AAPEXedu to Offer Three New Customized Programs and More Than 40 Sessions

July 31, 2014 – This year’s AAPEXedu will address the most difficult challenges facing attendees by offering three, all-new customized programs and more than 40 education sessions, all at no cost to attendees. The 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is set for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3. 

The new, customized conferences include the Service Professionals Program, which will take place throughout AAPEX, the Recruiting and Retaining Program on Nov. 3, and the REMANedu Conference, also on Nov. 3. Each new program within the AAPEXedu has been developed using input from various segments of the automotive aftermarket. 

The Service Professionals Program will feature more than 20 education sessions, facilitated roundtable discussions, and in-booth technical demonstrations and networking on the AAPEX exhibit floor. The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) Fall 2014 General Meeting on Nov. 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., also is part of the Service Professionals Program, as is the AVI Training Conference on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. A fee and registration is required for the AVI Training Conference. 

The new Recruiting and Retaining Conference is designed to address a common challenge for many attendees: finding and keeping good employees. The conference will feature expert-led education sessions, a panel discussion on developing millennial leaders and a spotlight on highly successful outreach and recruiting programs in the aftermarket. 

The REMANedu Conference will feature valuable remanufacturing sessions, an engine remanufacturing panel discussion, and remarks by representatives of the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA), the remanufacturing division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Auto Care Association. To attend the REMANedu Conference, please contact Kelly Glasgow at Kelly@wtglasgow.com.

In addition to these new programs, the AAPEXedu will offer sessions targeted for distributors, as well as sessions on sales and marketing, aftermarket telematics and the connected car, technology, and aftermarket trends and forecasts. 

A special AAPEX General Session with keynote speaker Steve Forbes will round out this year’s AAPEXedu. Forbes is chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, an expert on the global economy and author of a new book, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy and What We Can Do About it. 

His keynote address will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. 

All AAPEXedu sessions will be accredited by the University of the Aftermarket toward the Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) and Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP) designations. To learn more about the AAPEXedu, visit: www.aapexshow.com/edu. Registration is not required for the sessions, however, seating is first-come, first-serve. 

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register. 

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

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AAPEX Attendees: Your Vote Counts

July 28, 2014 – The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is asking attendees to participate in an all-new voting process at this year’s event to determine the winning entries in the 2014 New Product Showcase. AAPEX is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3. 

The New Product Showcase, located in Hall D+, is a launch pad for products making their debut at AAPEX 2014. This year, attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite products in eight different categories by using a scanner available in the New Product Showcase area. 

Voting will take place on the first day of AAPEX, Nov. 4. After voting and returning the scanners, attendees will then receive a list of the products they scanned in order to visit the exhibitors’ booths on the show floor. 

The products with the most scans in each of the eight categories will be announced as winners at a Press Conference to be held in the Media Center, The Venetian - Casanova 601, on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

All entries also will be featured in the AAPEX New Product Extra, a Babcox publication that will be mailed to all buyers after AAPEX. 

To enter a product in the New Product Showcase, AAPEX exhibitors should go to Exhibitor Login, enter their login information and click on the New Product Showcase icon on the dashboard. Products featured in the showcase must be introduced since AAPEX 2013. For more information, contact Chris Kalousek,  chris.kalousek@aapexshow.com, or 708-226-1300 ext. 14.

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths, nearly 40 AAPEXedu sessions and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register. 

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

Learn the Seven “Can’t Forget” Ingredients for Marketing Messages During AAPEX Attendee Webinar

July 24, 2014 – The next free AAPEXedu attendee webinar, “The Seven ‘Can’t Forget’ Ingredients in Your Marketing Messages,” will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 4 p.m., EST. The 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3. 

One of the biggest mistakes large and small companies make is thinking that simply “announcing” a product is what marketing is all about, such as, “Announcing our all new 2013 shiny, blue Widget!” But that's not marketing. Marketing actually helps make the sale and there are proven steps and tactics to use in marketing that can help make that happen.

In this session, strategic marketing expert Steve Miller will share seven important ingredients to incorporate in all marketing messages. Implementing just one of these can make a huge difference in your results!

The monthly AAPEXedu Webinar Series is designed to help ensure attendees grow their businesses and get the most out of participating in AAPEX 2014. Additional attendee webinars will cover “Copywriting” and “How to Get the Most Out of AAPEX.”

To register for “The Seven ‘Can't Forget’ Ingredients In Your Marketing Messages” or to watch a previous webinar in the AAPEXedu Video Learning Library, visit:

www.aapexshow.com/attendee/webinar. 

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths, nearly 40 AAPEXedu sessions and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register. 

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

New AAPEX General Session Will Provide Scholarships

LAS VEGAS, NV – July 23, 2014 – The new Wednesday morning General Session at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) will provide a fund-raising platform for AAPEX to make a donation for scholarships, traditionally generated by the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). The announcement by AAPEX owners the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) coincides with the GAAS board of directors decision to defer the 2015 GAAS event.

The donation will be made to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation on behalf of GAAS. The new General Session will replace the Town Hall breakfast, hosted by the Auto Care Association, and the Executive Breakfast, hosted by AASA, the light aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) are both being replaced by a combined new free General Session slated for Wednesday, Nov. 5, during AAPEX in Las Vegas.

The keynote speaker for the General Session will be Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, and author of a new book, Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy and What We Can Do About it.

“While the new general session is free of charge to all AAPEX attendees, we will offer special sponsorship opportunities such as VIP seating and a special breakfast with Steve Forbes and book signing to raise scholarship funds,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Not only are we being sensitive to industry executive’s time constraints by creating a single event, we will be able to generate money for scholarships.”

NASTF to Hold Fall 2014 General Meeting at AAPEX

 July 22, 2014 – The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) will hold its Fall 2014 General Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, during the upcoming Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, Nev. AAPEX is set for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center, with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3. 

The NASTF meeting is part of the all-new Service Professionals Program at AAPEX and will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., PST, Room Casanova 605 at the Sands Expo Center/Venetian Hotel. There is no cost to attend and pre-registration with NASTF is not required. 

The featured session, “Aftermarket Access to OEM Education Resources,” will provide a rare opportunity for shop owners and aftermarket technicians to interact directly with key service operations managers employed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automakers. Automakers are required by law or agreement to provide the same training information to the aftermarket as they provide to their franchise dealers. Many automakers provide much more than is required, but all of it is grossly underutilized by aftermarket technicians. The NASTF panelists in this session will attempt to understand and correct this disconnect between available resources and the needs of the aftermarket technician.

“NASTF wants our General Meetings held where shop owners and technicians are already gathering. Las Vegas in November absolutely meets that objective and we are honored that AAPEX has invited our event to be a part of their Service Professionals Program,” said Skip Potter, NASTF executive director. 

The Committee Segment of the meeting will include updates on projects by NASTF Committees including: Vehicle Security, Equipment & Tool, Collision Repair, Service Information, Education and Communications. For further Information, visit: www.nastf.org/generalmeetings or contact Skip Potter at: skippotter@nastf.org.

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths, nearly 40 AAPEXedu sessions and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register. 

About AAPEX

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

About NASTF

NASTF was established in 2000 to identify, communicate and resolve gaps in the availability and accessibility of automotive service information, service training, diagnostic tools, and equipment for the benefit of automotive service professionals and their customers. NASTF was incorporated in 2006 as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization. Additional details can be found at www.nastf.org. 

AAPEX Exhibitor Webinar to Reveal Seven “Can’t Forget” Ingredients for Marketing Messages

July 21, 2014 – The AAPEXedu Webinar Series will present, “The Seven ‘Can’t Forget’ Ingredients in Your Marketing Messages,” a free exhibitor webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 4 p.m., EST. The 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3. 

One of the biggest mistakes large and small companies make is thinking that simply "announcing" a product is what marketing is all about, such as, "Announcing our all new 2013 shiny, blue Widget!" But that's not marketing. Marketing actually helps make the sale and there are proven steps and tactics to use in marketing that can help make that happen.

In this session, strategic marketing expert Steve Miller will share seven important ingredients to incorporate in all marketing messages. Implementing just one of these can make a huge difference in your results!

The monthly AAPEXedu Webinar Series is designed to help ensure exhibitors grow their businesses and get the most out of their participation in AAPEX 2014. Additional exhibitor webinars will cover “Copywriting” and “Boothmanship for AAPEX.”

To register for “The Seven ‘Can't Forget’ Ingredients In Your Marketing Messages” or to watch a previous webinar in the AAPEXedu Video Learning Library, visit: www.aapexshow.com/exhibitor/webinar. 

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths, nearly 40 AAPEXedu sessions and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register. 

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

AAPEX Attendee Webinar to Spotlight Referral Marketing

MOKENA, Ill. – July 2, 2014 – The AAPEXedu will present “Building a Referral Marketing Strategy,” a free attendee webinar slated for Wednesday, July 9, at 4 p.m., EST. The 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is set for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3.

Every business owner understands the value of generating referrals. Yet, in a recent study, 74 percent of small businesses admitted to not having a formal referral marketing program. Don’t be in that crowd. Attendees should instead attend this session and learn a new system for developing a real, implementable referral marketing program for their business.

The monthly AAPEXedu Webinar Series is designed to help ensure attendees grow their businesses and get the most out of participating in AAPEX 2014. Additional attendee webinars will cover “Direct Response Marketing, “Copywriting” and “How to Get the Most Out of AAPEX.”

Steve Miller, strategic marketing expert, is leading the attendee webinars for AAPEX.

To register for “Building a Referral Marketing Strategy” or to watch a previous webinar in the AAPEXedu Video Learning Library, visit: www.aapexshow.com/attendee/webinar.

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths, nearly 40 AAPEXedu sessions and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register.

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.

AAPEX Exhibitor Webinar to Target Pre-Show Marketing

MOKENA, Ill. – June 30, 2014 – The AAPEXedu Webinar Series will present, “Pre-Show Marketing Can Ensure Your Success,” a free exhibitor webinar on Tuesday, July 8, at 4 p.m., EST. The 2014 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3.

The average AAPEX attendee will receive less than 40 exhibitor invitations this year. Where are an exhibitor’s odds better: Standing out from 40 pre-show communications, or standing out from 2,300 other exhibitors on the show floor? Steve Miller, strategic marketing expert, will show exhibitors how to grab the attention of their top buyers before they travel to Las Vegas and without costing an arm and a leg.

The monthly AAPEXedu Webinar Series is designed to help ensure exhibitors grow their businesses and get the most out of their participation in AAPEX 2014. Additional exhibitor webinars will cover “Referral Marketing” (August), “Copywriting” (September) and “Boothmanship for AAPEX” (October).

To register for “Pre-Show Marketing Can Ensure Your Success” or to watch a previous webinar in the AAPEXedu Video Learning Library, visit: www.aapexshow.com/exhibitor/webinar.

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths, nearly 40 AAPEXedu sessions and 39,000 targeted buyers. More than 130,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from nearly 125 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX. To register for AAPEX, visit: www.aapexshow.com/register.

AAPEX represents the $477 billion global aftermarket auto parts industry, and is jointly sponsored by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.