"Winning Customers Together:" ACDelco's National Convention by the Numbers

“Winning Customers Together:” ACDelco’s National Convention by the Numbers

ACDelco has reported that its recent 2006 National Convention in Las Vegas dealt was attended by more than 6,000 ACDelco customers – Warehouse Distributors (WDs), Total Service Support (TSS) accounts and Jobbers – as well as employees. With a theme of “Winning Customers Together," the 2006 ACDelco National Convention showcased the tools ACDelco provides to help build relationships and grow the business.

GRAND BLANC, MI – ACDelco has reported that its recent 2006 National Convention in Las Vegas dealt was attended by more than 6,000 ACDelco customers – Warehouse Distributors (WDs), Total Service Support (TSS) accounts and Jobbers – as well as employees.

With a theme of “Winning Customers Together," the 2006 ACDelco National Convention showcased the tools ACDelco provides to help build relationships and grow the business. Here is a look at the 2006 ACDelco National Convention by the numbers:

Technician of the Millennium IV:

ACDelco congratulates all eight finalists who competed in the 2006 ACDelco Technician of the Millennium IV competition on their skills, knowledge, and professionalism. Only one could win the title, though, and it was awarded to Scot Manna, owner of MB Automotive, Inc., in Des Plaines, IL. In addition, Manna received over $41,000 in prizes, including a 2007 General Motors vehicle, an interior/exterior image enhancement for his service center, two trips for two to the Bahamas and a commemorative trophy.

Women’s Initiatives – “Knowledge is Power:”

ACDelco launched its “Knowledge is Power” initiative aimed at marketing to women and capturing this important and growing segment. ACDelco issued a challenge to ACDelco WDs and TSS accounts, men and women alike, to take advantage of all of the things ACDelco has available for women’s initiatives and do at least one thing to support growing the female customer base in their businesses in 2007.

Training:

ACDelco has long been recognized for helping technicians and shop owners stay current with new technology through the latest information and cutting-edge instruction. To help maintain its leadership in automotive aftermarket training, ACDelco offered 18 training seminars at the National Convention, including a few brand new ones launched at the event. Some of these seminars – including Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future; Emerging Technologies I; Eating Serial (Data) for Breakfast; and What’s Down the Hybrid Highway – will be available in 2007.

In 2006, ACDelco moved to a “blended learning” approach that incorporates web-based instruction with hands-on training. At the National Convention, ACDelco honored one technician and one service center that embraced this change and earned top honors in course completions through September:

• Buddy Weatherford from Buddy’s Under the Hood in Cedar Park, TX, received a Midtronics 500 Micro XL battery tester for individually completing more courses than any other technician

• Ron’s Automotive in Vancouver, WA, earned a $1,000 ACDelco image building graphic kit for participating in more training than any other service center

Expo:

The 90,000-square foot area at the National Convention included virtually everything ACDelco offers to help technicians and shop owners alike reach their goals and grow the businesses. In addition to the six product booths, more than 20 TSS program vendors including Cintas Corporation, CoverageOne, Dale Carnegie Training, Design Incentives, MechanicNet Group, Midtronics, Mitchell and Vetronix Corporation displayed their offerings. The Expo also featured the ACDelco “Extreme Garage,” GM Performance Parts, and GM Restoration Parts displays in addition to five Chevrolet HHRs and several fuel cell and hybrid vehicles.

Many Expo attendees participated in the “Top 10 Ways to Win with ACDelco” rally where they visited booths to identify the “Top 10” answers. Correctly completed cards were entered into a drawing to receive great prizes, including poker chip sets, poker tables, and the grand prize: a guitar autographed by Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. ACDelco congratulated Christine Frye, spouse / guest of Tony Frye, owner of Frye’s Auto Repair, Topeka, KS, who walked away with this priceless instrument. Gibbons also served as Grand Marshal of the Sixth Annual ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals which took place the weekend of the National Convention.

And, ACDelco printed almost 2,000 photos of attendees who had their snapshots taken with images of ACDelco-sponsored motorsports drivers Clint Bowyer (NASCAR Busch #2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo), Kurt Johnson (NHRA Pro Stock Chevrolet Cobalt), and Harold Martin (IHRA Pro-Mod Pontiac Grand Am). Bowyer, Johnson, and Martin also appeared in person, along with Team owner Richard Childress and ACDelco-sponsored Bass Fisherman Jimmy Houston, to sign autographs at the Expo.

Despite a tough commercial tire market in 2023 due to overstock and the effects of a rubber-banding supply chain, some tire manufacturers are expressing a cautious optimism for stabilization and gradual recovery through the rest of 2024 and into 2025.

"The economy is not showing signs that it’s going to slow down, but I don’t think the situation’s going to improve dramatically by the end of this year. It’s more likely next year," said Pierluigi Cumo, Vice President of B2B products, at Michelin North America. "We can see the light because the beginning of 2023 was very bad. I think now we’ve found the bottom, and I don’t think we’re going to get much further from the bottom in 2024."