Federated Members Elect Standard Motor Products Outstanding Vendor Of The Year

The Federated Auto Parts membership has selected Standard Motor Products (SMP) as Outstanding Vendor of the Year for 2011. In addition to the Outstanding Vendor of the Year award, Federated also presented its Outstanding Supplier Support Awards to: ACDelco; Affinia; Dorman; Federal-Mogul; Hastings; and USA Industries.

The Federated Auto Parts membership has selected Standard Motor Products (SMP) as Outstanding Vendor of the Year for 2011.

Rusty Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts (fourth from left) presents the Federated 2011 Outstanding Vendor of the Year award to the team from Standard Motor Products (SMP). Left to right: Leon De Long, John Gethin, Matt Guden, Bishop, Ken Wendling, Bill Collins and Eric Sills.

The top Federated vendor award was presented by Rusty Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts during the group’s national meeting and annual awards dinner held April 26 in Phoenix, AZ. Accepting the award on behalf of SMP were Bill Collins, Leon De Long, John Gethin, Matt Guden, Eric Sills and Ken Wendling.

“We congratulate Standard Motor Products for earning our most prestigious award, Outstanding Vendor of the Year,” said Bishop. “SMP received the most votes from Federated members for exceptional dedication to excellence in all areas including leadership, marketing, training and sales support. We want to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone at SMP for their hard work and ‘over and above’ dedication to the Federated membership.”

In addition to the Outstanding Vendor of the Year award, Federated also presented its Outstanding Supplier Support Awards to its supplier partners excelling in each of five categories:

• Training Vendor of the Year – ACDelco

• Order Fill Vendor of the Year – Hastings and USA Industries (tie)

• Marketing Vendor of the Year – Federal-Mogul

• Sales Representation Vendor of the Year – Affinia

• Electronic Cataloging Vendor of the Year – Dorman

“Each year the Federated membership has the difficult task of determining which of our supplier partners stand out in five key categories essential to the overall success of Federated,” continued Bishop. “This year was no different. In fact, we are pleased to recognize these six deserving supplier partners for their outstanding performance and pursuit of excellence.”

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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