Ignite Your Sales
It should be obvious that the internal combustion engine and the starting, charging and ignition parts that make it go will be around for a long time to come. Your grandchildren may be zipping around in high-tech vehicles propelled by electric motors, fuel cells and hydrogen gas, but for the next 20 years or so,
Visibility: Helping Your Customers See and Be Seen
Visibility-enhancing products such as wipers and lighting are one of the most neglected of automotive maintenance items. However, for optimum performance and driving visibility, blades should be replaced every six months.
A World with No Choice
Take time to get involved in our industry. The future of your own business may depend on it.
Complaining as Sport
Complaining has become a national pastime – less about the automotive aftermarket and more about the OE side of the world.
Striking a Chord
Jerry Ives knows how to make music behind the counter. He says that engines and music composition are very similar, mathematically speaking.
Top 10 Distribution Influences
A variety of factors – both positive and negative – impact aftermarket distribution. For the sixth year, Counterman editors present their view of the top 10 influences that impact the industry.
Eyes on the Prize
Pricing is an important factor in running an auto parts business. But it’s not the only one.
Store Science
Math, physics, chemistry – these are obvious subjects that all relates to automotive technology. But what about biology?
Industry Report: The Chassis Market
Mike Smith of Dana/Spicer blames the decline of steering and suspension parts on the increased sales of new vehicles, improved durability of OEM parts and market shifts in the vehicle population. "It’s not unusual to see a lot of import cars go to the scrapyard without ever having any significant chassis parts replaced," said Smith.
2002 Parts Store Market Profile
So what is average? If you’re talking about things easily quantified like return rates, the answers are easy. But what about parts stores themselves?
