Offering advantages in disguise, the recession is weeding out weaker aftermarket competitors, spurring innovation in cost
management and opening the door for stable resellers and WDs to pursue new customer bases while expanding existing marketshare.
And the program groups are working to implement training and education to ensure their members keep opening the door to stability
and profitability.
AAM USA Inc.
But a steady focus on opportunities, sales and success is nothing new to the aftermarket, says Richard Morgan, Aftermarket
Automotive Parts Alliance president and CEO. "That's our job every day. Members are all out there working hard daily just
keeping their businesses going," he says.
Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance
Program groups are keeping their memberships stable and growing in a time of stagnant spending and delayed repair by identifying
new market segments, improving online product sales and availability and adjusting inventory to address parts proliferation
and customer demands.
Auto Parts Associates, Inc.
Members are also using the recession as a motivator to re-evaluate and for some, revamp, business practices, says Tim Odom,
AAM president. "It is causing everyone to stop and look at their businesses and create a strategy. Day-to-day business can
be filled with answering phones, helping customers. But you must assess your long-term business: Who am I? What services are
essential? Who are my customers? What do I need to do to retain my customers? These things can be painful, but are needed
to grow.
