Let’s Show How Creative The Automotive Aftermarket Auto Parts Industry Can Be
During my time at industry week, I had the opportunity to visit both AAPEX and SEMA for extended periods of time. It’s always exciting to see so many companies and all of the innovative and creative ideas that are continuously flowing out of our great industry. The great thing about the automotive industry is that
Keeping It Simple: Why Did Your District Manager Do It That Way?
Recently, we covered the topic of how being a leader is not easy. There’s really no cookie cutter way to be a leader of any kind. Leadership abilities are developed over time and no two leaders are exactly alike. But, leadership is not the subject of this article. The subject is why the leader in
Counter-Tech: Still Looking For It At AAPEX 2011
One sure sign of the passing of time for my generation is how the best rock music of the past, even those obscure alternative bands that I craved as a teen, have now been redeployed in the 21st century as background music for our collective mass consumption. The most scandalous version of this phenomena, is
Research & Development Are Keys To Success, If Money Is Spent Wisely
The secret to success for a vibrant automotive aftermarket just may be something you can’t see with the naked eye. How so? During the past 60 days or so, I’ve visited and researched a number of aftermarket manufacturers who are doing their part to make sure their parts are the absolute best they can produce.
The Training Dilemma
Training is a complex brew of needs and availability.
From The Publisher: Take My Word For It… We Are Better Off
Many of you do not know that my first experience in the aftermarket was at an independent jobber in Ohio. While much of my time was spent in the engine rebuilding portion of the organization, I probably did a 50/50 split between rebuilding and counter duty. I understand that does not make me an expert
Are You Ready To Innovate?
ions have always been held by teachers from our industry’s own University of the Aftermarket or the INCAE Business School. The INCAE Business School is widely recognized as Latin America’s leading MBA business program, with campuses in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Finding its famed roots all the way back to JFK and the Harvard Business
The Evolution Of Key performance Indicators (KPI)
By Allen Markowitz and Allan Gerber As we look at the how our industry changes and evolves, we observe how efficient today’s parts stores have become. Efficiency can be calculated utilizing spreadsheets and intuitive computer programs to measure Key Performance Indicator (KPI) efficiencies and profitability in all areas of the business. Some of the areas
It’s Been A Real Disaster
By Allen Markowitz and Allan Gerber We are three quarters of the way through 2011 and look at what is going on around us. No, we are not speaking about our industry. The automotive industry is actually doing quite well; it is growing, new cars are selling, repairs are being made, parts are being sold
Todd Carpenter, 2011 Counter Professional of the Year sponsored by Affinia, WIX and Raybestos
The automotive aftermarket runs through Todd Carpenter’s blood. He got started in the business at age 13, working in his father’s NAPA store in Cambridge, Minn., where he swept floors and put away stock. Eventually, he became a counter professional and later was promoted to store manager. Carpenter was chosen as Counterman magazine’s 2011 Counter
We’re Lucky To Be Part Of This Industry
Hello from the offices of Counterman magazine. As we head into the automotive aftermarket’s busiest season,I want to reflect on how lucky we are to be in this great industry and how good things really are. As is the case every year, there will be a huge gathering of this industry in Las Vegas and
Using Apps To Sell Parts: Dropbox and SugarSync
Do you back up? This is by far the most used question any IT support person asks when your computer has clunked out, which happens to be the worst time to ask that darn question. I learned many years ago, that “yes, often and repeatedly” is the only appropriate answer to that question. I’m a