Daniel Randon, CEO and director of investor relations with Fras-Le, says the company's new proving ground in Brazil will move things forward even more for the company. The proving ground will featuer 18 tracks and more than 10 miles of road.
OpenGate Capital purchased Gabriel North America on June 29, 2009. Lisa Bahas, president, Ride Control, LLC, says the purchase has been good for the company, allowing it to focus more on investments it deems necessary.
Lubricant manufacturer Prolong is offering its new Engine Treatment oil additive, but it stands apart from its competitors. Complete with anti-friction metal treatment bonding technology, the additive is designed to perform better as heat and friction increase, says Jeff Victer, company international/domestic salees manager.
Larry Beaver, vice president of technology with Liquid Wrench, talks about the new formula of the company's Penetrating Oil. One of the main features is lower odor, a plus for not only techs but their customers.
Bill Dennie, director, Ride Control Channel Management, Tenneco, says the company is adding a new lifetime limited warranty to its strut models, keeping it ahead of the industry.
IMN is a company that specializes in content-driven communication services, allowing aftermarket automotive care and maintenance franchise companies to communicate through multimedia email and newsletters that are designed to drive product sales. "It's all about delivering very relavent communications to consumers to get business results," says Kimo Kong, IMN worldwide vice president of sales & channels, who further explains the company's focus.
Kimo Kong is the worldwide vice president of sales & channels for IMN, a digital communications company that focuses on providing electronic newsletter formats and content for automotive repair and dealership franchises. He discusses the benefits of digital communication and its impact in getting a message to the customer.
Todd Hayes, live in training, dicusses three steps to inspecting your customer's vehicle and the "why" behind having a consistent sales system in your shop.
SEMA's John Waraniak talks to us about their latest report, "The Major Determinants of U.S. Automotive Demand: Factors Driving the U.S. Automotive Market and Their Implications for Specialty-Equipment Suppliers." John talks about how the changing dynamics of the auto industry, combined with changing technology and the many new engine options on the road, will open up doors for companies that can quickly adapt to the marketplace. For more, check out the article on SearchAutoParts.com.
Dan Smith, president of Capstone Financial Group, an investment firm that handles interests in the aftermarket, discusses the shifts seen in the distribution of accessory and other non-discretionary parts.
Jim Dykstra, owner of Dykstra’s Auto Service in Hudsonville, Mich., explains that he does not see much change in the distribution model from his perspective — he continues to utilize the three-step distribution and really relies on his warehouse distributors and parts stores in daily business.
Paul Marquardt has been named the 2010 NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year, an honor he first thought 30 years ago would be amazing to achieve. He is humbled by the achievement, and shares his thoughts on the top honor with Motor Age.
Existing rebate reporting systems have some inherent problems, points out Kenny Cameron, channel marketing manager, FRAM Filtration, which launched an electronic rebate reporting system earlier this year. The system leads to more accurate rebate reporting and quicker credits, according to Honeywell.
Kenny Cameron, channel marketing manager for FRAM Filtration, explains how data is captured with the brand's electronic rebate reporting system, which is expected to lead to more accuracy and quicker credit turnarounds, according to Honeywell.
David Sturtz, RepairPal CEO, says the new agreement offering Automotive Service Association (ASA) members a discount on the company’s Appointment Plus services is like giving RepairPal a seal of approval for its services.
The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association's (AASA) Jack Cameron talks about the association's new study which looks at the buying influences on the independent service repair industry. Cameron talks about what the study is, why the association did it, and some of the major findings from the report. Read more about it and find the whole report at SearchAutoParts.com.
The automotive aftermarket may have hit a rough patch, but not many industries have historically performed as well as this segment, says Dan Smith, president of Capstone Financial Group. Look for more detailed investor coverage in the September issue of Aftermarket Business.
Paul Lambdin, owner and manager of Cary Car Care, in Cary, N.C., explains his repair shop's team-based employee bonus system. Lambdin was one of the finalists of last year's Motor Age Top Shops competition.
From an investment standpoint, the auto aftermarket is stable because there will always be a need for repair and upkeep of vehicles, says investor Kristin Newhall, partner for The Riverside Company, who adds that there has been a shift from accessories to more necessity items. For more detailed investor coverage, see the September issue of Aftermarket Business.
