Don’t Ignore Lost Sales, APA Members Hear at Annual Conference
Parts professionals can no longer ignore lost sales, attendees at Automotive Parts Associates’ (APA) annual conference in San Antonio heard. The confluence of reduced consumer spending, a lagging economy and automotive industry doldrums mean aftermarket professionals must capitalize on every customer interaction to make the sale, said Jeff Levine, chairman of the APA board, and owner of Levine Auto & Truck Parts in Danbury, CT . “Lost sales are lost opportunities. Lost sales mean loss of a customer,” Levine said during Saturday morning’s general session held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio. “We are all throwing business away whether we like it or not. We need every sale we can make.”
Executive Interview with Steve Reindl, General Manager for Shell Lubricants National Accounts
This week we hear from Steve Reindl, general manager for Shell Lubricants National Accounts. Reindl manages a cross-functional team of sales, category management, forecasting and replenishment specialists. Reindl and his team work with national accounts to improve Shell Lubricants’ position in the automotive aftermarket. Shell was recognized by key customers, AutoZone and Advance, as Vendor of the Year in 2006. Reindl joined Shell in October 2001. Prior to joining Shell, he held progressive management positions with Oscar Mayer, Kraft Foods and Pepperidge Farm. Reindl has more than 20 years’ experience in the commercial industry within the food, mass merchandiser and club retail environment. Join us as Reindl talks about Shell’s position in the aftermarket and his thoughts on the future of the lubricants sector.
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.
The Week in Review (Feb. 26. – March 2, 2007)
By Amy Antenora Editor The Week in Review offers a snapshot of the most read stories of the week as seen on aftermarketNews. To access the complete stories, simply click on the highlighted links. If you missed reading one of our daily news emails, click on any of the dates listed at the bottom of
The Week In Review (Aug. 21-25, 2006)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW (August 21-25, 2006) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ASSOCIATION & LEGISLATIVE NEWS: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ASA to Communicate with Members through New Blog The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is among the latest in the aftermarket industry to launch a blog website. ASA’s new blog (http://blog.asashop.org) will provide commentary and analysis about the automotive service industry
The Little Hybrid Engine that Could
One of the most impressive cars at last week’s Philadelphia Auto Show doesn’t come from Japan, Germany or Detroit. It came from the auto shop at West Philadelphia High School. The car — designed and built by students in the school’s Academy for Automotive and Mechanical Engineering — delivers more horsepower than some Porsches and gets gas mileage comparable to a Toyota Prius. It runs on fuel made from soybeans.
Gold Eagle Takes ‘Engine Answerman’ on the Road
Gold Eagle Co. has tapped eight-time STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series champion Bobby Cleveland to tour the country as ‘the Engine Answerman.’ The unique promotion is designed to reach out to consumers across the U.S. with expert advice on virtually all engine-powered vehicles and equipment.
Sears Renews Title Sponsorship of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Sears, Roebuck and Co., through its Craftsman tool brand, has renewed its title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
PERA 59th Annual Convention to be Held in Newport Beach, California
The 59th Annual Production Engine Remanufacturers Association’s (PERA) Convention will take place Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, at The Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach, Calif. On Oct. 1, Kathleen Schmatz, president of AAIA, will present the Keynote Address, and will discuss “The Current State of the Automotive Aftermarket.”