AOCA Announces Election Results

The Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) elected its 2008 board of directors and officers during its 21st Annual Convention & Fast Lube Expo March 10-13 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

The membership re-elected L. Ward Huntley, president of South Lubes, Inc. in Orange Park, Florida, to a second three-year term on the board. South Lubes, Inc. operates 64 Jiffy Lube centers in Florida, and the Carolinas.

Huntley joins six other members continuing terms on AOCA’s board of directors. They are: Steve Allison, Xpress Lube in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Kevin Davis, Fast Oil Change in Lovely, Kentucky; Doug Kline, Ohio’s Ultra Lube in Tallmadge, Ohio; Glenn Morris, Auto Lube Care in Ventura, California; Chris Tolsdorf, Tolsdorf Oil, West Chester, Pennsylvania; and Dave Jensen, Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Jensen is immediate past president and has served on the board since 2002.

Following the general election, AOCA board members met to select officers for the year. Chris Tolsdorf, owner of four fast lubes in the suburban Philadelphia area, was elected president of the association. Glenn Morris was elected vice president, and Steve Allison will continue as secretary/treasurer of the association.

“I'm extremely pleased to be working with such a talented group of lube operators in setting the policy and direction for the association,” said AOCA Executive Director Steve Christie. “The new officers are committed to fueling association growth through professional training, outstanding governmental affairs representation and other valuable services to lube operators. In addition, they will continue to champion the industry’s long-standing position at the forefront of environmental protection efforts, such as the recycling of used oil. “


Three-Day AAPEX Starts Nov. 4 in Las Vegas

Registration for the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is open at www.AAPEXShow.com. Buyers who previously attended AAPEX can use their Alumni numbers to expedite the registration process and receive show credentials in the mail prior to AAPEX. AAPEX will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4 – Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

AAPEX features 2,000-plus exhibitors and nearly 5,000 booths showcasing globally recognized brands, new technology and every brand of replacement parts. AAPEX also includes a comprehensive tool and equipment section, a Green Way to spotlight environmentally friendly products and services, and New Product and New Packaging showcases that provide a glimpse of the latest product innovations and packaging trends.

In addition to the trade show, the networking opportunities during AAPEX are unmatched with buyers from virtually every industry segment, including manufacturers, wholesalers, warehouse distributors, jobbers, retailers, independent service providers, technicians, parts stores, manufacturers’ reps, exporters, importers and packagers.

“No other trade event or trade show offers as many qualified buyers and distributors from all segments of the automotive aftermarket,” said Bill Glasgow, Sr., AAPEX show manager. “Our loyal attendees know that a visit to AAPEX gives them a good view of the global aftermarket and its many domestic and international players, all within three days.”

An AAPEX educational program rounds out the event with approximately 15 sessions that deliver critical data and information to help buyers succeed in the global automotive aftermarket.

Buyer registration is open and can be done online at www.aapexshow.com. Buyers who have previously attended AAPEX can use their Alumni number to expedite the registration process and receive show credentials in the mail prior to AAPEX. For Alumni Number information, contact info@aapexshow.com.


AAIA Debuts New Groundbreaking Report

Looking into the aftermarket crystal ball for 2012, you will find an array of valuable forecasts intended to help complement your market intelligence gathering and challenge your long-term strategic thinking, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), which just released its Aftermarket FastForward 2012 in partnership with Lang Marketing Resources, Inc.

Among the forecasts for 2012 revealed in this new report, you will find the following:
• 13,000 fewer light vehicle service bays by 2012.
• Foreign car and light truck aftermarket product growth will double domestic vehicle.
• Of the 80 aftermarket product categories mentioned, find out which 10 will exceed 5.5 percent annual growth.
• 950 fewer jobbers by 2012.
• Two outlets will achieve more than 85 percent of DIY aftermarket product growth.
• Traditional WDs will decline 9 percent.
• Retail auto parts stores will outnumber Jobber outlets.

"While so much of our industry's attention is focused on the impact of rising fuel costs and other economic pressures, gaining insights into channel analysis, outlet and product trends for the next five years is invaluable," said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. "This 320-page publication is a one-of-a-kind comprehensive report with unique analytical perspective with some surprising conclusions and forecasts about what our industry will look like in 2012."

Aftermarket FastForward 2012 drills down into the following major subject areas:
• Aftermarket size analysis and underlying trends
• Service and do-it-yourself market analysis
• Domestic and foreign vehicle aftermarket analysis
• Passenger car and light truck aftermarket volume
• Distribution channel volume/growth
• Key traditional channel distributors: warehouses and jobbers
• Retail auto parts stores

Aftermarket size analysis is presented for 2006 through 2012. Aftermarket volume is differentiated between products, purchased service and major vehicle segments. Size of the service (do-it-for-me) and do-it-yourself markets is provided through 2012. Regional volume of these market segments, along with regional market growth, is also presented.

The following seven major service outlets are analyzed:
• Service stations and garages
• Foreign specialists
• Vehicle dealers
• Auto parts stores with bays
• Repair specialists
• Discount stores/mass merchandisers with bays
• Tire stores

For information on purchasing Aftermarket FastForward 2012, contact AAIA at 301-654-6664 or visit the AAIA online Commerce Center at www.aftermarket.org.


Champion Laboratories Promotes Boyer

Mike Boyer has been named the new Director of Aftermarket Sales for Champion Laboratories. In his new role, Boyer will be responsible for the management of filtration sales to both the retail and traditional market channels.

Boyer joined Champion Laboratories in January 2005 as Director of Retail Sales & Marketing. In that position, Boyer spearheaded Champ’s retail sales efforts, developed strategic plans for retail sales growth, implemented a new category-management culture, managed customer and industry data to facilitate growth, developed promotions and sales support and assisted on other key initiatives for parent company UCI.

Prior to joining Champ Labs, Boyer compiled 19 years of experience in the automobile aftermarket with AutoZone, Memphis, TN, where he was a director responsible for in-store merchandising, category management and commercial merchandising.


Massachusetts State Legislature Extends Consideration of “Right to Repair” Act

On the heels of a new statewide poll of independent auto repair shops in Massachusetts showing overwhelming support for equal access to repair information, the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure today extended its deadline for consideration of the Right to Repair bill for another 60 days.

Committee members today were informed of a survey conducted last week of more than 100 Massachusetts independent auto repair shops which shows that 99 percent support passage of House Bill 296, sponsored by state Rep. Vincent A. Pedone. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they lose repair business every month when car manufacturers don’t share repair codes with the independent shops as they do with new car dealers.

The independent opinion poll was conducted by KRC/Communications Research from March 11-15, 2008 on behalf of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers among 115 owners of independent automotive service and repair centers in Massachusetts.

“Support for corrective legislation was overwhelming among these independent service centers,” said Gerry Chervinsky, president of Newton-based KRC/Communications Research. “No matter how big the repair shop or the degree to which this affects them, we found universal support for the statement that they ought to have the same ability to repair vehicles as dealerships.”

The KRC poll also found that the vast majority of respondents, 73%, say that their independent automotive service and repair centers are unable to work on at least one car a month due to their inability to receive adequate repair information, software, or tools. The plurality, 24%, says that this lack of access causes them to turn away more than 5 cars per month. Only 17% of respondents say that they do not have to turn cars away Additionally, the lack of equal access hurts independent repair centers because of the number of unpaid hours spent researching diagnostic information on vehicles they ultimately cannot repair. Almost all respondents, 90%, say that their independent automotive service and repair center wastes at least one hour a month in this manner, while the majority, 53%, say they lose at least nine hours a month.

“This practice could not be more anti-consumer,” said state Rep. Vincent A. Pedone, D-Worcester, the chief sponsor of H296, which would require dealers and their representatives to provide the information for those repairs. “These cars belong to the owner of the car and that owner has the right to get it repaired wherever they choose. There are hundreds of business and thousands of employees at work in our independent service centers and they deserve to be protected every bit as much as the dealers.”

Pedone said that the committee now understands that this practice not only hurts the independent auto repair shops and the thousands of jobs associated with those businesses, but is a direct threat to consumers who increasingly find they have little choice but to go to the dealer for repairs.


Chevron Partners with Tiger Woods Foundation

The Tiger Woods Foundation and Chevron will join together to enhance and develop programs, activities and events in support of the Foundation. As part of this new relationship, Chevron will assume the title sponsorship of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament, a significant fundraising event for the Tiger Woods Foundation. The event is held annually at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

"We are delighted that Chevron has agreed to partner with the Foundation," Tiger Woods said. "Chevron has a track record and a commitment to bettering the communities where they operate. We are excited about working with them to co-develop programs that will further the efforts of the Tiger Woods Foundation."

Mike Wirth, executive vice president of Chevron, said the relationship strongly aligns with the company's values and its commitment to California.

"We are thrilled to begin our relationship with Tiger and his Foundation at home in California," Wirth said. "Strong relationships are based on shared ideals and commitment. Chevron, Tiger and the Tiger Woods Foundation share similar values of high performance and partnership, as well as a deep commitment to make a difference in local communities."

In addition to sponsoring Tiger's annual tournament at Sherwood Country Club, which raises money for the Tiger Woods Foundation, Chevron will also support efforts to expand the Foundation's programs that help young people prepare for successful and responsible careers. Chevron and the Foundation will explore opportunities in California, other locations in the U.S. and in select locations internationally.

"We have great respect for Tiger's personal dedication and for the good work of his Foundation," said Rhonda Zygocki, vice president, Policy, Government and Public Affairs. "Chevron has a strong focus on supporting education in the communities where we do business. We look forward to working with Tiger and the Foundation to combine our resources toward a common goal."

Chevron's community engagement initiatives focus on education, health and economic development. In 2007, the company invested approximately $119 million in community engagement globally, which includes initiatives such as Energy for Learning in the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, as well as a $30 million partnership with the Global Fund to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

As part of this new relationship with the Tiger Woods Foundation, Chevron will become title sponsor for the 2008 World Challenge, which is celebrating its 10th year, and its 9th year at Sherwood Country Club. The Chevron World Challenge, a PGA TOUR event hosted by Woods, features a field of 16 of the top players. Past champions include Woods (2001, '04, '06, '07), Davis Love III ('00, '03), Luke Donald ('05), Padraig Harrington ('02) and Tom Lehman ('99). The total purse for the event is $5.75 million, and no player leaves with less than $170,000.

Chevron will also become a Founding Partner of the AT&T National, a Tiger Woods-hosted tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., that draws a field of 120 PGA TOUR professionals and raises money for the Tiger Woods Foundation and youth programs in the greater Washington, D.C. area.


Congressional Support “Right to Repair” Grows

The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694) gained two more co-sponsors. The new legislators supporting Right to Repair are Reps. Bob Filner (D-CA) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

“We want to thank Reps. Filner and Welch for their support of this vital piece of legislation and their commitment to ensuring that car owners and their trusted repair shops have the same access to safety alerts and repair information as the franchised new car dealer network,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

Vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers. Servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate information from the car companies.

“The fact is that with nearly 225 million vehicles in the United States and only 21,640 car dealerships, there aren’t enough new car dealerships in all the right places to keep every motor vehicle serviced, repaired and operating safely,” continued Schmatz. “Right to Repair ensures that car owners can continue to enjoy the convenience and affordability of having their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice whether it’s their neighborhood repair shop or a franchised dealership.”

A complete list of co-sponsors and a copy of the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 2694) can be found by visiting www.righttorepair.org.


California Grease Monkey/Monkey Shine is the 4th Dual Concept Facility

Grease Monkey Franchising, LLC and Monkey Shine Franchising, LLC has opened its fourth franchised “dual concept” vehicle maintenance and car wash facility in Wildomar, California. The location, owned by California native Chuck Paramo, features a three-bay Grease Monkey vehicle maintenance center, and a high-performing Monkey Shine express tunnel car wash.

“Our state of the art facility offers Wildomar consumers one-stop shopping for convenient, vehicle preventive maintenance and quick, quality car wash services, in an environmentally friendly manner,” says Paramo. “All vehicle fluids and filters are properly disposed of or recycled, and our car wash uses environmentally safe cleansers and proper water reclaiming techniques.”

The Wildomar Grease Monkey and Monkey Shine will be open seven days a week. Grease Monkey provides services that meet or exceed vehicle owner’s manual recommendations for preventive maintenance. Monkey Shine Express Car Wash uses state-of-the-art equipment and offers the most advanced car wash services that consumers are looking for, says Paramo.

Mike Brunetti, Vice President, Franchise Sales, Development and Real Estate for Grease Monkey and Monkey Shine, says the Monkey Shine concept was developed when Grease Monkey recognized an opportunity for its franchisees to add a car wash to their existing business, but also needed operations and marketing support from experienced franchise professionals not currently found in the car wash industry. Franchisees receive assistance with site selection, lease and purchase negotiations, third-party financing, facility design and construction, national account purchasing, technical training, and promotion and advertising – all from an experienced and dedicated automotive services franchise organization.

Grease Monkey has a 30-year history in the vehicle preventive maintenance industry. Grease Monkey’s Full Service Oil Change includes new oil and filter, check and/or fill of major fluids, tire pressure check and set, interior vacuum and exterior window wash. Grease Monkey also provides radiator, transmission, and power steering fluid exchange services, wiper blades, tire rotation, engine and cabin air filters, and other preventive maintenance services.

While the Wildomar location features Monkey Shine’s express tunnel car wash concept, Monkey Shine franchisees can choose from in-bay automatic, express tunnel, or self-serve car wash facilities, or any combination of these popular configurations. The company expects to franchise more than 20 Monkey Shine locations during the next 18 months, plus 18 new Grease Monkey locations in 2008.

Founded in 1978, Grease Monkey currently has more than 230 centers operating in the United States, Mexico and China. This is the fourth Monkey Shine Car Wash to open for the chain.

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