Publisher’s Perspective: Outsourcing the Brand
I recently read an article that discusses a new retail strategy – Pay N Save – from aftermarket retailer CSK Auto. According to the article, the Pay N Save concept was created to provide a “convenient, easy-to-shop alternative to the mega-store hassle.” A Pay N Save spokesperson said, “you can think of a Pay N Save as a mini Costco meets a tool store meets a Michael’s.”
LIVE FROM GAAS: Day 2
The second day of the 2005 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago included an overview of the aftermarket industry’s efforts to reach out the public and Wall Street – via initiatives like the Be Car Care Aware campaign.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Talks to Shop Owners About Counterfeiting
For several years now, the automotive aftermarket, as an industry, has made great strides to increase awareness of the issues of counterfeiting and intellectual property rights violations. With these efforts, we’ve come to learn of the startling problems taking place. While efforts are being made to stop trademark violations at the manufacturer level and to keep imported knockoff auto parts from entering the country, if a counterfeit part were to make it into the distribution chain, would shops know what to look for? For this week’s Ask the Industry, we talked to two shop owners to learn more about their knowledge and experiences with counterfeit auto parts.
Executive Interview with Dave Ellingen, President and CEO of Mitchell 1
Mitchell 1 got its start back in 1946 when Glen Mitchell started a business out of creating simplified parts replacement books. In those days, OE parts replacement books could be complicated and difficult for the counterperson to use. As a counterperson himself, Mitchell saw a better way to organize parts replacement books, and from his vision, Mitchell 1 was born. Dave Ellingen, president and CEO of Mitchell 1, shared with aftermarketNews.com some of his thoughts on the roadblocks to getting more repair shops to embrace technology, and how parts suppliers are working to move the effort forward.
Mike Lambert and Mike Kamal Share Details on ADN
On Jan. 14, aftermarketNews.com broke the news of the merger between the Parts Plus and IAPA programmed distribution groups. This major news follows closely on the heels of the merger between Quebec’s Uni-Select and New York-based MAWDI, which seems to confirm the sea change that has been taking place over the past few years — with strong but small groups merging to form even stronger collaborations, in an effort to ensure their future in the automotive aftermarket distribution market. Mike Kamal, executive director of IAPA and Mike Lambert, president of Parts Plus, will serve as co-presidents of the new group, to be called the Automotive Distribution Network (ADN). Yesterday, Kamal and Lambert spoke at length with aftermarketNews.com about the merger – how it came together, the synergies involved and thoughts on the future of The Network.
Executive Interview with James Croston, Director of Marketing, Trico Products
Our latest Executive Interview features James Croston, director of marketing, Trico Products. As director of marketing for Trico Products, Croston has surfaced as a leader in today’s highly competitive automotive aftermarket. He has dedicated the last 15 years at Trico to developing new products that fill voids in the marketplace, educating the sellers and the buyers alike and finding better ways of communicating with potential and existing customers. Croston recently shared with us his opinions on the future of the wiper blade segment, as well as details about Trico’s recent product launches for the Innovision and Oktane lines.
Magazines Announce ‘Readers’ Choice Awards’ Recipients
The readers of Babcox’s Counterman, Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service magazines have announced the Readers’ Choice Award recipients for 2004. The awards are based upon those companies whose advertising most successfully communicated their messages to the aftermarket.
AWDA Announces New Officers, Incoming and Outgoing Board Members
Fletcher Lord, Jr., AAP, president and CEO, Parts Warehouse, Inc. has been elected 2005 chairman of the board for the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). Lord follows Richard Beirne (2004) and Ron Levene (2003) as AWDA chairmen. Joining Lord in the segment’s top leadership positions are vice chairman Doug Washbish, president, Moog Louisville Warehouse; secretary Tim Sturdevant, AAP, vice president and COO, S.A.E. Warehouse; and Timothy Lee, AAP, chairman, L-C Enterprises.
Live from AAPEX: MEMA Introduces New President at Press Conference
With what seemed like nearly the entire aftermarket industry gathered under one roof, what better place than AAPEX to introduce the new president of MEMA?
MEMA Names Industry Veteran Bob McKenna as its New President
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) has named Bob McKenna as its new president and CEO. The appointment is effective October 1. McKenna, who has 35 years of aftermarket industry experience, comes to MEMA from Atlanta-based Genuine Parts Company (GPC) where he served as group vice president and chairman of the board for the National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA).