Fresh eyes on the Canadian aftermarket, with Rob Blitzstein
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A lifetime in auto parts and a new sense of adventure have pulled industry veteran Rob Blitzstein northward. The founder of recently-launched True North Consulting is betting on the Canadian automotive aftermarket and he’s bringing experience he’s gained from the ground up.
He has a long family history tied to the aftermarket. Blitzstein’s great-grandfather converted the family toy store into an auto parts store in the 1950s and he naturally came up in the business.
“I always joke around, because I’m 41 years old, and I say I’ve been doing this for about 42 years, because I started in my mother’s womb,” he said during the episode, recorded at AAPEX 2025 in the fall.
The family business was eventually acquired by Parts Authority and Blitzstein rose through the ranks. Serving as senior vice president of pricing and vendor management, he saw opportunity in Canada’s uniquely positioned aftermarket. He left the company and started True North Consulting.
Blitzstein didn’t sugar-coat the work he has to put in. Starting his business meant stepping into unfamiliar territory, both literally and figuratively.
“My challenge is, I basically started from scratch. I don’t really have a huge network in Canada like I do in America,” he shared.
Still, it’s the differences between the U.S. and Canadian markets that excite him. The Canadian industry reminds him of the earlier days south of the border.
“The Canadian market is extremely similar to the U.S. market just a few years ago,” he said. “I’ve heard people tell me anywhere from like 20 to 30 to 40 years ago, that’s kind of what [Canada] looks like [compared to the U.S.]. So that makes a lot of sense to me, and the way that the business operates. The price sheet still exists in Canada, and that’s really what I know the best.”
As business ramps up, Blitzstein said he plans to keep listening, learning and building bridges between manufacturers and distributors to help the Canadian aftermarket carve out its own identity while drawing on decades of experience.
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