2009 Program Distribution Report

The 13 industry program groups report on membership, available programs, service center and store saturation and goals for the year.

Krista McNamara

Jan. 1, 2020

2 min read

Program groups 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.

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.

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.

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.

About the Author

Krista McNamara

Krista McNamara is the former Editorial Director for the Vehicle Repair Group at Endeavor Business Media. She oversaw five brands — Motor Age, PTEN, Professional Distributor, ABRN and Aftermarket Business World. She worked in the automotive aftermarket industry for more than 15 years.