AAIW Daily: AAPEX Learning Forum Classes For November 4

The AAPEX Learning Forum sessions will be held adjacent to the Sands Convention Center at the Venetian Hotel, on the Venetian/Palazzo Congress Center Level 1, Marco Polo Rooms 701-706.
All sessions are included with the price of show registration and open to everyone. No pre-registration is required, except for the two Lunch & Learn sessions.
Seminar attendees will receive 0.1 CEUs (continuing education units) for each session toward their Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) or Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) certifications from the University of the Aftermarket.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Sue Kalish, AAIA, 240-333-1047 or email sue.kalish@aftermarket.org.

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Industry Standards-A Look Inside the Shop of Tomorrow
This discussion will focus on how industry standards, driven by AAIA and others, are enabling technology leaders to deliver solutions to the automotive aftermarket in ways that benefit the shop, parts suppliers, parts manufacturers, and the consumer.

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Hot International Markets: The Automotive Aftermarket in China, Brazil, and Mexico
Join a panel of international experts as they share strategic market intelligence and discuss the state of the automotive aftermarket in three hot international markets: China, Brazil, and Mexico.

7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Today’s Escalating Import Car Parc: How To Capitalize on More Than Just the “Fast Movers”
The seismic shift in import vs. domestic nameplate market share-reaching 55.8% of 2009 new vehicle sales-took years to occur. But the impacts are immediate for all aftermarket channel players serving the surging numbers of import nameplates now coming of prime aftermarket repair age. In this session, learn what manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and installers must do to benefit and profit from this changing vehicle mix.

9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Communicating with Confidence: Service Consultants and Technicians Working Together for Vehicle Owners (And Increasing Profit for Repair Shops)
Perhaps the most common struggle faced by independent automotive service facilities-selling services effectively-is often overlooked by repair facility managers. Service consultants not familiar with the symptoms of common vehicle problems find it difficult to communicate what work needs to be done to customers (i.e., “selling service”).

9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Adding Social Media to Your Marketing Toolbox
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Social Media-everyone seems to be trying them out. You may have even attended a seminar or workshop about the topic, but still have questions. You just want to figure out whether these services can help take your business to a new level. Stop trying to “figure it out” on your own.

9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Automotive Service Shops: Top Performer Benchmarks and How to Get There
Tired of just the theory of profitability? Attend this workshop and see actual numbers of how top shops perform in “average hours per repair order” and “average sales per technician,” based on the results of a recent repair shop survey. Guidance on the staffing it takes to achieve the results of a top shop will be presented, as well as information on what “car count per technician,” “techs to service advisor ratios,” and “apprentice to tech ratios” can tell you.