Refining aftermarketNews.com to Reflect a Changing Market

Here we are again. The start of another new year. While we can never truly know what will unfold in a new year, we can always rely on certain constants --- death, taxes, a Starbucks on every corner and of course, change within the aftermarket. I hope that aftermarketNews.com has become one of those daily constants you rely upon to help stay on top of the changes in the market.

by Amy Antenora
Managing Editor, aftermarketNews.com

AKRON, OH — Here we are again. The start of another new year.

While we can never truly know what will unfold in a new year, we can always rely on certain constants — death, taxes, a Starbucks on every corner and of course, change within the aftermarket. I hope that aftermarketNews.com has become one of those daily constants you rely upon to help stay on top of the changes in the market.

It is tradition at this time of year not only to look back on accomplishments and milestones of the past, but also to look forward, set goals and get organized. This is a yearly ritual for many, both personally and professionally. As you set forth to make your own improvements and resolutions for your aftermarket business in 2005, we want to help you reach those goals through comprehensive, aftermarket-focused news and information.

I am proud to look back on the advancements we have made in the product we bring you every business day. The aftermarket and the ‘dot-com’ landscape have both changed dramatically over the years. Now going into our sixth year, we have tried our best to keep up with these changes in both our editorial content and the methods by which we present it to you.

Last year, our team created new looks for our Web site and daily email newsletter, upgrading from a text-only format to a graphic html format. We also refined our editorial content and added many new features in the past few years — R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry, the AASA Top 100 Suppliers List, the AMN Asks Online Poll.

This year, you will notice a few more improvements to our editorial content and format. Among the new features is this column, which will appear twice monthly. Through this column we will focus on those news stories that may go under the radar, yet have a broad-reaching relevance for the aftermarket.

The new and improved aftermarketNews.com now features expanded advertising opportunities, as well as two new departments — “Fast Fasts” highlighting Babcox aftermarket research and the “Web Site of the Week,” highlighting the Web sites of different aftermarket businesses.

We are also excited to start out the new year with a great addition to our staff. Writer and managing editor Michael Freeze has joined the Counterman/aftermarketNews.com team and will help round out our editorial product.

In addition, we are excited to reveal new and improve functions to our Associations Directory and the AASA Top 100 Suppliers List, both available by going to the www.aftermarketNews.com home page. Coming soon, you will also see a new and improved AMN Aftermarket Events Calendar and more.

We are dedicated to providing you the most comprehensive, user-friendly aftermarket e-newsletter and these changes reflect that focus.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Drop us a line at [email protected] and let us know what you’d like to see more, or less, of in 2005.

Here’s wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2005!

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