Embracing Diversity
With each passing generation, our population landscape gets more diverse. The majority of communities throughout the U.S. and Canada have a makeup that is very different from a few decades ago. With these ever-shifting demographics, business owners are faced with the challenge of constantly reinventing their marketing and customer service efforts if they want to cater to all potential customers.
Marketing To Millenials
OMG! It’s about time there’s an article about Millennials (also known as Generation Y) and how they use the Internet. Millennials were born between 1980 and 2000, and there are more than 79 million of them in the U.S. Got any of them coming into your shop? Of course you do. And here’s a hint … they’re different!
Web Lingo 101
I must admit it can all be confusing sometimes – domains, URLs, Web servers, the cloud, IP, FTP, search engines, SEO, meta tags, etc. There’s a lot of website development terminology that may or may not mean anything to us. So let me explain some of it. Bookmark this article and keep it available as a handy resource.
AAAS Announces Scholarship Applications Open
The Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast Educational Foundation (AAASEF) has announced that applications are now being accepted for the AAAS Educational Foundation Scholarships through March 31. The Foundation awarded six scholarships last year and hopes to equal or better that number this year.
Resolve To Keep Your Online Marketing Resolutions
Last year, I described resolutions as promises you make to yourself in hopes of making a positive difference in your life and the lives of others. You know … those promises you usually break before the second week of January! How about breaking that cycle? Let’s revisit some of those resolutions from 2013 and take a look at new resolutions for 2014.
ACDelco Offers Free Online Training For Instructors, Students
In an effort to help groom the next generation of skilled automotive technicians, ACDelco is providing a limited number of free, Web-based training courses to instructors and students enrolled in programs accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).
Executive Interview: Carolyn Cook, ACDelco General Director
Carolyn Cook, ACDelco general director since July 2011, has been a field parts representative, regional parts manager, parts processing center plant manager and director of aftersales for Chevrolet Europe. Since arriving at ACDelco, Cook has overseen numerous enhancements to the brand’s 90,000-part portfolio and Professional Service Center Program, based in part from insight she gathered by meeting with warehouse distributors and independent service centers.
Executive Interview: Rusty Bishop, CEO, Federated Auto Parts Distributors
Rusty Bishop began his career in the automotive aftermarket more than 40 years ago when he joined Fisher Auto Parts where he held a number of positions in warehouse and jobber store management and also served as a director of the company. In 1985, Bishop co-founded Federated Auto Parts Distributors, a program marketing group for major warehouse distributors headquartered in Staunton, VA. Through the years, Bishop’s leadership allowed Federated to grow to become one of the leading program groups in the industry.
Car Care Council Women’s Board Announces 2013-’14 Scholarship Winners
The Car Care Council Women’s Board is proud to announce the recipients of its 2013-’14 scholarships for high school and secondary students in the automotive aftermarket. This year, the Women’s Board gave a record $15,000 in scholarships.
Mitchell International Provides $140,000 In-Kind Donation Of Estimating Software To More Than 400 Schools
Mitchell International has donated its estimating software to more than 400 collision school programs through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. This in-kind donation, valued at roughly $140,000, provides collision instructors with up-to-date industry software when most would not have been able to purchase this product due to their limited collision budgets.