Welcome to Issue 3 of the regular AM newsletter. The plan is that this newsletter should be useful to clients of AM, prospective clients, advertising/PR agencies and other interested parties.

The big news in this issue is the up-coming AM parts and distribution special which will give the UK’s big garage and workshop owners as well as the whole industry a view on how the changing automotive aftermarket landscape is presenting new opportunities for profit. The editorial teams are really going to town for October 22nd with AM and Autotrade teaming up to deliver our aftermarket advertisers a double value package for the autumn.

There is also an update on events including the AM November conference and the AM Awards in February which are already almost a sell out.

Sincerely

Gordon Lyster
AM commercial manager

AM Parts Distribution Supplement

AM’s twice-yearly Parts and Distribution supplement, published with the Oct 22nd issue, will look at the complex subject of OE v Non OE, Authorised repairer routes , and the way block exemption may be changing the market. What is the way forward? It will provide senior management within the aftermarket companies with the views and analysis needed to help them make the right business decisions: What are the market trends? What do they want from their parts suppliers? Where is the sector heading over the next couple of years?

Franchised dealers can now purchase parts to original specification from any source for servicing work, opening up the opportunity for non-original suppliers. This is bringing about a new level of price competitiveness not just in the sub three-year-old sector, but also in the three-year-old plus market. Some independent garages are investing to become authorised repairers for manufacturers, as they seek to develop more comprehensive and satisfactory solutions for the customer, both in terms of price and convenience.

The AM Parts and Distribution supplement will be a 20-page minimum, A3 analysis of this changing sector, bound into the centre section of AM in a pull-out format. Areas covered will include:

INTRODUCTION - the size of the sector, the major players.

Future Developments – what technological advances will affect parts over the next 5 to 10 years? Interviews with leading suppliers on how the market will develop and the implications.

ECAR regulations – what they mean for repairers and the parts industry. How Non OE parts will be monitored and measured. The view of carmakers, the Adf and parts suppliers.

The Welsh development Agency – how its attracting business from Bosch, Visteon and others to the area, and the implications for the aftermarket of having supply plants in this country.

Buying Groups – what the likes of UAN,FSG can offer factors and repair businesses. Who’s out there, what they do.

Unipart – developments, response on survival. How the Uks biggest parts supplier plans to consolidate it s market position.

Trade Clubs-2 case studies, what are the benefits, what are the costs.

FPS/Lookers-What the deal really means for the market. Views from other suppliers.

For details of how your company can take advantage of a unique deal to advertise in both the AM parts distribution special on October 22nd and the October edition of Autotrade magazine for one low package price please contact ian.pledger@emap.com

Events

AM Conference, Oxford, November 17th
Concept : Financial Management: winning strategies for pro-active dealerships

The conference is sponsored by Grant Thornton Motor Retail and Barclays and is set to be attended by senior financial managers from across the motor retail sector.

The subjects covered will include:

ROCE (Return On Capital Employed) best practice model/case study

Funding your growth (especially if you don’t have the resources of a major PLC behind you)

Cash management – getting it in quickly

Asset utilisation – how to balance achieving the manufacturers standards with making a profit as a business

Controlling IT expenses

FSA – have you got all your support mechanisms in place for Jan 15?

Maximising your finance income

Pay plans – what’s working in the marketplace today

The AM Awards 2005 February 17th 2005

The 2005 awards will be the biggest ever with around 1000 guests expected at the ICC in Birmingham. The evening features a pre-dinner drinks reception, black tie awards ceremony, cabaret and some of the most determined business networking you’ll ever see.

Award sponsorship packages including hospitality are available through the AM commercial team. If you’ve never been to the AM awards yourself and want to get a feel for it we have a 5 minute DVD of the 2004 event so let us know and we’ll get you a copy.

The categories have been announced and are listed below.

Headline Awards
Hall of Fame (trophy)
Personality of the year
Retailer of the year
Carmaker of the year

Retail Awards
Large retail group
Small retail group
Volume dealership
Small/niche dealership
Used car retailer
LCV retailer

Manufacturer/supplier
Trade parts programme of the used
Used car programme of the year

Aftermarket
Bodyshop
Independent/authorised repairer
Fast-fit
AutoTrade independent parts distributor

Innovation
E-commerce – product or service
Marketing
Training
Recruitment

For information on sponsorship and or speaker opportunities please contact events director chris.lester@emap.com