GAAS Board Votes To Defer 2015 Event

Main Navigation

Advertisement
Social Connect
Resources
Our Brand Family
Counterman - Babcox Media
Counterman has been serving auto parts jobbers, retailers and distributors since 1983.
News

GAAS Board Votes To Defer 2015 Event

The first GAAS event was held in the fall of 1996 and quickly became the premier industry conference for senior-level aftermarket executives. For the past eight years, GAAS has been held each May in Chicago. The net proceeds of the event have been used to fund industry scholarships for students studying for careers in the automotive aftermarket.

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
Published:

CHICAGO – The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Board of Directors has voted to defer its educational event for 2015. According to GAAS Chairman Denny Welvaert, the board made the difficult decision to postpone the event for 2015 in order to revaluate the event’s purpose in the marketplace.
 
“Since its inception in 1996, the GAAS platform has hosted many notable speakers both within and outside our industry,” said Welvaert. “But the market has changed in the past 20 years and it has been increasingly difficult to attract attendees with the growth of program group meetings and other industry events. The board would like to take this next year to talk to industry leaders and study the event’s purpose, location and format.”
 
Welvaert said he’s grateful to the associations that sponsor the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and that recently announced they will hold a new Wednesday morning General Session at AAPEX on Nov. 5. The event will feature a keynote address by Steve Forbes and will be free to general attendees, with special VIP seating and other sponsorship opportunities available, to raise money for GAAS Scholarships.  
 
“The GAAS Board is glad to know that our most important endeavor of raising funds for industry scholarships will be supported by this new event at AAPEX,” Welvaert said.
 
The first GAAS event was held in the fall of 1996 and quickly became the premier industry conference for senior-level aftermarket executives. For the past eight years, GAAS has been held each May in Chicago. The net proceeds of the event have been used to fund industry scholarships for students studying for careers in the automotive aftermarket. The GAAS Scholarship Fund has awarded scholarships to more than 1,900 students representing $1.9 million in aid. Details about the GAAS scholarship program are available at www.automotivescholarships.com.
 
Welvaert says an announcement regarding GAAS’s future as an educational event will be made at a later time.
 
The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Auto Care Association, Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Industry Association (TIA) and U

Related Articles

You May Also Like

Auto Industry

Customer Service: How It’s Done

Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

Eric Garbe
By Eric Garbe
Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
Published:

This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

Read Full Article

More News Posts
MEMA Launches At-Home REPAIR Campaign

The next step in the campaign to get the REPAIR Act passed is to get aftermarket suppliers involved.

By Emma Henderson
Shaw Assumes Leadership of MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers

Collin Shaw succeeds Julie Fream who served 10 years in the position.

By Emma Henderson
AACF Launches 65th Anniversary Fundraising Initiative

The campaign aims to raise $65,000 through 1,000 donations of $65 each.

By Counterman Staff
Schaeffler Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report 

Schaeffler was awarded an “A” score in the climate change category for 2023 by the global non-profit environmental organization CDP for corporate transparency and performance.

By Emma Henderson
Schaeffler Sustainability Report

Other Posts

Introducing ‘Sustainability by Schaeffler’ on Counterman.com

In the weeks and months ahead, stay tuned for more sustainability content from Schaeffler and Counterman.

By Josh Cable
Schaeffler Sustainability
Jacki Lutz Named Content Director at Auto Care Association

Lutz will be tasked with leading a cross-functional and multimedia content strategy, development and execution across all platforms.

By Josh Cable
Jacki Lutz Auto Care
Auto Care Association Certified as a Great Place to Work

“This prestigious award is a testament to the association’s commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and dynamic work environment for its employees,” Auto Care said.

By Josh Cable
HD Repair Shops Report Increases in Counter Sales, Labor Rates

The data comes from a Fullbay report published in partnership with ATA’s Technology and Maintenance Council.

By Josh Cable
Heavy Duty Repair