Green Products, International Buying and NASCAR Highlight ’07 AAPEX Show

This year’s edition of AAPEX has plenty in store for jobbers. From celebrity sightings to educational programs, the show should provide plenty of opportunities as well as the requisite amount of Vegas fun.

In terms of scheduling, NASCAR Celebrity Day at AAPEX will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 31. NASCAR Celebrity Day will highlight NASCAR drivers and crew chiefs attending the show, and was originally planned for Oct. 30. NASCAR celebrities who were at AAPEX in 2006 included Ken Schrader, Motorcraft/Ford Motor Company #21 NASCAR driver; Matt Borland, #12 Mobil 1 crew chief; Tommy Baldwin, NASCAR Cup crew chief; Greg Zipadell, two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion crew chief; Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray, NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers; J.J. Yeley, NASCAR Nextel race car driver – Interstate Batteries; Robby Gordon, NASCAR race car driver; and Johnny Benson, #23 Craftsman Series Truck driver.

Secondly, AAPEX will feature its first-ever Green Zone at this year’s event to highlight environmentally friendly products, tools, and services. The AAPEX Green Zone will feature products that service providers and retailers can sell to consumers to help make their vehicles more efficient and environmentally friendly. It also will have tools and diagnostic equipment used to repair new green cars, as well as suppliers that recycle waste or remanufacture parts, or that have environmentally friendly aftermarket parts.

“The automotive aftermarket is one of the most environmentally friendly industries in the world,” says Bill Glasgow, Sr., AAPEX show manager. “The Green Zone will provide an exceptional opportunity for suppliers to showcase their products to the aftermarket, and for retailers and service shops to advance their expertise in this field.” The AAPEX Green Zone will be located in the Venetian Hotel Ballroom that adjoins the Sands Expo Center.

AAPEX also will identify exhibitors on the show floor that have green products, and the AAPEX Web site, www.AAPEXShow.com, will include a “Buy Green” area where buyers can find products that are environmentally friendly. In addition, many exhibitors will promote their companies’ green practices at the show, including environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and training programs to encourage employees to be environmentally responsible.

Finally, in response to requests from members for more educational opportunities, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) is hosting a variety of value-added seminars at this year’s show.

The following seminars will be held Tuesday,Oct. 30:

Selling Parts for Imports: Did You Ever Consider Listening to Your Customer? The Installer’s View (hosted by the Auto International Association, a segment of AAIA), 7:45 a.m. – 9 a.m. A panel of import parts specialists will detail specifically what they want and need from their auto parts suppliers (breakfast seminar; reservation required).

Right to Repair: A Global View, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Representatives from Canada, the European Union and the U.S. will discuss the state of access to service information and tools along with their organizations’ efforts to ensure competition in the repair aftermarket for independent service providers.

One Size Fits All: Bringing Aftermarket Size Data Into Agreement, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. AAIA and Lang Marketing discuss the annual best-selling Aftermarket Factbook, reporting on data and answering questions on its new expanded version.

These seminars will be held Thursday, Nov. 1:

Selling to the U.S. Aftermarket: Getting It Right (hosted by the Auto International Association, a segment of AAIA), 7:45 a.m. – 9 a.m. International parts suppliers come together to gain strategic advice on the opportunities in a complex and changing aftermarket (breakfast seminar; reservation required).

$60 Billion in Unperformed Maintenance – What’s In It for You?, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. The Car Care Council discusses how to leverage the Be Car Care Aware consumer education campaign and the new Car Care Guide to teach customers about vehicle maintenance and build traffic.

ACES, PIES – What’s It All Mean?, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Learn how compliance with industry standards can benefit the top and bottom lines for your business.

Mitch’s Top Ten Shop Blunders, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. AAIA’s Mitch Schneider shows attendees how to make software updates and reprogramming part of the services provided in a shop.

All seminars will be held in the Sands Expo Center.