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AASA Presents New Annual Advocacy And DEI Awards At AAPEX
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By Counterman
I swore for years that I would never buy a brand-new car. I didn’t even want to make a car payment. You see, I’ve always owned cheap (read “broken”) cars. The way I see it, you either make a monthly payment to the bank, or to the parts store. Since I’ve been working on cars for most of my adult life, it made more sense to keep driving cheap cars and doing the work myself.
That all changed when my 2003 Nissan Altima left me stranded on the side of the highway on my way to pick up my daughter from daycare. I was so thankful she wasn’t in the car with me yet; it was icy, snowy and just downright dangerous.
I started looking for a new (to me) car that night. I couldn’t justify driving half-busted cars any longer, and I certainly didn’t want to put my then-3-year-old daughter in danger.
Thanks, COVID …
Fast forward a month or two, and it’s March 2020. Ohio shuts down, and there’s a lot of uncertainty. I was still searching for a newer car to buy at this point, and I was leaning toward a gently used VW Golf Alltrack. Then, in April 2020, VW offered 0% financing on its new cars.
When I did the math, the payment on a new one was the same as the payment on a used one. So, I hurried up and scooped up a brand-new 2019 Alltrack, and it’s been my primary vehicle ever since. Mind you, this is the first nice car I’ve ever owned, and I was pretty excited to drive something that was still covered under warranty. But my inner car guy has a lot of influence, and before long I started to make some upgrades.
Upgrades
It started out slow. First, a set of WeatherTech floor mats. Then, I picked up some protective film for the headlights, taillights and fog lights. Next, I bought an auto-dimming rearview mirror with built-in HomeLink garage-door-opener functionality. I bought an entire arsenal of car-cleaning products, from microfiber towels to a DIY ceramic coating kit. This was the first nice vehicle I’d ever owned, and I wanted to protect my investment!
Then the “real” upgrades started. Bigger front and rear sway bars helped to keep the body roll in check, and completely transformed the way the car drove around a corner. Aluminum skid plates underneath for added protection from whatever the roads in Ohio could throw at me. A set of projector headlights with HID lighting gave me unparalleled nighttime visibility. Then, I got the opportunity to test out a prototype 1.25-inch lift kit. Sure, it’s not much, but a touch of added ground clearance is always nice. It also brings the car up to the height that it should have been from the factory, in my opinion at least.
The truth is, I simply can’t leave a vehicle alone. I have to make it my own, one way or another. But I enjoy the process, and it’s satisfying to watch it slowly evolve into exactly what I want it to be. I share this to help you get inside the minds of some of your more passionate DIY customers.
Growing Opportunity
I can’t help but look for things to change, upgrade or improve whenever I buy a vehicle. Doing this might not make sense to everyone, but it’s how I make my vehicles better for me. However, I suspect that I’m not alone in this mindset.
With new-vehicle prices skyrocketing, it makes sense that someone might choose to repair or upgrade their current vehicle instead of trading it in for something else. And that’s a huge opportunity for the automotive aftermarket.
According to the 2022 SEMA Market Report, U.S. consumers spent a whopping $50.9 billion on accessorizing and modifying their vehicles last year – an all-time high for specialty-equipment sales. Trucks are a major driving force behind this sales trend, accounting for nearly one-third of those sales.
Considering that the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for many years – and the top three best-selling vehicles in 2021 were pickup trucks – this should come as no surprise. According to the SEMA report, sales of “utility accessories” such as truck bedliners, truck caps, racks, truck-bed covers and trailer and towing products are expected to grow from $3.79 billion in 2021 to $3.87 billion this year. If you’re not stocking truck accessories, you might want to give this category another look.
Here’s the bottom line: Every time somebody buys a new or used vehicle, there’s an opportunity for us as counter pros to help them find the accessories they need. The question is, what are you doing to capitalize on this exciting category?
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By Counterman
Rislone has introduced new High Mileage Power Steering Stop Whine with Leak Repair (P/N 4604), describing it as “a quick and dependable solution for customers suffering steering ‘whine,’ sluggish steering or a power-steering system leak in their high-mileage cars, SUVs and light trucks.”
Power-steering problems are common in older vehicles, especially those clocking 75,000 miles or more. Noise and whining, minor leaks and hard-steering complaints can dull your customers’ driving enjoyment and, if ignored, only get worse over time.
“High Mileage Power Steering Stop Whine with Leak Repair can cost-effectively and quickly solve a range of power-steering issues,” said Clay Parks, Rislone vice president of strategic development. “It’s an affordable solution to noisy power-steering systems that generally occur when the system is low on fluid, there is air trapped in the fluid or the vehicle has some mechanical issues.”
The all-new product contains a special blend of viscosity improvers, anti-wear friction modifiers and extreme-pressure performance additives, according to the company. It’s formulated to stop bearing, piston and valve noises inside the power-steering pump. Special lubricity additives smooth out rough, hard and tight steering and reduce friction. Stop-leak additives repair minor leaks and help prevent new ones.
Customers can use the product to top off existing fluid when low or add a bottle as a preventive-maintenance measure whenever power steering fluid is changed. It’s compatible with all types of domestic and imported power-steering fluids, including petroleum and synthetic formulas, and works with systems that use ATF automatic-transmission fluid.
Most passenger cars and light trucks require one 11.8-ounce (350-millileter) bottle for every 1 to 3 quarts of power-steering fluid. In smaller systems (those under a quart of capacity), use half a bottle. Depending on the power-steering problem, results will either be immediate or noticeable within a few days of driving, according to the company. A second application may be needed for hard-to-stop leaks or to solve other system issues.
Rislone High Mileage Power Steering Stop Whine with Leak Repair is a sister product to Rislone High Mileage Transmission Stop Slip with Leak Repair (P/N 4502) for automatic and manual transmissions.
For more information, visit
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By Counterman
BBB Industries announced a new online portal designed to enhance 24-hour ordering, enabling customers to instantly order replacement parts from
link hidden, please login to view. “BBB Industries is committed to providing an efficient and effective customer experience. We want our customers to easily get the parts that they need quickly,” said Shane Garner, director of customer service. “Through the use of advanced technology, we continuously work to improve upon our service levels. In Phase 1 of our rollout, these new features will greatly decrease the time it takes to place stock orders, place emergency orders and view the history of orders.”
The BBB Industries 1Stop customer portal shows real-time inventory for emergency orders and allows customers to immediately place orders. The portal also can automatically calculate if freight minimum requirements are met for stock orders and provide estimated shipping charges for special orders.
As added reassurance, the system automatically alerts the customer via email when an order is placed and when a special order is canceled, and can display the status of all orders with BBB Industries.
Customers can order competitively priced sustainably manufactured parts 24/7 with next-day and ground flat-rate shipping available, according to the company.
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By Counterman
The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), a community of the Auto Care Association, announced that nominations are open for its 2022 Industry Awards.
The AWDA Industry Awards are presented annually during the AWDA Business and Education Conference, which will take place Oct. 30-31 in Las Vegas.
Over the years, the list of AWDA award recipients has evolved into a who’s who of aftermarket luminaries. AWDA’s are among the most widely recognized and highly respected awards the aftermarket has to offer.
The AWDA Industry Awards include:
The Art Fisher Award for Excellence in Education –
This award, presented in memory of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, recognizes a company or individual for their leadership and commitment to education and training, either within their own organization or throughout the industry. Lifetime Achievement Award in Honor of Martin Fromm –
This very selective award recognizes individuals who have, over the course of a career spanning many years, distinguished themselves through their integrity, unselfish commitment to and high level of performance within the motor vehicle aftermarket. Outstanding Leadership Award in Honor of Jack Creamer (Formerly the Jack Creamer Automotive Leader of the Year Award) – This award recognizes an individual, employed in the aftermarket, who over the past several years has made a unique and monumental contribution to the industry and/or the association. Pursuit of Excellence Award: Recognizing Special Achievement – This award is presented in recognition of excellence in business performance and the setting of high standards as an example for others to follow. The deadline to submit award nominations is Aug. 26.
Learn more about the award criteria, see former winners and submit nominations by visiting the
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By Counterman
Standard Motor Products (SMP) announced that it is the recipient of Waytek’s 2021 Product of the Year Award for SMP’s Trombetta CAN bus power splitters and control modules.
Each year, Waytek presents the Product of the Year Award to recognize the supplier that has distinguished itself by introducing an innovative product that delivers outstanding value. The award also recognizes the chosen supplier’s strong commitment to excellence and collaboration with Waytek.
The Trombetta CAN bus power splitter and control modules series was selected to win the award due to its high quality, utility and quick acceptance by Waytek customers. The series enables the breaking out of CAN signals using one connector, reducing the number of required plugs, wires and harnesses.
“Trombetta’s CAN bus power splitters and control modules are an innovative solution quickly embraced by our customers seeking an affordable, compact product for connecting multiple devices to a J1939 CAN bus network,” Waytek Chief Customer Officer Kevin Pung said. “We are privileged to work with a supplier like Trombetta who is committed to maintaining a strong relationship with us and providing valuable solutions to our customers.”
“We are so proud to have been awarded Waytek’s New Product of the Year Award,” added Mike Hassinger, Trombetta’s director of sales and marketing. “The introduction of our new splitter products has been an exciting venture, and we strongly believe these products will emerge as the industry standard. We’d like to thank Waytek for this tremendous honor and look to a strong continued partnership in the future.”
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