Features

   Feature Association News

New AIA chairman to focus on communication
May 18, 2020 by Allan Janssen

  By Allan Janssen There has never been a greater need for communication between an association and its members. And it comes at a time when there are more ways of communicating than ever before. The incoming chairman of the…

   Feature Economy and Politics

Recent events could accelerate ‘near-sourcing’ trend: Panel
May 13, 2020 by Allan Janssen

  By Allan Janssen The coronavirus pandemic could accelerate a fledgling trend of near-sourcing by automotive component suppliers, according to well-placed panelists at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association’s recent Vision conference. The conference, held online over two days in April,…

   Feature Auto Repair & ServiceBusiness ManagementCovid-19

Consumer behaviour study holds hopeful promise for aftermarket
May 12, 2020 by Allan Janssen

If the sale of auto parts and service during the Great Recession of 2009 is any predictor of what will happen during the current market downturn, independent shops should expect to fare better than dealerships. According to a new report…

   Feature Milestones & AwardsPeople & Profiles

Winnipeg tech named Auto Value’s top tech in Canada
May 12, 2020 by Allan Janssen

  Jason Meilleur of River Park Automotive in Winnipeg has been named the 2020 Canadian Technician of the Year. Meilleur was selected from five Canadian finalists, scoring highly for his training efforts and automotive excellence. His achievements – along with…

   Feature Business Management

New SEMA report offers insights into retail trends
May 12, 2020 by Allan Janssen

A new SEMA Industry Perspectives Report provides insight on the health of the automotive aftermarket industry on a wide range of business metrics. Among the key findings: independent retailers in the automotive aftermarket remain the most used sales channel for…

   Feature Business ManagementService Advisor and Selling

SELLING: How to gain your customer’s confidence
May 12, 2020 by Allan Janssen

  By donalee Moulton In a competitive aftermarket, attracting new customers and convincing them to return is more than smart business. It’s essential. It is also a skill and a way of doing business that can be learned and enhanced.…

   Feature Business ManagementNews Oddities

What are you listening to?
May 12, 2020 by Allan Janssen

  By Allan Janssen Podcasts are not a new thing. Streaming radio shows directly to your phone or MP3 player, or downloading them to your computer has been a thing since 2004. But it seems the first decade of podcasting…

   Feature Business Management

Getting through the disruption
May 9, 2020 by Bob Greenwood

By Bob Greenwood, AMAM A massive aftermarket disruption is well underway. Your business will be dramatically affected this year by what the shops you sell to are going through. Shop owners who can see the prevailing trendlines are paying very…

   Feature Business ManagementIndustry Trends

‘Game changers’ set to rewrite the meaning of work
May 9, 2020 by Allan Janssen

  Attempting to predict how technology will impact an industry is a difficult but important exercise. By Allan Janssen On the surface, the auto parts distribution industry seems well insulated from automation. After all, auto parts will continue to be…

   Feature

It’s what is on the inside that will count
January 23, 2020 by Adam Malik

By Adam Malik There’s a theory out there that by introducing automated driving through ride sharing and mobility-as-a-service options, apprehensions of the technology will decrease. It’s easy to connect the thought dots. As people see these cars and get into…

   Feature Business ManagementPeople & Profiles

Next adventure for this innovative shop owner? Retirement
January 1, 2020 by Allan Janssen

By Allan Janssen Since 1975, Bruce Eccles has kept ‘the valley town’ of Dundas, Ont. moving. The owner of Eccles Auto Service has flourished in five different locations in and around his hometown over the years. The business now includes…

   Feature Business ManagementConsumer trendsMarket Research & Statistics

Winning websites offer marketing tips
December 26, 2019 by Jacob Stoller

By Jacob Stoller With all the hype about the “newness” of the digital age, it’s hard to believe that the world’s first website turned thirty in 2019. However, while social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have dominated…