Federal-Mogul Continues Aggressive Expansion of MOOG Chassis Parts Line
Company has added 700 new MOOG part numbers for domestic and foreign nameplate applications in past year.
From Counterman.com: Maintenance vs. Repair — The Impact on Parts Sourcing
by Gary Goms Knowing what maintenance parts your customers need will make their vehicles safer and more reliable — and your revenue greater. Most people remember the tale of Rip Van Winkle sleeping for 20 years and waking up in an entirely new and unfamiliar world. Today, a jobber can awaken to a completely new
Aftermarket Marketing Best Practice: SEO Should Be an Extension of Your Marketing Efforts
This week, The Catevo Group presents its recommendations of best practices for Search Engine Optimization and why it should be an important part of your marketing plan in 2008.
From Counterman.com: The Economics of Cores
Reman products are a fact of life in the aftermarket. Unlike other product categories, they bring with them some issues that others don’t have to deal with: cores. This month, I’ll discuss cores and the economics of handling them.
From Counterman.com: Why Buy Direct?
The phrase “buying direct” conjures up all sort of feelings in the aftermarket, both for repair shops and distributors. For me, those words bring to mind a primal desire to “cut out the middleman” and participate in the world of “deep discounts.” Wow, wouldn’t it be great to bump profit margins from resale parts from an average of 30 percent to more than 50 percent? Or wouldn’t it be even better to increase car count by undercutting our competitors by 10 percent on parts-intensive repairs like undercar or air conditioning services? The short answer is that if every small, independent automotive repair shop in the United States could “buy direct,” the playing field would be leveled and the service market would remain very much as it is now. But the question remains: Is there any advantage to buying direct?
Executive Interview with Ric Alameddine
This week we talk with Ric Alameddine, vice president of marketing, North American Aftermarket, for Tenneco Inc., manufacturer of Monroe shocks and struts, Monroe premium brakes, Walker exhaust products, DynoMax performance exhaust, Rancho performance suspensions and shocks, and DuPont Car Care appearance and performance chemicals. In our exclusive interview, Alameddine talks about Monroe’s foray into the brake category and how the company keeps its branding and marketing initiatives fresh.
Coni-Seal Announces Results of New Inventory Management Program
Coni-Seal, a manufacturer of aftermarket undercar parts, has announced the results of a new inventory-management program it launched in 2005. The company said it drastically improved its inventory position and drove increased sales while maintaining high service levels after implementing a solution provided by CTS Systems of Houston, TX. Coni-Seal utilizes CTS’ hosted application to analyze current and historical inventory levels with data analysis and forecasting algorithms.
Autologue Unveils Two New e-Commerce Products
Autologue Computer Systems, Inc. is introducing two new e-Commerce products for the aftermarket – ePaperless Office and eDelivery Tracking System. The two new products were developed to increase customer relations (CRM) between customers/installers by using Internet technology to decrease operating expenses with document imaging. Based on ever-evolving industry needs, these products will help aftermarket companies increase productivity, and profits, according to Autologue. Both products will integrate or run parallel with any management system.