Jerry Conant
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Q: Do your customers care where parts originate from, or are they simply focused on the bottom line? A: "Walk-ins want the least expensive, but quality parts. They may comment on offshore parts, but have come to accept them.
Professional shops are now accepting branded products but know they are offshore products."
Are brands still important in the aftermarket? More or less so? Why?
"To the professional tech, brand is still perceived as better quality. General public is more price driven than brand driven."
Q: How do you think distribution will change in the upcoming years?
A: "In the future because of the proliferation of parts and increasing types of vehicles, only large distributors will be able
to survive because of needed inventory both space and dollars."
What is the number one technology setback you encounter in the aftermarket?
"Technical information on new technical products being used in automobiles. It is not readily available fast enough for independent
garages.
Q: What effect has the economy had on your business?
A: "There is more do it yourself business on items they can install themselves. The professional installers are slow due to
the down economy along with new car dealers being way off. In general, business is down.
What do you see as the biggest challenge ahead in 2008? Fall and winter in Arizona is a slow period for businesses. Trying
to balance our payables to our receivables is difficult this time of year. With increases in fuel cost, oil cost and offshore
parts, everyone will have to watch their overhead expenses even more than normal.
