ORLANDO, FLA — The National Pronto Association, a member-owned and member-directed group of automotive warehouse distributors, recently held its Fall Owner’s Conference in Orlando, Fla.
Highlights of the conference included an opening keynote address from Jim Macingvale, the owner of Gallery Furniture, in Houston, Texas. Macingvale, author of “Always Think Big,” shared the business philosophies, strategies and tactics that helped him grow his company into the nation’s largest single location furniture retailer. With revenues in excess of $200 million, Gallery Furniture consistently outpaces the furniture industry in terms of sales, inventory turn, ROI, and gross margin.
Also at the meeting, Pronto shareholders and vendor partners held one-on-one meeting sessions and had an opportunity to interact via several official and extracurricular events.
John Cousins, Pronto chairman, welcomed the assembled group of vendors and shareholders. His remarks centered on the current business climate and Pronto’s positioning with regard to the future. Cousins recognized the recent accomplishments of the association, including the addition of five new Pronto shareholders in 2004: CIP Auto Parts – Reno, Nev.; Ken Smith Auto Parts – Chattanooga, Tenn., Car Care Auto Parts – Lake Charles, La. , Eugene Service Parts – Eugene, Ore. and International Car Parts – Needham, Mass.
Bill Maggs, president of Pronto announced a new marketing program designed to enhance the installer programs marketed under the Pronto SmartChoice or VIP Tech Center programs.
“The addition of Roadside Assistance to our already potent service center marketing package represents a new way of thinking,” said Maggs. “We are committed to shrugging off the old “me too” programs in favor of offering innovative tactics that actually drive revenue to service dealers and all the way through the distribution chain to the warehouse distributor. By helping our professional customers differentiate themselves to the consumer with innovative and easy to implement marketing programs, we are ensuring their long term success.
At the conference, Pronto recognized Randy Buller of Pro Parts in New York, with the “Pronto Pioneer” award for 2004. Bill Maggs stated, “As a member of our Executive Board of Directors, Randy has been instrumental in setting our course in a direction that I am confident will lead to prosperity for all of our shareholders. Randy has unselfishly contributed time and energy that has helped Pronto become one of the leading aftermarket program groups. Randy has earned the respect of his peers and I am honored to recognize him with this award and very happy he is part of the Pronto Team.”
Bill Maggs and Mike Mohler, vice president of Pronto, also presented awards to several vendors that met stringent criteria in several different categories. According to Mohler, the awards are voted on by the general membership in recognition of superior performance.
Pronto presented the following awards at its Fall Owner’s Conference:
• Supplier of the Year: Gates
• Partnership Award: Airtex
• Manpower Award: ATP
• Marketing Excellence: Tenneco
• O.E. Products: Delphi
• Pronto Brand: Coni-seal
For more information about Pronto, visit: www.pronto-net.com.
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