october/november 2001 - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

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hot gossip The sale by PacDun of its PacAuto business to the newly formed Automotive Parts Group (APG) has put an end to a busiest era of hot gossip. The new company includes all the previous components of PacAuto now being wholly owned by APG. Observers say $251m was a good price for APG to pay and the freeing of the management from its previous parent should see interesting results. Marlows’ Ray Della-Polina has received an Ernst & Young regional Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He is now in the running for a national award in the Retail, Consumer and Industrial Products category. Autopro has got serious about recruiting new members to boost its already impressive total of nearly 200 independent stores. The company is now actively promoting itself to various prospects. Speco Thomas has launched its website (www.speco.com.au) which is in full colour and the product information downloads up to 70 pages on VHT paints, Specometer gauges and various accessories. Pedders has opened a Dealer in Cessnock bringing the company’s total number of outlets to 105. RSP metal press shop is not only making parts for the auto aftermarket, it has recently expanded into prototypes for industrial applications. Paja has developed a replacement bush for the power steering in EA to ED Falcons. Auto One’s new web site is now functioning as both a customer service tool and a link for stores and national support/distribution. The address is www.autoone.com.au Delphi reports its first year in the aftermarket to be going great guns. Sales have picked up five times in the last two quarters. Gates is launching a Stant thermostat sales program which involves specially designed merchandisers in retail and fitter outlets. DBA’s exports continue to go well but the company no longer boasts about what it’s selling to where: “We’re not giving any more leads to our Asian competitors,” a company spokesperson said. Graham Oliver has joined Roadsafe Victoria handling sales. EBC Brakes reports it has signed a supply deal for Autobarn’s 97 stores. Holden’s new generation V6, which is due to go into local production during 2003, is planned to be used in many brands that include Saab and Alfa Romeo which now all come under GM influence. Bendix Mintex is now number two in the Auto Partners incentives scheme behind Century Batteries. News TARGET PARTS PROMOTION With the Holden Target Parts Challenge 2001 promotion final draw concluded, the company says it can report a very successful campaign that captured the participation of over 170 Holden Dealers and their trade customers throughout the nation. In fact, around 20,000 trade customers registered as participants in the promotion through Target Parts purchases. While some of the big winners have enjoyed their adventure weekends for four people of thrills and spills with white water rafting, absailing, rock climbing or other less strenuous pursuits, many others are cashing in their Target Parts points from the Go for It! selection of fine gifts on offer. The event known as the mini Summernats - the Lukey Performance Exhausts Kalbar Autofest - hit new heights in 2001 with a record number of entries and a bumper crowd. It ran from August 31 to September 2 at Kalbar, 100 kilometres southwest of Brisbane, attracted more than 600 entrants and an official attendance of 16,800. With Lukey Performance Exhausts as major sponsor for the first time, the Autofest featured a full range of events including the Dyno Competition, two grass driving events, the Biggest Wheel Stand competition, Show & Shine, Go to Whoa and the ultra-popular Burnout Competition. Just as popular as the cars were the famous Lukey Girls. Not only did they pose for countless photographs, they were also The successful key to this style of promotion was anyone could win. Small workshops, no matter who or where, they had the same chance to win as the bigger operators. For those workshops that have redeemed their Target Parts points, collected at 1 point for every dollar invested in Target Parts during the promotion, they have reaped rewards including hats, caps and stubby holders to major prizes including stereo systems, cameras and the latest deluxe coffee machines. STOPPING A CHAINSAW Fitters saving Bosch Brake Pad box tops are now eligible for a new Bosch chainsaw or a high pressure cleaner. The company started this promotion in August and says: KALBAR AUTOFEST GROWLS The Automotive Parts Group is Australia and New Zealand’s leading parts and accessories wholesaler and distributor, operating under the divisions: Repco Australia, Repco New Zealand, Ashdown, Motospecs and Carparts. There is a total of 3,900 employees, operates 11 Distribution Centres and 406 trade and retail outlets. Gresham Private Equity is a leading “The response has been tremendous. Our asbestos-free brake pads are premium quality, long life and are well accepted in the market place.” busy handing out Lukey stickers, with 20,000 being snapped up by the crowd over the three days. Carline, Australia’s largest group of exhaust specialists, were also in attendance and spent the three days promoting Lukey and fielding thousands of questions about performance exhaust systems from a crowd full of enthusiasts. APG - THE NEW OWNERS Australian private equity investor specialising in management buy-outs and expansion capital transactions. GS Private Equity is part of the Grant Samuel Group which has extensive experience in private equity investing. Macquarie Direct Investments is one of Australasia’s leading private equity investment groups and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Bank. 4 AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2001
RETAIL AUTOPRO TARGETS NEW MEMBERS Grant Jarrett The Autopro retail stores chain has formulated a plan to ensure continued growth by giving it a tangible edge in member recruitment. This, the company says, will make it the fastest expanding auto retailer: “We’ve the asset of being the largest group of independent auto parts and accessory retailers in Australia and we’re also a division of the biggest auto parts wholesaler, Carparts Distribution.” Says Autopro Manager Grant Jarrett. “Our numbers are now nearly 200 stores spread over all mainland states which positions us right up as a major force. We’ve got the size and, better still, the support of a huge parent organisation to properly back our planned growth. “We realise maintaining our position means including an aggressive expansion component to our plans and that’s exactly what we’ve developed.” Jarrett says Autopro’s management and its National Dealer Council have worked together to formulate the new strategic direction which is now being implemented: “Among our plans is a sharp focus on attracting new members. This will be successful not only because of our size and excellent track record, but also the way we develop that ensures we deliver good businesses for all our members.” Jarrett said. He cites his group’s advantages as including the low membership fees, innovative marketing fund, decentralised advertising system, Autopro Support Centre, Autopro Car Care Program, and the development of a core suppliers and products. Enquiries should be made to Grant Jarrett 0411 249 474. SCA’s MOVE SOUTH Derek Pickard talks to Bob Thorn on the day of his big opening in Melbourne The opening of 6 stores in the one day - to go from nowhere to a respected presence in Victoria - is the major talking point of retailing. Super Cheap Auto says its total investment for the new Victorian stores is all part of the company’s on-going plan which will see it emerge as a major player nationally. “Right now, with these new Melbourne stores, we’ve got a total of 79,” says the company’s Managing Director Bob Thorn. “It’s all part of our overall expansion which will see us have 100 stores and $200 million in sales for June 2002, growing to 200 stores for $500 million in sales by June 2005. Those are our goals and we’re well on the way to achieving them. “The Victorian market is critical to us. Our target here is over 40 stores in three years. We’re talking of a $35 million investment that will eventually employ up to 600 people. This year, for example, we’ll be opening more very soon which will see the total in this state reach 20 by the end of the December. That’ll then bring our national number to 93. “They’re all company owned stores and around half are freehold sites. Such a basis of operation has always been our approach and we wont be changing. Bob Thorn outside his new Rowville store. “Nor will we be lowering our standards of layout. A typical SCA store is around 800 metres and has around 10,000 SKUs which includes power tools and hardware. Around 70 percent is traditional automotive business with our customers running at about 70 percent male and 30 percent female. “We won’t be altering the way we keep seeking unique items for our stores and the present rate of 30 percent of the present business being imported by ourselves may well increase. “Above all, our expansion plan will be continuing at its present pace and we won’t be slowing. Every goal we’ve ever put down, we’ve achieved. “What we’re doing here in Melbourne is typical of our approach. To our knowledge, we’re the first Australian company to launch 6 stores in one day. As such we’re making retail history. And that’s going to continue. MARLOWS EXPANDS IN MELBOURNE Marlows Auto Parts and Accessories took its store count to 19 sive 13,500 products ranged. Some of the with the layout of the store and the exten- when opening the latest store at Werribee Plaza Shopping Centre in Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne, during August. Nearly 1700 customers withstood some terrible weather over the first weekend to take advantage of the opening specials, with most customers impressed opening activities had to be cancelled due to the weather but customers took advantage of sausage sizzles, car washes and visiting race and drag car displays. Hundreds of supplier prizes and samples were up for grabs, with most customers taking something home with them. Trading from just over 670m with an additional workshop for vehicle servicing, the store gives local car owners a convenient one-stop auto shop in a handy central location. (Marlows now has 4 stores in Victoria with plans on the board for another store this financial year.) Marlows new Victorian Store 5 AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2001
Page 1 and 2: THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AUSTRA
Page 3: EXCLUSIVE From Repco to PacAuto and
Page 7: products 3 CATALOGUES TOGETHER Road

october/november 2001 - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

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