MEMPHIS, TN — Following the successful Aftermarket eForum event that took place in Chicago earlier this month, aftermarket program group Parts Plus has announced that its distributors are experiencing strong growth thanks to e-commerce initiatives.
More than 175 Parts Plus locations have become integrated supply points since Parts Plus made Wrenchead its ecommerce partner last year. The Parts Plus Ecommerce Portal reached several milestones in its first year of active use and is growing at a rapid rate, according to Parts Plus Executive Vice President Alan Bostwick.
“Everybody has realized that the ‘battle for the bays’ is now being fought over the Internet,” said Bostwick. “Our strategy to develop common communication platforms between customers and Parts Plus is really taking hold. Our integrated distributors and autostores have realized the importance of connecting to their wholesale customers.”
Parts Plus reports that its numbers for 2004 show new levels of success. More than 400,000 stock checks were performed resulting in more than 60,000 orders placed on the Parts Plus Web site. More than 2,000 registered and active users now use this e-commerce tool to reduce time and costs. The group reported that in the second quarter of this year, the number of orders increased 116 percent, revenue went up 118 percent, active users grew 63 percent and average revenue per order grew 40 percent.
Among the group’s goals for 2004 are to increase its active user base to 10,000 customers with 20 percent of the business flowing through the Parts Plus e-commerce pipeline.
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