The Program Groups: Strong As Ever
As the aftermarket emerges from the economic uncertainty of the last 18 months, the program groups are poised to make the most of data warehousing and other business tools to put their best foot forward.
The Evolution of Aftermarket Product Lines: Part V
While there are certainly many benefits to sourcing aftermarket products from lower cost countries, there are also numerous pitfalls that should be identified and considered before simply jumping on this latest trend. In part five of a five-part series, Dave Caracci examines the risks and costs associated with sourcing aftermarket products from overseas.
The Globalization of the Groups
While the automotive supplier base becomes more global and the US WD population continues to shrink, some program groups look outside the borders to strengthen membership and protect volume. A link to a complete program group chart can be found at the bottom of this article by Editor Brian Cruickshank.
Membership Has its Privileges!
You can point to many industry influences, but none can hold a candle to the importance of programmed distribution. Its evolution within this market has been the single-most influential phenomenon our industry has ever seen. Nobody sells more automotive products (combined) today than NAPA, the industry’s very first group. With some 6,000 participating outlets, no
The Big Getter
Every February, we list the 20 largest store groups in the industry, and each year this list reveals significant changes in store ownership.
Cost Crunch
Rising gas prices continue, but so must your parts deliveries. What do you do?
Connecting with Customers: A Day in the Life of an Outside Salesman
The world of the outside sales rep is far more than just making sales. It’s about developing relationships.
The Program Group Puzzle
As the program group universe continues to consolidate, groups are looking to find their niche in the ever-increasing quest for shareholder value, retention and recruitment.
The Super Stores
An In-Depth Look At The 20 Largest Store Groups The big distributors in the industry just keep getting bigger. See how the most influential store groups in the industry have grown over the last 12 months.
The Branding of Program Groups
In the beginning, program groups were little more than group buyers. These days, groups are bona-fide programs that allow parts stores and their service dealer customers to compete on a level playing field thanks to the brand recognition that group membership brings.