WICHITA, Kan. – Universal Lubricants has announced that Thomas Barb has joined the company as director of retail sales. Barb, who has 20 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, will oversee all of the company’s sales activities relating to the retail segment. He’ll report to Peter Fox, Universal Lubricants’ vice president of marketing and retail sales.
"Universal Lubricants saw its footprint expand in the past year at an incredible rate. We introduced our high-performance and environmentally friendly line of engine oils, ECO ULTRA, to dealerships, service centers and auto shops around the country," said Fox. "We’re deepening our marketing and sales team to accommodate – and what’s more, to accelerate – the growing demand. Tom not only offers a depth of knowledge about the automotive industry, but a breadth of experience in visual presentation, product management and advertising that will complement the skills of our existing staff. We will continue to focus on delivering results and nurturing distribution channels, so that more people, more quickly, are able to choose ECO ULTRA to keep their engines performing optimally, while helping to preserve our natural resources."
Barb previously served as the director of merchandising at AutoZone for 11 years. He managed maintenance, visual presentation and minor repair groups in this capacity, driving retail sales for products representing $1 billion at market. Barb also served as a buyer for Pep Boys, where he was responsible for purchasing and merchandising decisions for a variety of categories, including: chemicals, accessories, electronics, application products, paint, hardware and tools.
"I am very excited to join Universal Lubricants," said Barb. "The company is driving innovation – from its use of re-refined oil in place of crude as a feedstock for ECO ULTRA, to the product’s unconventional packaging design. I look forward to marketing a product that prioritizes performance while being environmentally friendly, and helping Universal Lubricants grow."
