JC Washbish: 'Selling Better' Has Been the Goal All Along

In the July 2023 issue of AMN/Counterman, we gave leaders from the major distribution groups and trade associations an opportunity to reflect on the most critical issues affecting the automotive aftermarket. For the second year in a row, we let distribution leaders “riff” on these topics in their own words.

Here’s what JC Washbish, vice president of sales and marketing for the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, had to say on the power of partnerships.

The Alliance has been full-speed down the front stretch of 2023 with our joint-venture partners, Federated Auto Parts, and the newly established Federated-Alliance! It has been exciting, to say the least, to work with our close friends at Federated. Our goal from Day 1 has been to sell better! It remains our aim to be the best independent distributor in the industry.

The Federated-Alliance partnership has led to our inclusion in the Automotive Parts Services Group (The Group). The Alliance would like to thank Sue Godschalk, president of Federated Auto Parts, and Robert Roos, president and CEO of the Pronto Network Cooperative, for welcoming the Alliance into The Group with open arms. It was an honor to attend The Group’s 2023 National Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, this past March. The Alliance also would like to thank all the valued channel partners that supported and attended the wonderful event. Without their support or their quality products, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish our goal: selling better!

The Alliance also has increased its membership within the Alliance Commercial Vehicle and Heavy-Duty program with the additions of Pardo Fleet Solutions located in Sewell, New Jersey, in March. Piston Ring Service & Supply of Winnipeg officially joined the program in April. Finally, the Alliance is excited to announce Arnold Oil Supply of Austin, Texas, as its newest CVHD member this past June.

The focus of the Alliance takes a political shift as we head into the second half of the year. We will answer the calls of Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, and Paul McCarthy, president and CEO of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, to work together to pass The REPAIR Act.

July is Right to Repair month. We are mobilizing our employees, our shareholder members as well as our shop customers and encouraging them to contact their members of Congress to ask that those officials support the REPAIR Act. The Alliance will attend the Auto Care Association Legislative Summit this September to further demand passage of the bill by their members of Congress.

In fact, I am asking YOU, the reader (come on, you’ve made it this far), to also contact your member of congress today by visiting this link: https://www.autocareadvocacy.org/take-action-tell-congress-support-right-to-repair/.

The Alliance is looking forward to a fantastic back stretch of 2023 and is hopeful that as a united industry we will all be protected with the Right to Repair.