Top Ten News Stories o2004
Whether you believe 2004 was a good or bad year for the aftermarket, no one can argue this was a big news year for our industry. Here’s a month-by-month look at what Counterman and aftermarketNews.com and consider to be biggest news events of 2004.
Scanning the Market
Parts stores and distributors are missing on a major market segment if they aren’t active in the selling of diagnostic equipment.
Growing the Benefits of Group Buying
Sourcing import parts is sometimes not as simple as it might seem. In our case, it meant creating our own buying group that would make sourcing simpler and more cost effective.
Cost Crunch
Rising gas prices continue, but so must your parts deliveries. What do you do?
Are Your Customers Really Happy With Your Service?
These days, customers can obtain quality parts at good prices from a variety of sources. However, people still buy from people. What sets you and your store apart from the competition, now and in the future, is your quality of service. You have a well-stocked inventory, and what you consider to be a competent staff.
Selling Specialty Chemicals
In a garage located amid the noise and chaos of mid-town Manhattan, a group of journalists gathered to see firsthand how some specialty chemicals work, and the importance store personnel play in their purchase and use. The event was the first such event for Turtle Wax, a company that has been active in the specialty
Building a Total Market Strategy
Want to grow your business, earn more money and chart a course for the future? Maybe it’s time for a Total Market Strategy.
Divided We Stand
What kind of issue is the “Right to Repair?” It depends on whom you ask. Why does this issue divide technicians, distributors and manufacturers? What can the aftermarket industry learn from this critical debate?
What do Creditors Really Want?
At some point, the majority of parts store owners have to secure funding in the form of loans from creditors. Whether it’s necessary for more inventory, store upgrading or expanding operations, how the creditor views your business determines the outcome of the financing you seek. Unlike the focus of the parts store, which is directed
The Disappearing Customer
For the motorist, a lack of highly qualified technicians can mean higher costs and longer waits. But for the auto parts distributor, the ramifications hit a little closer to home: A potential technician shortage is a potential customer shortage. For the motorist, a lack of highly qualified technicians can mean higher costs and longer waits.