-
Similar Topics
-
By Counterman
A customer walks up to the counter and asks for a specific brand.
Another wants the lowest price.
A third just needs it now.
Those demands, all of which must be met, are carefully considered by distributors. What winds up on the shelf is the result of constant evaluation, competing priorities and calculated decisions.
As Mike Mohler, executive vice president and chief purchasing officer for the
link hidden, please login to view, puts it, “It’s (something) we grapple with on a daily basis.” The Four Pillars Behind Every Decision
At the distributor level, brand selection starts with what Mohler calls “the four pillars.”
First comes cost. “I need to have a competitive acquisition cost… but I need to think about total cost.” That includes everything from freight to handling to overall profitability.
Next is logistics. A supplier has to deliver product in a way that fits the distributor’s operation, not just offer a good price.
Then comes category management. The goal is simple in theory and difficult in practice. Stock the right part, in the right place, at the right time, in the “right brand.”
Finally, there is data. Clean cataloging, strong product information and insight into how parts move all factor into the decision.
If a brand cannot support all four areas, Mohler says it is unlikely to make the cut.
The Customer Is Driving More Than Ever
But even if all those pillars are met, the real test is the customer. Today’s shops have numerous suppliers at their disposal; ready and waiting for a chance to deliver the required products via the desired brands.
“If they want an oxygen sensor from Bosch, we’ve got to be the guy to get them that. If they want an air fuel ratio sensor from Denso, we’ve got to be the guy to get them that,” said Mohler. “We’re carrying SKUs in multiple brands because our customer demands it.”
Distributors also have to account for a wide range of customers.
“We’ve got people that want to pay for a $500 brake job. We’ve got people that can’t afford a $500 brake job, and that’s fine.”
That drives a tiered strategy. Premium brands, mid-tier lines and opening price point options all have a role.
As Mohler points out, “that lower price point necessarily means we have to sell much more to be able to make the same dollars.”
Data Is Replacing Guesswork
All of these decisions continue to evolve as distributors respond to changing demand, new technologies and ongoing market pressure.
“We have a more eclectic and more demanding customer base than we’ve ever had,” explained Mohler. “They now can pick and choose what branding they want. We have to become experts in reading minds, and we use data and all the best thinking to try to figure that out.”
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By NAPA
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 link hidden, please login to view team started off DAYTONA 500 week strong with a victory in Duel Two on Thursday night, which set them up for a fourth-place starting position for the Great American Race. Elliott finished 18th in each of the first two stages in Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race. In the final stage, the 30-year-old driver restarted from the eighth row with just four laps to go following a caution. He had a shot at the win, taking the lead on the final lap. However, he got caught up in an on-track incident coming to the checkered flag and ultimately crossed the stripe in fourth. Elliott leaves Daytona International Speedway third in the Cup Series standings, just 15 points behind the leader. Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team started off DAYTONA 500 week strong with a victory in Duel Two on Thursday night, which set them up for a fourth-place starting position for the Great American Race. From the drop of the green flag in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, Elliott showed he had a Chevrolet capable of winning. He was scored in seventh when the first caution of the race came out on lap five. Crew chief Alan Gustafson called for a fuel-only pit stop. Elliott restarted eighth on lap 12 and continued to race inside the top 10. He was running in the fourth position when green-flag pit stops got underway on lap 50. Elliott assumed the lead on lap 58 before pitting the very next lap for fuel. He ended stage one in the 18th position.
Under the stage-ending caution, Elliott radioed to his team that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy was a little free. Gustafson made the call for an adjustment during the team’s pit stop for four tires and fuel. Elliott made a second stop under the yellow to top off the tank. The 30-year-old driver took the green flag for the second stage from the 20th position on lap 72. The field went three wide early in the stage, with Elliott running the top lane. Racing got dicey at the front of the field, which ultimately triggered a multi-car incident that brought out the caution on lap 85. Elliott drove through the infield grass to avoid the melee, escaping unscathed. Under the yellow flag, Elliott brought the No. 9 NAPA Chevy to the attention of his crew for a fuel-only pit stop. He was 11th to choose his lane for the restart, ultimately opting for the outside. Once back to green on lap 92, it didn’t take long for the field to go back to racing three wide. Elliott was stuck in the middle lane until he was able to clear to the bottom. He was running in 10th before the bottom lane lost momentum and he was shuffled towards the back of the pack. Tight racing prompted another multi-car incident on lap 124, which Elliott was again able to avoid. The cleanup took long enough that stage two ended under the yellow flag, with the Hendrick Motorsports driver scored 18th.
During the stage break, the team made another stop for four fresh tires and fuel. Elliott lined up on the inside of row four to start the final stage on lap 136. He remained in the bottom lane for several laps as the main pack raced three wide. Elliott kept his Chevrolet towards the front of the field as the race started winding down, but teams still needed to make one last round of pit stops for fuel. The first cars visited pit road on lap 181. Elliott took over the lead just prior to pitting on lap 188. He was scored 15th when an incident brought out the caution with less than 10 laps to go. The team opted not to pit, and Elliott restarted from the outside of row eight with four laps remaining. He stayed in contention and took over the lead on the final lap. However, he was involved in a multi-car incident coming to the checkered flag and ultimately finished fourth.
“It seemed really fortunate to get through the first crash, and that opened the door to somehow get to the lead,” Elliott said after the race. “But then I got pushed clear and I think the No. 38 was behind me and pushed me clear by everybody down the back, and then it was just he and I. We got a good ways out there and we were just in a lot of trouble because momentum had shifted. At that point, I was just on extreme defense, and then from there, I was just trying to defend as best I could without crashing myself, but everybody else ended up crashing anyway. Maybe I should have just wrecked myself trying to block. But, yeah, I hate that. Obviously very close but close doesn’t cut it.”
Elliott leaves Daytona International Speedway third in the Cup Series points standings, just 15 markers behind the leader.
Start / Finish: 4 / 4
Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 43 pts. (-15)
Next Race: Sunday, February 22, EchoPark Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX, SiriusXM or PRN
NAPA:
link hidden, please login to view
Chase Elliott: link hidden, please login to view
Hendrick Motorsports: link hidden, please login to view
No. 9 Team: link hidden, please login to view The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By NAPA
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified 25th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway. Not long after the first round of green-flag pit stops, Elliott was collected in a multi-car incident on lap 52 that ended his day early. With one race left in the Round of 8, Elliott sits eighth in the standings, 62 points below the cutline. He will need to win next weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway to advance to the Championship 4. Chase Elliott and the No. 9
link hidden, please login to view team qualified 25th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway. The intensity was on from the start of the race, with the field running three-wide by the end of the first lap. Elliott strategically ran near the back of the pack early in stage one but had advanced up inside the top 20 before the first round of green-flag pit stops got underway on lap 43. The 29-year-old driver visited pit road on lap 47 for a fuel-only stop. With less than 10 laps to go in stage one, Elliott got collected in a multi-car incident that started at the front of the field. He brought the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to pit road for repairs, but the damage was too severe to continue in the race. Elliott was relegated to a 40th-place finish.
“I saw someone get turned sideways,” Elliott said after the incident. “I was trying to get slowed up like normal. I ended up getting turned sideways into some other cars, and then they slid back into me. I’m not really sure… I hate it. I felt like we had ourselves in a good spot before the pit cycle. I didn’t feel like we executed the cycle very well and that put us back in the back again. I’m not sure if that would have helped us miss the wreck or not. Obviously, all of that is very circumstantial, but nonetheless, it is what it is. I can’t change it now, so we’re just all eyes on Martinsville (Speedway) and we’ll try to go there and get a win.”
With just one race remaining in the Round of 8, Elliott sits eighth in the playoff standings, 62 points below the cutline. He will need to win next weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway to advance to the Championship 4.
Start / Finish: 25 / 40
Points Standing / Total: 8th / -62 below cutline
Next Race: Sunday, Oct. 26, Martinsville Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM or MRN
NAPA:
link hidden, please login to view
Chase Elliott: link hidden, please login to view
Hendrick Motorsports: link hidden, please login to view
No. 9 Team: link hidden, please login to view The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view appointed Todd Pearce as its new chief financial officer, effective Oct. 6, 2025. The company said Pearce brings extensive financial leadership experience and a proven record of driving strategic success and operational excellence. “We’re thrilled to welcome Todd to the ATD leadership team,” said Ira B. Silver, president and chief executive officer at ATD. “His financial acumen, strategic mindset and collaborative approach make him a great fit for our culture and our ambitions. I’m confident he will play a pivotal role in shaping our future.”
Pearce Brings Proven Financial Leadership to American Tire Distributors
Pearce joins American Tire Distributors from Continental Tire the Americas, where he most recently served as chief financial officer. ATD said his deep expertise in financial planning and analysis, improving financial performance, process optimization and cross-functional collaboration will strengthen ATD’s leadership.
ATD continues to expand its market presence and invest in long-term innovation. The company said Pearce’s leadership experience supports these goals and enhances the company’s financial strategy as it builds for the future.
Focus on Growth, Innovation and Operational Excellence
“I’m excited to join ATD at such a dynamic time in its journey,” said Pearce. “The company’s commitment to innovation, customer and vendor success, and operational excellence aligns perfectly with my values. I look forward to working with the team to build on its strong foundation and drive financial success.”
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
-
By Counterman
As the popularity of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in our markets increases, some parts professionals have expressed worry about the potential lack of future business from these platforms. Many of these fears come from the lack of moving parts in the drivetrain, and the individual piece-count is indeed fewer than the vehicles we have provided for in the past. Despite this, EVs still offer several parts and service opportunities, and even a couple of new categories for us all to get acquainted with.
Obviously, the absence of an internal combustion engine eliminates the need for oil changes. Considering that the LOF package is traditionally a loss-leader for both service centers and parts retailers, this might initially feel like a relief. However, the maintenance schedule for most ICE vehicles assures that service providers get to see a vehicle at least twice annually, giving them an opportunity to identify other service opportunities… and sell more parts!
Many BEV drivetrains also eliminate conventional transmissions, along with their familiar fluid and filter services. EVs do have transmissions, although, currently, most platforms utilize a single-speed gearbox. The fluids for these transmissions are different from the wide range of fluids we currently stock to meet multiple OEM specifications, with additional SKUs to keep track of. EV transmission fluids fall into two broad categories: “wet”
and “dry.”
A “dry” transmission sounds like a catastrophe waiting to happen, but it actually refers to its separation from the drive motor, rather than its liquid state. A “wet” transmission fluid is intended for use in EVs whose motor and transmission operate in a shared fluid environment. These fluids are, at a minimum, “long-life” fluids (50k-100k miles), although some EV transmissions are “sealed for life,” and therefore have no maintenance interval.
While drivetrain and emissions categories may face a limited future, steering, suspension and tire categories are positioned strongly to help support these increasingly heavy vehicles. The ultra-quiet nature of BEV operation will have a direct influence on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) concerns. Rattles and clunks from highly-stressed components like sway bar links and control arm bushings will become noticeable much sooner, and likely replaced rather than ignored. Ride control components like struts and chassis parts will continue to wear, possibly at a slightly more accelerated pace.
Electric power steering has widely replaced hydraulic systems in many platforms for reasons of fuel economy, and is a necessity for vehicles without an engine-driven accessory drive. Steering and suspension failures will continue to affect alignment regardless of the vehicle’s propulsion system.
EV tires are designed to decrease rolling resistance, adding to the overall efficiency of their drive systems. Bearing the additional weight of the EV battery packs and subject to the instant high torque generated by electric motors, tires designed for EV platforms are also often sturdier-built and generally more expensive than other options.
TPMS functionality and proper inflation are critical to achieving the maximum benefits of these designs. EV tires also tend to have less initial tread depth than typical all-season tires. EV owners are discovering that these vehicles require replacement 15-20% sooner than conventional tires, increasing the frequency of services requiring technicians to remove the wheels, leading to possible associated sales.
The takeaway for the future of EV parts and service opportunities is that our role as parts professionals isn’t going away, it’s just changing. Just as our suppliers have adapted to market changes by embracing trends in diesel and hybrid ownership, or transitions from R-12 to R-134a and now R-1234yf, the current shift toward BEV technologies simply presents a series of new opportunities for the parts professional to provide expert assistance in a changing landscape.
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.