It’s All About the Data

The first time I heard Jerry McCabe say, “It’s all about the data” was in his address to the Aftermarket eForum™ in July 2003. What, at the time, was an unconventional assertion delivered with humor, has now come to be accepted as fact. And, I’ve heard CEOs and an increasing number of marketing types use the same words with conviction in everyday conversation… like they really believe it.

In our industry, the standards that add structure and consistency to our data are called ACES and PIES. Even though they have reached a level of maturity, they continue to grow more capable and comprehensive in response to the constant evolution of our data requirements. This is a busy year with the introduction of VCdb Efficiency, the publication of the Digital Assets Best Practices and the initial release of product-specific attribute definitions in the fall. What it means is the bar keeps moving higher and the standards have to stay one step ahead.

I was really tickled to hear Ed Rammel, the president of Dayco North America, speak at GAAS and describe the “Technology Trifecta” that they observed at Dayco when they implemented the data standards. Increased sales, reduced operating capital and improved efficiency were the leading benefits of getting their internal data act together and having more sharable content to exchange with channel partners. Rammel was in the audience nine years ago when he heard “It’s all about the data.” Because they understood it and believed it, their business is enjoying the benefits today.

If you still have questions about how to best manage your data and drive business benefits, I invite you to visit the technology section of our website or contact a member of the technology department staff.

This is too good for you to miss out.

eForum 2.0 – Be There Like Never Before

At industry events and conferences I have attended recently, I have seen graphs with lines going almost straight up to represent the explosive growth in the use of mobile devices for searching and shopping. The sale of iPads and smart phones is not limited to the Millennials. Even geezers are getting on the mobile bandwagon – which explains why sales of mobile devices are projected to exceed those of PCs this year.

So what does this mean to our members? I think it means that while you were contemplating your last investment in data management or ecommerce, the bar was raised yet again. Mobile websites, 360 product images and other web-enabled digital assets are no longer over the horizon – they are in your face and here today. They are what your customers expect to see when they search for your products.

We are lucky as an industry that our volunteer leaders have anticipated many of the needs of the digital aftermarket and created standards and best practices so you don’t have to start from scratch in creating your content. We’re also fortunate to have a venue where marketing types and IT experts can come together and learn about the latest technologies available to help your brand get found and increase sales. That venue is the aftermarket eForum, July 17-18, in Chicago. I hope to see you there… with smartphone in hand.

 Click here for the agenda and to REGISTER TODAY!

(www.aftermarketeforum.org)

Check out the latest Issue of Aftermarket Insider with more coverage on Aftermarket e-Forum 2012.

AAPEX Exhibitors: Make the Most of Your Time in Las Vegas

Back by popular demand, the AAPEX Exhibitor Summit is scheduled for June 19-20, on location – The Venetian and Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev. This second-annual summit for AAPEX exhibitors will be hosted by Steve Miller, The Adventure LLC, and includes:

•  Educational sessions on reaching buyers, booth design, budgeting, material handling, using the AAPEX website and brand promotion at AAPEX;

•  One-on-one meetings with representatives from the Sands Expo Center, Freeman, Travel Planners and other companies providing AAPEX services; and

•  Tours of the Sands Expo Center, The Venetian and other sponsorship opportunity locations.

Check out the jam-packed ambitious agenda HERE.

I highly recommend exhibitors wanting to make the most of their AAPEX experience to attend the summit this year – but don’t take my word for it. Here are some insights and feedback from attendees at last year’s summit.

AAPEX 2012 is scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 1, and whether you are an AAPEX veteran or a first-time exhibitor, this education-packed event has what your company needs to deliver the best ROI from your AAPEX experience.

Click here to register today!

Celebrate YOUR Industry During National Car Care Month!

Happy National Car Care Month, everyone! April is the center of celebration in our industry, and we invite you to join the industry-wide party by participating in the Car Care Council’s “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign during National Car Care Month!

The campaign is now in its tenth year of bringing the most comprehensive vehicle maintenance information to motorists, and it is easier than ever to get involved and reach out to your customers. The council has a new and improved website, an online industry toolkit, a new “behind-the-scenes” video for consumers and an expanded social media presence. Central to National Car Care Month are community car care events that feature free vehicle check-ups or inspections hosted by repair shops, stores and other businesses. Click here to see some of the events already scheduled for 2012! You can participate in many ways – whatever level works for your business. A shop could something as simple as hang a banner over a bay and invite current customers and prospective customers to stop by for a free inspection and pick up a free Car Care Guide.  If your business is on Twitter, use #NCCM2012 and tag @CarCarCouncil.

National Car Care Month has just started and runs throughout April, and there are countless ways for you to join the celebration! Visit www.carcare.org today.

Who Needs Half of Congress in Town for a Fly-In?

Well, I must admit I was worried when after we had planned our Aftermarket Legislative Summit and invited key association volunteer leaders to join us in Washington, D.C., we learned that the House of Representatives decided that they would be in their districts and not in their offices on Capitol Hill that week. Ouch!

Hmmmmm…  A fly-in to meet with Congressional leaders who are not going to be here.  An interesting dilemma indeed and a hard sell.

Well, I am delighted to say that the summit is a huge success. Maybe not the numbers of people attending compared to past summits, but the right people, with the interest and passion, are taking the time to attend.

Without a doubt, the highlight of the first day’s program of presentations and briefings was definitely a panel discussion that I had the pleasure of moderating. Two very well-known and “dialed-in” political pundits — Dana Perino and Terry McAuliffe — stole the show.  I’ve been approached by dozens of attendees who raved about them and said it was worth the trip just to be entertained and informed by two D.C. insiders who told it like it is — and knew what they were talking about.

It’s not often a CEO can have a blast doing his or her job. This was definitely one of those times.

You can see the live Twitter coverage from the event HERE.  Speaking of politics, take the below poll and tell us what is important to you.

Rising Gas Prices – Here We Go Again

Newspaper headlines, local and national television and radio news broadcasts and the Internet are once again warning of record high gas prices with dire predictions of the impact on everyday life and the overall economy. So what are consumers to do? What is the aftermarket industry to do?

One option is for consumers to drive less, which is not a viable option for most folks and clearly not an option the aftermarket industry favors.

The fact is that neither consumers, nor our industry, have any control over the cost of gas at the pump.

However consumers do have control over how much gas they use and our industry does have some influence over how we can help consumers achieve this savings.

Every day the Car Care Council, through its “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign, reminds motorists via the media about how simple vehicle maintenance can improve fuel efficiency. Every aftermarket business should take advantage of the gas-saving information available from the council. Help the council and our industry inform consumers how they can weather the higher gas prices by making their vehicle more fuel efficient without curtailing their driving.

Driving less – not good. Driving smarter – good.

Did you know AAIA is on Twitter? Tweet us @AAIAauto

Head for The Hill

If you watch the news, sometimes it seems like it’s impossible to get anything accomplished in Washington, D.C. – but you can change all that if you join AAIA and your industry colleagues for the Aftermarket Legislative Summit on March 14-15. The summit is an unprecedented opportunity to get in front of your elected officials – the D.C. decision-makers – and tell them face-to-face what matters to you and what is affecting your business… issues like Right to Repair, the National Labor Relations Board agenda and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

And this year’s summit is at a critical time for AAIA and our members. Why?  Because all Representatives and one-third of Senators are running for reelection – that means they’re paying attention to their constituents. This is the time for the industry, in a unified voice, to talk about the contribution it makes to the economy through job creation, maintaining the nation’s transportation infrastructure, environmental stewardship and just plain keeping Americans on the road.

I’ll be in Washington, D.C. in March, along with your outstanding industry colleagues – will you? Click here to Register Today!

Beyond Politics: A Reminder Why Proximity to DC is Valuable

One of the huge benefits of working in Washington DC is the access to very famous, incredibly smart people.  Yesterday, I was invited to attend a breakfast featuring General James Cartwright, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Commander of the US Strategic Command.  He is a retired Marine Corps four-star and widely recognized as understanding the global posture that America must maintain in this era.  But more than a military hero and visionary, the General is a tech wizard, a management guru, an organization guy, and an innovator.  He spoke for an hour and I was honored to be there.

On leadership, he mused that innovation makes leaders uncomfortable and that it is supposed to; that life-long learning is mandatory for everyone.  He believes social media can bring decision-makers more information than ‘armies’ of staff and that such instantaneous communication is invaluable, although purposeful consensus is difficult. He talked about the power of the crowd or the team to work together to solve problems. He talked about his experience with quantum computing and the opportunities that it will deliver for all of us in just a few years.  He talked about the cost of war and noted that the real cost of returning wounded warriors is really thirty years out. He outlined  impressive medical advances the military has made insuring that if physicians can get to a wounded serviceman or woman within an hour that the survival rate is now 90%+ — never before achieved.  He urged every leader to recognize the supremacy of personnel diversity – gender, race, country of origin, age, experiential references and the like.

But most of all, General Carwright outlined the clear cultural, medical, technical and educational innovations, developed by the military, that are now available to America’s war-weary public.  Wow.

That’s a Rap! (I think…)

During my opening remarks at the AAIA Town Hall during AAPEX earlier this month, I crafted what was intended to be a fun little rap commentary on the aftermarket industry. However, without cool background music, I ended up with a cross between a poem and rap — soon to be a new genre in the music world.

Anyway, a number of folks have requested an encore, so here you go –

Miles driven, terms given;

Debt ceiling, sinking feelings;

New car sales, vs. high-speed rails;

Emerging markets, diagnostic sockets;

Re-tooling plants, Wall Street rants;

Interest rates, primary dates;

Generation Ys, tax cut tries;

Ten-year Treasury yield, unusual Republican field;

Equity market worries, early winter flurries;

Greece goes down, shrimp prices rebound;

Working hard on Right to Repair, market moves from Bull to Bear;

Baby boomers getting old, investment performance going cold;

Aftermarket growth is up, up, up… other industries sure do suck.

The Numbers Tell the Story

There’s a saying that you live and die by the numbers, but I’m going to brag about some numbers anyway. Now that the dust has settled on AAPEX, our trade show and mega event in Las Vegas, the final numbers reinforce the extremely positive feedback we have heard from many of our member companies – both exhibitors and buyers.

A total of 2,292 exhibitors, 230 more than last year filled both floors of the Sands Expo Center with 4,984 booths, 540 more than last year.

Nearly 2,000 one-on-one meetings between suppliers and WDs were hosted by the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association.

The AAIA Town Hall was sold out with 1,200 attendees and each of the 30 education sessions was packed.

There, I said it.