just yesterday for example, I asked two very successful repair shop owners: “How’s business?”

One said “I’m down about 12 percent from last year.” That same person, by the way, has cut technicians about 30 percent.

The other said “I’m up 25 percent YTD over last year. I changed my techs and I found a lot of great new ideas at APPEX in November.”

Amy, as many people know, I’m a yacht racer by hobby. Anybody can sail a boat fast when there is a lot of wind. Those who are committed to success and positive about the outcome can sail a boat fast by adjusting the sails when the wind dies.

That said, if business is down so far this year, instead of abandoning ship, perhaps aftermarket companies committed to success should attend GAAS to find out how the others have adjusted their sails.

For more information about GAAS 2009, go to: http://www.globalsymposium.org.