“DST Asks”: What Ordering Methods Do You Offer to Customers?
Forecasting the future isn’t a task restricted to tabloid psychics or your TV weatherman. Whether we like it or not, running a successful business today that will remain successful in the future requires forecasting skills.
“DST Asks”: Adding Service/Installation as an Additional Profit Center in a Parts Enterprise
How many readers know that Starbucks, the ubiquitous coffee retailer, actually began operating as a coffee roaster in Seattle, selling bags of whole bean coffee in Pike Street Market? It took a visionary leader, Howard Schultz, coupled with an ambitious operating plan and enterprise management technology to morph the business into the worldwide coffeehouse chain and merchandising success story we see today. And this all happened in an incredibly short period of time…with growth from 17 outlets in 1987 to 7,225 outlets today. All of this was based on the simple premise, “We already have customers who buy our coffee beans — what if we brewed the coffee for them, too?” We see a similar opportunity in parts distribution.
“AMN Perspectives by Thomas Group: Experience at Work”
Welcome to the first installment of “AMN Perspectives by Thomas Group: Experience at Work.” What does “Experience at Work” mean? It means proven methods and techniques applied by seasoned executives resulting in measurable financial improvement. “Work” means that Thomas Group consultants are working implementers. We get into the client’s business and go to work side by side with the management and employees until objectives are accomplished, rather than preparing a plan and leaving it to the company to make it happen. Through “AMN Perspectives: Experience at Work,” Thomas Group consultants will comment on issues and news within the automotive aftermarket to provide constructive suggestions that work based on our experience in the automotive industry and more than 20 other industries and government agencies.
“DST Asks”: The Use of Computerized Business Management Systems and their Potential for Generating ROI
Tremendous technological advances have made the use of computerized business management systems the paradigm of the aftermarket. All tiers of the supply and service chains have benefited from technology — manufacturers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, national and regional parts and service chains, multi-store independent parts and service enterprises and single-store independent parts and service facilities. Gone are the days when a capital investment in technology was merely another overhead expense. Savvy managers now know that computerized systems can become their own profit centers, generating an impressive ROI.
Deadline to Participate in AASA 2004 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers List is Feb. 6; Form Available Online
Time is running out to participate in the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) 2004 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers List. Produced by Babcox Publications in Akron, OH, this multi-page, full-color publication will feature useful information on the largest suppliers to the automotive aftermarket, and will rank suppliers by annual North American aftermarket sales. Deadline for submissions in the publication, which will be distributed this spring, is Feb. 6.
Four CART Board Members Resign
James Hardymon, James Henderson, Rafael Sanchez and Frederick Tucker have resigned from the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) board of directors, leaving President and CEO Christopher Pook as the sole member of the board. Their resignations come after the recent news that CART’s assets of would be bought out by Open Wheel Racing Series LLC, following a failed merger attempt between the two racing organizations.
Kathleen Schmatz Takes Over as President and CEO of AAIA
Jan. 1 marked the first day of Kathleen Schmatz’ new role as president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), a trade association representing more than 2,700 companies that manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials, supplies and services. Schmatz, who has served as AAIA’s executive vice president since January 2002, takes over the role from Al Gaspar, who retired at the end of 2003 after 30 years in the aftermarket industry. Gaspar is president emeritus and will serve as a consultant to the association.