MAP Board, Advisory Council For 2011-12 Introduced

The Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) recently introduced the five current members of its Board of Trustees for 2011-12 at the Annual Membership Meeting for MAP and the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (AMRA) at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Offer Financing Options During Tough Economic Times

At Elite we believe that all shops should have financing options available for their customers. I realize that since the collapse of the economy money has been tight, and it is now a lot harder for many people to qualify. But before you judge the success of your financing programs based on the percentage of your customers who qualify, consider that by offering 90 days same as cash, you’ll be able to promote “financing” in all your marketing programs. There’s no doubt about it: This in itself will help you bring in more customers during tough times.

Bosch Renews Partnership With Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers To Launch New ICON Wiper Blade Advertising Campaign

Building on the success of the How Storm Chasers Clear the Way campaign introduced last year, Bosch has once again partnered with Discovery Channel for the popular Storm Chasers series to launch a dynamic new advertising campaign for the premium ICON beam wiper blade.

Federated Sweepstakes Grand Prize Winner Presented With ‘Sweet Ride’ At AAPEX

Federated customer Don Nyland of Max’s Car Care in Black Canyon City, AZ, was not planning on being in Las Vegas in early November. However, when he found out he was the grand prize winner of the Federated “Sweet Ride” Sweepstakes, Nyland set out for Vegas to collect his prize, the “Sweet Ride” Corvette.

Car Care Council Women’s Board Presents Inaugural Aftermarket Women’s Business Summit

The Car Care Council Women’s Board (WB) presented the first-ever Aftermarket Women’s Business Summit Nov. 1-3 in Las Vegas, NV, during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX). Female shop owners and managers from all over the country attended the day and a half event, which featured education sessions and networking opportunities focused on empowering them to achieve business and professional success.

California Declares Steel Wheel Weights The Best Alternative To Lead

Adding to the mounting body of evidence that steel wheel weights are the best alternative to lead weights, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substances Control has released the findings of its “wheel weight assessment,” declaring steel weights the “preferred alternative.”

Auto International Association Presents The 2011 AIA Import Product And Marketing Awards

The Auto International Association (AIA), the import segment of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), has announced the recipients of the 2011 AIA Import Product and Marketing Awards. The winners were honored at a special AIA press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and recognized at the AIA Luncheon and Awards Program on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, NV.

Raybestos Brand Wins 2011 Automotive Communications ‘Best In Show’ Award

Affinia Global Brake & Chassis’ Raybestos brand recently won “Best in Show” honors (Business to Business) for its RaybestosGarage.com during the 2011 Automotive Communications Awards.

5 Proven Strategies To Grow Your Facebook Fan Base

Amy Porterfield, co-author of “Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies,” presented a recent SEMA webinar regarding five proven strategies to grow your fan base and create a community on Facebook.

Leverage Text Messaging To Strengthen Your Local Marketing Push

My 70-year-old mother started texting before I did. This probably sounds strange given that I’m the tech geek in the family and “Web” is my middle name.

Protecting Customer Information: The Safeguards Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enacted Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information on May 23, 2003. By now, most repair shops should have implemented their information security programs and taken steps to ensure compliance with the Safeguards Rule. If you have not, we recommend taking steps to get in compliance immediately. If you have, it’s still important to periodically review and assess your program to ensure you remain in compliance.

Outlook For Aftermarket Is Bright And Bankable, Says AASA President, Panel

Bankers have been warming to the automotive aftermarket in the past few years, namely because it’s a much more predictable and relatively stable industry compared to many others, attendees of the AASA Executive Breakfast during AAPEX heard.