Conference Offers Fun and Profit

The AIA Eastern Regional Conference, "What’s Brewing in the Automotive Aftermarket," will be held October 3rd and 4th, 2005, at the Holiday Inn in Guelph, Ontario.
The Conference is designed specifically for Automotive Service Providers and Jobbers and offers practical business sessions, networking opportunities, and affordable pricing.
The Eastern Regional Conference is a great opportunity to learn from several leading automotive analysts and respected industry leaders. Learn what the OE dealers are up to so you can chart your plan to compete with them head on. Then find out more about the direction of the growing sport compact market.

To help you tap into the latest trends, AIA has lined up the following value-packed speaker line up:

Richard Cooper, JD Power and Associates
Overview of the import side and what dealers are doing
Join Richard as he discusses the disturbing trend of loss of market share by the aftermarket to the dealers and what we need to regain that lost business.

Bob McPherson, NPD Group
Consumer Trends and Attitudes
AIA is working with Bob and the NPD Group to research ongoing consumer trends and attitudes toward vehicle maintenance and repair. Bob will present the findings we have collected to date and provide some insight into what this means for your business.

Barron Lau, Digital Impressions Group
Sports Compact Market
Join Barron as he reveals proven strategies and tactics that will effectively help you tap into this lucrative market. He will discuss the sport compact industry as whole, where it came from and where it is going, with key focuses on major trends and an overall understanding of the sport compact culture.

Kelly Williams, Car Care Canada
Be Car Care Aware Program
Through its consumer branding voice Car Care Canada, AIA officially launched the Be Car Care Aware consumer education campaign in 2004. Find out from retired CASCAR racer Kelly Williams what’s going on during October’s Car Safety Month, and more importantly, how you can become involved.

Succession Planning
Learn first hand how an Employee Share Ownership Program can work for you and your family.

Panel Presentation – Recruitment
Join in an interactive discussion with our panelists to discuss the recruitment issues currently faced by our industry as well as what we can expect in the coming years. Learn some strategies to help your organization remain profitable through effective recruitment.

Patrick Jarvis: The Power of One
Join Pat as he explores situations in life that manifest the results, intentional and unintentional, of living life with intent. Using humorous anecdotal evidence of the power of choice, Patrick examines the question we all ask sooner or later, "What difference am I making?!?"

Be sure to also join us on the 3rd for the Central and Southwestern Ontario Divisions golf tournament at Springfield Golf and Country Club followed by an Octoberfest Fun Night.
For more information about the Eastern Regional Conference and to register visit www.aiacanada.com/events.
The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) is a national trade association representing the automotive aftermarket industry. The aftermarket is a $15.6 billion industry, and is proud to employ more than 220,000 people. AIA’s members manufacture, distribute, and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, service, tools, equipment, materials and supplies. AIA’s mandate is to promote, educate and represent members in all areas that impact the growth and prosperity of the industry. Visit us on the web at www.aiacanada.com