BASF, Valvoline Sign Contract for Reciprocal Licensing of Engine Coolants
LEXINGTON, Ky. and SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — BASF SE and Valvoline have signed a new contract for the reciprocal licensing of engine coolants. This agreement replaces an existing licensing arrangement signed in 1994, the year Valvoline acquired the coolant business in North America from BASF including the Zerex trademark. Under the terms of the new agreement,
ACC Announces 2008 Automotive Scholarship Recipients
The Automotive Communication Council (ACC) has announced the winners of its two scholarships in the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium Scholarship (GAAS) program. The ACC is a professional organization comprised of individuals in the automotive aftermarket specializing in marketing communications. The scholarships were earmarked for students focusing on marketing, public relations, journalism, advertising or a related field within the aftermarket. This year’s winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year.
Executive Interview with Tom Perry, President of U.S. Chemical & Plastics
A lot of exciting things have been going on with U.S. Chemical & Plastics lately. Tom Perry was recently promoted from vice president, sales & marketing to president, and the company also earned the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 certification. The editorial staffs of aftermarketNews and BodyShop Business spoke with Perry, a 24-year industry veteran, about the latest developments at U.S. Chemical & Plastics.
Transamerican Auto Parts Opens 61st 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center
COMPTON, Calif. – With the opening of its newest retail store in Meridian, Idaho, Transamerican Auto Parts Co. has now opened its 61st 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center. This new location will have a 4,000-square-foot showroom with state of the art displays and an 8,000-square-foot service facility. “Entering the Boise market allows us to better
GAAS 2008: University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 Team Envision Tackles Telematics
On day two of the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago, “Team Envision,” one of two teams of aftermarket executives who participated in the 2007-2008 University of the Aftermarket Leadership 2.0 program, presented their winning research project on telematics. The team, comprised of Nataki Barnes, marketing manager, Federal-Mogul Corp.; JR Bishop, director of racing & event marketing for Federated Auto Parts; Jim Dykstra, owner of Dykstra’s Auto Service, T.J. Fontana, manager of sales operations & training, Tenneco; and Mike Harvey of Affinia, gave a clear, concise breakdown of the current state of telematics as well as a look at where it’s headed and how the aftermarket can play a part. Just after their presentation, aftermarketNews took a few minutes to chat with Team Envision about their telematics research.
GAAS 2008: How Family Run Businesses Adapt to Changes in Today’s Aftermarket
Conjuring the spirit of an FDR fireside chat, Affinia Group’s John Washbish sat poised behind a table with his 1940s style microphone and a mug that read “Big Boss” as he kicked off the Family Affair panel discussion on day two of the 2008 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in Chicago. Panelists included Craig Bond, senior vice president of Bond Auto Parts, a warehouse distributor based in Barre, Vt.; Dominic Grote, vice president of sales and marketing, Grote Industries, an LED lighting and wire harness manufacturer; and Doug Reevey, president of Autotec Inc., a Canadian service and repair business.
SKF’s Katie Noga Named ACC President
Katie Noga, manager of marketing and motorsports for SKF, recently assumed the position of president for the Automotive Communications Council (ACC). Noga, a 27-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket, is beginning her second term as ACC president. An active member of the ACC since 1985, Noga first served as president from 1991-92.
Aero Performance Products Consolidates Warehouse Facilities
SOUTH JORDAN, UT — Aero Performance Products, which operates Aero Exhaust, Inc., has completed the move of all of its warehousing to its new facility in Bluffdale, Utah, and is continuing the build-out of the facility to include Aero’s administration, product development and marketing. The consolidation of warehouse space included the closure of the company’s
IMR and Counterman Magazine Partner to Produce Second Annual Consumer Aftermarket Behavior Study
For the second year in a row, Counterman magazine has partnered with IMR, Inc. to provide profiles of consumer and technician product sourcing trends. Research for this year’s report has been compiled in the Consumer Aftermarket Behavior Study (CABS), which can be seen in the May issue of Counterman. Counterman magazine is read by more than 45,000 parts store, warehouse distribution and headquarter professionals each month.
The Pulse: What Percentage of Retail Tire Customers Specify Brand?
Each week, The Pulse provides insight into the buying, sourcing and brand-loyalty habits of counter personnel and professional technicians. This week, using Babcox Research, we look at the consumer trends for specifying brand when purchasing tires.