NACE & CARS 2011 (27)
ASRW 2011: Attendance Up 18%; Space Selling Quickly for 2012
Written by StaffAutomotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) 2011 was held recently in Orlando, Fla., and conclusive results released by ASA deemed this year’s event the most successful in recent years--largely attributed to an 18 percent increase in overall attendance and strong initial sales for the 2012 event. ASRW 2012 is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. (Educational sessions will begin Oct. 10, 2012.)
Ron Pyle, ASA president, commented on the event’s outcome saying, “Since we’ve returned from the show, we’ve been inundated with an outpouring of positive feedback, success stories and personal testimonies of the impact of this year’s event. It’s evident a tremendous amount of business was transacted in Orlando last week, and we could not be happier with the upswing of ASRW 2011.”
Total attendance for the 2011 event was 19,221, of which a third of the participants were from the east coast and another third were new attendees.
“By far the best NACE in our 11 year history. We expected we would have a good number of new shops stop at the booth and that was for sure what happened. We gathered twice as many leads as last year, and we closed 3 times as many sales on the floor as last year. Overall a fantastic NACE, and we can't wait for New Orleans,” said Dave Henderson, AutoWatch.
“Congratulations to NACE. Great turnout. Manufacturers are jumping at the bit about New Orleans. Been a fabulous surprise,” commented Bruce Mather, Dir. of Marketing HMS Warehouse (ChemSpec).
The Town Hall meeting on Health Care in the Service Industry was held on-site in Orlando at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8. Sponsored by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), this event was a platform to discuss healthcare reform and its effects on small-business owners.
The discussion, titled "How Will Healthcare Reform Affect My Business?" examined the impact of healthcare reform in the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and provided an outlook for changes in healthcare laws in the future.
Industry experts Kaitlyn Dwyer, legislative analyst for ASA; and Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative, reviewed the new law's impact on independent automotive repair businesses and possible changes in healthcare laws. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions in this interactive presentation.
Panelists for the program included Donna Malvey, Ph.D., University of Central Florida; Terri L. Seefeldt, RHU, Rogers Benefit Group; Jim Houser, Hawthorne Auto Clinic Inc.; and Don Seyfer, Seyfer Automotive.
"At our Town Hall meeting, automotive repairers expressed concern about healthcare costs and the new healthcare law," stated Redding. "Congress is still discussing possible changes in the new healthcare law but it's important to note the administration continues the regulatory process and recently announced the long-term care insurance program known as CLASS, passed as part of last year's healthcare reform law, will not be implemented at this time. The administration indicated that the proposed new program is actuarially unsound."
AUTOBODY NEWS will be running a three part series on Health Care and Small Business starting in our December issue.
MSOs Share Insights During First-time Symposium at 2011 NACE
Written by John Yoswickby John Yoswick
More than 400 shops were represented on a panel discussion at this year’s 2011 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) – but only four chairs were needed on the stage.
To view a PDF of this article please click HERE.
That’s because the four speakers were representatives of some of the largest multiple shop operations (MSOs) in the industry, which combined have more than 7,200 employees and annual sales topping $1.26 billion.
The four were speaking at a new forum held for the first time at this year’s NACE in Orland, Fla., a day-long session aimed at (and open to) only MSOs. Much of the content of the panel discussions during the symposium, however, could have been equally of value to the single-location shop owner who wants to expand his or her business.
During the “Lessons Learned From the Big Four” panel discussion, for example, Cathy Bonner, the president of the 47-shop Service King chain in Texas, was asked what role social media plays in her company’s extensive marketing efforts. Bonner said she thinks it’s a stretch to think that people want to “socialize” with a collision repair shop, and that measuring return on an investment in social media is difficult given how infrequently the average driver needs a shop’s services.
Women’s Industry Network Awards Two Scholarships to NACE
Written by StaffThe Women’s Industry Network (WIN) awarded the group’s annual scholarship to attend NACE to the two top-placing female winners at SkillsUSA.
This year’s recipients are Alexandra Domer, who placed eighth in the automotive refinishing technology category, and Elizabeth Moore, who placed 10th in the collision repair technology category.
The WIN scholarship includes airfare, lodging and associated expenses, as well as a full access NACE Expo Pass provided by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and Automotive Service Association (ASA).
Additionally, Domer and Moore were honored at the ASA sponsored industry awards ceremony on Oct. 6, and also will receive a 2012 WIN membership.
After high school, Domer attended the Waubonsee Community College, where she earned two Associate Degrees in Applied Science, one in Automotive Body Repair and Automotive Technology. She graduated in the spring of 2011 and hopes to have her own collision repair facility one day.
Moore graduated from Freedom High School in the spring of 2011, and is currently attending UTI in Houston.
“The WIN NACE scholarship goes to the heart of WIN’s mission to support and encourage women who are entering the industry, particularly those in the technical ranks. Surrounded by our amazing WIN members, this scholarship has consistently been a wonderful way to introduce young women to the collision industry,” said Teresa Bolton, Director, Collision Repair Test Development, ASE who also serves as WIN’s Scholarship Co-Chair and Treasurer.
For more information go to www.womensindustrynetwork.com.
Ron Pyle Talks to Collision Hub About His Pre-NACE Expectations and Highlights
Written by StaffRon Pyle, ASA President, talks with Collision Hub's Kristen Felder before the start of the NACE show about his expectations and anticipated events for the show. With 30 to 40 percent of attendees and exhibitors coming to NACE for the first time, Pyle talks about his perception of the 2011 show's success.
Girl Scouts of Citrus Council Attend NACE for Collision Hub’s Tools for Success Program
Written by StaffWith over 100 girls registered and nearly that number in attendance, Collision Hub’s second annual Girl Scouts: Tools for Success program was a huge success. For the event, the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council in Orlando came to the NACE show floor for an hour of conversations with leaders in the industry about the incredible opportunities available to young women in the collision repair.
The girls learned about frame equipment and measurement systems with Bob Holland of Chief, the history of DuPont with Petra Schroeder, the chemistry of paint and color with Laura Yerkey of ProSpray, advanced software and new technologies from CCC’s Susanna Gotsch, scholarship opportunities with the Women’s Industry Network, and more.
Following the NACE Tools for Success tour, Collision Hub hosted a Women’s Panel sponsored by LKQ and moderated by Eileen Sottile, which featured:
● Kristen Felder—Founder and CEO, Collision Hub
● Denise Casperson— Manager, ASA Collision Division
● Audra Fordin—Owner, Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body Shop, Flushing, NY
● Stacee L. Royce—Laboratory Manager, Paint Applications and Masking Systems, 3M
Automotive Aftermarket Div.
● Petra Schroeder—Brand Development Manager Standox, Dupont Performance Coatings
● Victoria Jankowski—P&C Claims Consultant, State Farm and President of WIN
Among the highlights of Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) were the complimentary meeting rooms in the new NACE Network – the ONE place to meet, sponsored by CCC Information Services Inc. CCC is a leading provider of software and information services.
The complimentary meeting rooms were located immediately outside the ASRW Expo show floor. The area consisted of 11 small-to-large private rooms, each equipped with comfortable furnishings and wireless internet. The NACE Network was available Oct. 5-8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Reservations were made on a first-come, first-served basis.
“The NACE Network was definitely a hit at ASRW 2011! Having the rooms close to the show floor, but not on the show floor was a key feature of this consistently busy area, and we had concurrent meetings taking place each day of the show,” said Ron Pyle ASA president. “Many business transactions took place this week in Orlando, and we’re glad to have created a place for those important conversations that so many participants utilized.”
“Meeting space at our industry events can be hard to come by, creating obstacles to the business conversations and networking that we’ve all come together to do,” said Jim Dickens, senior vice president of the Automotive Service Group at CCC. “‘The NACE Network’ space was created to better support the important business conversations and networking that define ASRW. Easier communication through a single location is what CCC ONE is all about, which makes this partnership with ASRW a natural extension of what CCC wants to do with and for the industry.”
Tom Williams, CCC marketing director, witnessed first-hand the activity generated by The NACE Network. “We couldn’t be more pleased with how this unique idea came to fruition and has been received on-site at ASRW. The meeting space made available in Orlando served the ongoing need for semi-private meetings, negotiations and miscellaneous business throughout the event on a daily basis. We hope to continue CCC’s involvement in offering this convenience in the future,” said Williams.
Additional sponsorship of The NACE Network was provided by Panasonic Solutions Company and MOTOR.
Chris Brogan Encourages Attendees to Socially Engage at ASRW
Written by StaffNoted journalist and social media expert Chris Brogan delivered a powerful opening general session presentation Thursday, Oct. 6 at Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW). The presentation was sponsored by DuPont Performance Coatings. The ASRW Expo opened immediately following the conclusion of Brogan’s presentation.
Brogan’s keynote presentation focused on guest experience design and the importance of augmenting traditional ways of generating business for the auto repair industry.
“29 years of success says we are doing the right thing and we will continue to do the right thing,” stated ASA president Ron Pyle before Brogan took the stage. “We have been entrusted to work for the industry and we will continue to do that as well as we can. Making ASRW and the people we serve successful is one way to make that possible.”
Brogan, who is also a marketing consultant and frequent speaker about social media marketing, educates businesses and organizations on how social software aligns with their strategies. He is the president and CEO of Human Business Works, an education and community company. He consults and speaks professionally with Fortune 100 and 500 companies such as PepsiCo, Microsoft and more on the future of business communications and social software technologies. He is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Trust Agents, and a featured monthly columnist at Entrepreneur Magazine. Brogan’s blog, chrisbrogan.com, is in the Top 5 of the Advertising Age Power150. He has over 11 years of experience in online community, social media and related technologies.
“Chris Brogan is passionate about engaging people and was full of energy opening ASRW,” said Harry Hall DuPont North America Sales Manager of the Refinish Division. “As longtime supporter of NACE we recognize the need to be diverse in generating customers and the impact that it can have on our industry.”
Educational Schedule, Structure Released for New MSO Symposium At NACE 2011
Written by StaffDetails surrounding the Multiple Shop Operator (MSO) Symposium—the newest event at Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW)—were released, including educational content, speakers and the full schedule.
The MSO Symposium will take place Thursday, Oct. 6, featuring an all-day program consisting of education and networking specific to MSOs. Sponsors of this highly anticipated event include CCC Information Services, Toyota Wholesale Parts, DuPont Performance Coatings, The Romans Group LLC, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and UniCure Spray booths. The MSO Symposium is hosted by Matthew Ohrnstein, managing director of Symphony Advisors.
The MSO Symposium will start with a networking breakfast, followed by a full day of panelists, keynote speakers, facilitated discussions, a CEO roundtable, Q&A sessions, and a concluding networking reception.
In a continuing effort to respond to consistent participant feedback, Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) announced on September 7 its 2012 event - featuring the milestone 30th annual NACE event - will take place Oct. 11-13 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. The 2012 event will again follow a Thursday-Saturday day pattern, with education beginning Wednesday, Oct. 10.
"Almost a year ago, we put the attendees and exhibitors in charge of key decisions about the future of ASRW, including where and when the event takes place," said Ron Pyle, ASA president. "After multiple surveys among both attendees and exhibitors, the results were clear: our audience wants this event in New Orleans, and we're pleased to make it happen."
Based on attendance trends leading up to the 2011 event, the move to New Orleans is expected to draw a significant population of new attendees, as a new region of the United States has access to this international event.
Representatives from New Orleans will be onsite in Orlando to formally open housing, assist attendees with reserving hotel rooms and answer questions about the city.
NACE was last held in New Orleans in 1995; CARS in the late 1980s.
