Strong Support For Largest-Ever Vehicle Check-Up Event

Industry support is strong for the Car Care Council’s largest-ever consumer vehicle check-up event, to be held in conjunction with the 49th Annual Northwood University International Auto Show in Midland, MI, on Sunday, Oct. 7. The following companies have committed their support for the council’s car care event:

Gold Sponsors
• Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance
• Belle Tire
• Federal-Mogul
• Motown Automotive
• PlastiKote
• Standard Motor Products (SMP)
• Tenneco Inc.

Silver Sponsors
• Four Seasons
• Raybestos Brake & Chassis

Bronze Sponsors
• Beck/Arnley
• Mitchell 1
• Schaeffler Group USA Inc.

“We appreciate that these sponsors recognized the importance of our Fall Car Care Month check-up event and offered their support so quickly,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “There’s still time for aftermarket companies to participate in a variety of ways, from becoming an official sponsor to hosting an educational demonstration onsite or providing giveaway items for attendees.”

The car care event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7 in the parking lot of Dow High School at the corner of North Saginaw Road and West Main Street, adjacent the Northwood campus. In addition to free vehicle inspections by local volunteer technicians, aftermarket companies will host education demonstrations showing worn vs. new parts like wiper blades, hoses, belts, tires, brake pads and rotors, and dirty vs. clean engine oil and fluids. Gift bags with Car Care Council literature and giveaways will be given to all attendees.

Aftermarket companies interested in having a table and demonstration at the event should contact Jennifer Tio no later than Sept. 14 at [email protected] or (312) 768-7379. For more information about the vehicle check-up event, contact the Car Care Council at (240) 333-1088. To learn more about the Northwood International Auto Show, visit http://www.northwood.edu/autoshow/.

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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