LAS VEGAS — It goes without saying that our industry continues to change before our very eyes. Distribution channels and methods continue to change. What worked as recently as a year ago might not be working now.
The University of the Aftermarket’s annual University Forum can help you stay competitive, and keep pace with our ever-changing market. The event takes place on Sunday, Oct. 31 prior to the kickoff of AAPEX 2004.
It does not matter whether you are a headquarter principal, WD, company-owned store manager, retailer or independent jobber — the health of your business will depend on how you are meeting and exceeding customers’ needs and adapting to cross-channel challenges and new technologies. Attendees to the 2004 University Forum, which is sponsored by Babcox Publications and Motormite/Dorman, will walk away with valuable tips and strategies to help meet those needs.
This year at University Forum the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association’s current Chairman Dave Caracci will moderate the Executive Roundtable and Service Dealer Panel on “The OE Dealership & Their Triple Edge Threat And Opportunity To The Aftermarket.”
Joining Caracci on the panel will be Mark Cox, owner of Edison Auto Service in Ft. Meyers, Fla.; Jack Giddens, a sales manager at Brooks Auto Parts, a large automotive parts supplier in Savannah, Ga.; and WM. Mac McGovern, AAM, owner of Precision Engine in Elk Grove Village, Ill. Also on the panel: Andy Tobias, president of Tobias’ Automotive Specialists, an independent, complete automotive repair company with two locations in Arizona, and Bill Tyson of Bill Tyson’s Auto Repair in Kenosha, Wis.
Dave Caracci’s aftermarket career includes 30 years of diverse experience, beginning as a race car driver and engine builder. Later, he joined Dana Corp., serving in such positions as aftermarket marketing manager and general sales manager. He also spent 14 years at ROL Manufacturing, after serving as vice president/general manager of SafeGuard Engine Parts. He currently serves as vice president of sales/national accounts for the aftermarket division of the Robert Bosch Corp. In addition to serving as chairman on AAIA, Caracci is a member of the Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Advisory Board.
Caracci and the panel will discuss the OE dealerships in their concentrated effort to capture new service customers, from the perspective of dealers who have met this threat head-on. The panel will discuss what to do regarding inventory, counter training, delivery and more. The panel will include roundtable discussions for opportunities to talk about these issues in further detail among peers.
This session is recommended for retailers, jobbers, WD, company-owned store managers, manufacturers and sales managers.
Areas of Concentration: Marketing/Sales Management, Manufacturer, Warehouse Distributor
CEUs: 0.3
For more information and to register for University Forum, go to: http://www.univaftmkt.org/courses/G533.htm.
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