AAPEX Press Releases: September 2012

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

AAPEX Learning Forum Sessions To Cover Sales, Marketing and Branding

AAPEX Learning Forum Sessions To Cover Sales, Marketing and Branding

ORLAND PARK, IL – Sept. 19, 2012 – Five sessions in the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) Learning Forum will focus on what companies should know about sales, marketing and branding to be successful in today’s marketplace. The Learning Forum will offer more than 30 sessions, all at no cost, starting Monday, Oct. 29 – the day before the official start of AAPEX – and running throughout AAPEX, Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Sales, marketing and branding sessions include “Sprechen Sie Brand?” with speaker Shawn Parr, Bulldog Drummond, which will cover how branding can make companies successful by providing strategic clarity. Jackie DeLise, Vermillion Consulting, will lead a session on “The Partnership Path to Brand Differentiation and Success” with a focus on how partnerships within the supply chain can work together to create, refresh and maintain a brand’s relevance over time. “Intellectual Property: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You,” with speakers Sarah Bruno of Arent Fox and Kenya Merritt of the FBI, will outline how companies can protect their intellectual property and brand. These three sessions will be offered on Monday, Oct. 29.

For companies embracing the newest in marketing technology, two sessions will be presented by Greg Sterling, Sterling Market Intelligence: “The Role of Mobile in Business-to-Business Marketing and Customer Relationship Management,” and “The Role of Mobile in Business-to-Consumer Marketing.” These two sessions will be offered on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 31, respectively.

Learning Forum sessions will be held at the Venetian Hotel, on the Venetian/Palazzo Congress Center Level 1, Marco Polo Rooms 701-706. All sessions are accredited by the University of the Aftermarket toward the Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) and Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations.

With the Learning Forum starting before the official opening of AAPEX, attendees are reminded to adjust their travel plans and schedules accordingly. To register for AAPEX, visit the event’s website, www.aapexshow.com. For a complete list of sessions, visit the Learning Forum on the AAPEX Web site.

AAPEX represents the $395 billion global motor vehicle aftermarket and is jointly sponsored by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

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For more information contact:

Rich White, AAIA

301-654-6664, ext. 1030

rich.white@aftermarket.org

Margaret Beck, AASA

919-406-8828

media@mema.org

Thursday, September 6, 2012

AAPEX Learning Forum To Feature Six Sessions on Industry Trends

ORLAND PARK, IL – Sept. 5, 2012 – Six of the 30 sessions in the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) Learning Forum will focus on industry trends to help attendees better position their businesses for the future. Learning Forum sessions are offered at no cost, and will begin Monday, Oct. 29 – the day before the official start of AAPEX – and run during AAPEX, Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Industry trend sessions include the “Outlook for Fuel and Raw Material Costs: How It Impacts Everyone in the Aftermarket,” with a focus on how the rising costs of fuel and raw materials are affecting the manufacture and cost of parts. Well-known and respected economist Jason Schenker will share Prestige Economics’ top-rated forecasts and provide insights as to what everyone who makes a living in the aftermarket needs to know about the risks and realities of future commodity and fuel prices.

NPD’s David Portalatin will present the “2013 Aftermarket Outlook” and what to expect in consumer spending on products and services based on the results of NPD’s 2013 Aftermarket Consumer Outlook Survey. Polk’s Mark Seng will present “Five Trends in Five Minutes: Trends Affecting the Aftermarket Environment,” a review of the hottest trends in the vehicle market that are and will be shaping the industry in the short - and long-term.

The popular “Import Parts Explosion: Are You Taking Your Share?” session will help companies focus on how to boost productivity when selling parts for imports. “What’s Happening with U.S. International Trade: Opportunities for the Aftermarket” will cover recent trade agreements (FTAs) and the benefits and issues that arise due to the FTAs. And, “New Brake Rules: What the Aftermarket Needs to Know” will review how state laws in California and Washington will affect the entire supply chain.