JC Whitney Gains Exclusive License to CarParts.Com Consumer Business

CarParts.com, a division of CarParts Technologies, and JC Whitney Company have announced that JC Whitney will become the exclusive licensee of CarParts.com consumer business.
JC Whitney, based in Chicago, Ill., will license the CarParts.com URL and provide all sales and service fulfillment for the more than 1 million unique visitors that shop on the site each month. In addition, the two companies are discussing other ways to leverage CarParts Technologies’ supply chain solutions for the automotive aftermarket.
Tim Ford, president of JC Whitney, said the licensing agreement would result in a superior shopping experience for automotive enthusiasts.
"We are very glad to be working with CarParts.com," said Tim Ford, president of JC Whitney. "They have developed sophisticated systems and a strong following with their consumer business."
JC Whitney, which has been operating since 1915, introduced its website as a complement to its direct marketing business in 1997. Since its launch, the site has been continually improved with new products and customer service features.
"The customers and products that CarParts.com provides, supports our multi-channel approach to the automotive marketplace — furthering our vision of JC Whitney: ‘Everything Automotive,’" Ford said.
Launched in April 1999, CarParts.com quickly became one of the leading e-tailing sites for automotive enthusiasts shopping for engine parts, accessories, and performance products.
CarParts Technologies, the parent company, is one of the leading providers of supply chain management solutions to the automotive aftermarket, a $150 billion industry in the U.S. The company has more than 2,500 customers using its solutions, including manufacturers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, service chains and independent repair shops.
Alan Bennett, CarParts Technologies chief executive officer, said the license agreement with JC Whitney is another milestone in the company’s mission to provide innovative and intelligent solutions to the automotive aftermarket.
"Innovation, creativity and an unwavering commitment for superior design and performance are the hallmarks of our consumer technology division," Bennett said. "Those same practices apply in the development of our aftermarket business applications and they will serve us well in the years ahead as we expand our commercial customer base throughout North America."