We’re happy to announce our new partnership with GM Dealer Equipment (GMDE), which will provide GM Dealers with greater purchasing and billing convenience.

The Authorized Consumable Aftermarket Program through GMDE will allow GM Dealers to purchase consumable shop supplies, fasteners, connectors and cleaners from Würth, with the convenience of paying for these items directly through their GMDE statements. This should reduce the number of statements they need to manage. Dealers will need to enroll in the program, but once they do, the accounting process will become more streamlined for them.

WURTH ORSY at the GM Booth at NADA

Würth puts a premium on customer satisfaction and maintaining a positive customer experience. This partnership with GMDE is just another example of putting that philosophy into practice. “We’re excited about our new business relationship with GMDE,” said Marc Weber, Vice President at WURTH USA. “We’re working together to enhance the full customer experience. Exceptional quality and personalized service via qualified and trained Territory Managers is the basis of this successful partnership and our belief.”

Mark Palmer, GMDE Account Manager, also sees this as a great opportunity for GM Dealers. “GMDE has an opportunity to partner with another top leader in the automotive parts and service industry,” said Palmer. “We’re looking forward to employing world-class efficiencies to our operations throughout the United States and Canada.”

For more information about this program or other Würth Value Added Services, call 800-987-8287 or Email info@wurthusa.com.

We’d like to share some exciting developments going on here at the WURTH Group. With the recent announcement that we are teaming with Penske Racing in a multi-year partnership to sponsor Penske’s NASCAR Nationwide Series, you’ll be hearing (and seeing) a lot more from us this year and beyond.

With WURTH and Alliance Truck Parts as sponsors, Sam Hornish, Jr. and the Number 12 Dodge Challenger team will compete for the full Nationwide Series season in 2012.

The WURTH Group will be the primary sponsor in seven races this year, beginning with Texas Motor Speedway on Friday April 13th. WURTH will also be an associate sponsor for the remaining 26 Nationwide Series races in 2012. On top of that, we’re also excited to be an associate sponsor of the Number 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger driven by Brad Keselowski in the race for the Sprint Cup.

The WURTH Group has been actively involved in European racing for over 30 years supporting teams in various disciplines, including the Formula One and DTM Series. Expanding that support to the United States and NASCAR is a big step for the WURTH Group, and one we’re looking forward to taking. Here are a few quotes from the recent announcement:

“The WURTH GROUP is a world-wide leader in the automotive and industrial supply business and we are pleased to have them join our team. Having WURTH as a partner brings value to every aspect of our company and their involvement will enhance our ability to compete for wins and hopefully the Nationwide Series title this season.”

- Roger Penske, Founder and Chairman of Penske Corporation

“We are really excited to bring WURTH into the NASCAR Nationwide Series. I am grateful that they have joined our team because it is their support that makes it possible for us to run for the championship this year. We know that they will be a great partner to Penske Racing and we will do our best to get the No. 12 WURTH Dodge into Victory Circle.”

- Sam Hornish, Jr.

“Roger and his companies are the epitome of excellence and integrity. Their commitment to the highest quality and customer service mirrors our own corporate culture. While we have one of the most recognized brands in industrial distribution in Europe and Asia, we are just beginning to roll it out in America. Our partnership with Penske Racing will be of great value to us as we look to expand further into this market.”

- Robert Stolz, CEO, WURTH Group, North America

About Penske Racing

Penske Racing is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Competing in a variety of disciplines, cars owned and prepared by Penske Racing have produced 350 major race wins – including a record 15 Indianapolis 500 victories, more than 410 pole positions and 23 National Championships. For more information about Penske Racing, please visit www.penskeracing.com.

Once again, we’ll be sponsoring  PCA Palooza, a Porsche Club of America event being held November 11^th-13^th in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Now in its seventh year, PCA Palooza is a non-profit event to raise funds for the Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which specializes in wildlife service rehabilitation.

This year’s activities will include three spirited drives by Porsche type, two scenic drives, a parade through downtown Eureka, a car show, and an autocross event. Robert Turner, author of The Driver, will be signing books at the event in addition to hosting a tech session for blog writing.

“We truly appreciate Würth’s continued support”, stated PCA Palooza Organizer Leonard Zechiedrich, “PCA Palooza would not be possible without the generous help from our sponsors.”

For more information about PCA Palooza, please visit http://www.pca-palooza.com.

About the Porsche Club of America

The Porsche Club of America (PCA) offers driving experience, technical assistance and camaraderie for Porsche owners. Headquartered in Springfield, VA, the group’s core objective is to promote the enjoyment and sharing of goodwill and fellowship engendered by owning a Porsche.

The PCA was founded in 1955 by Bill Sholar and serves over 100,000 members in 139 local Regions, making it the largest single marque club in the world today.

We’re happy to announce our new partnership with Wholesale Auto Supply Company (WASCO).

Located in South Hackensack, NJ, WASCO offers members cost savings and streamlined inventory control through consolidated purchasing, in addition to providing an annual patronage dividend.  WÜRTH is offering a new program exclusively for WASCO members that incorporates top-tier pricing, full product warranties, and various quality services.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to join forces with an industry leader like WASCO”, stated Kahn Bond, Mid Atlantic Regional Sales Manager, “We’ve already gotten an incredible amount of interest and look forward to many future developments together”.

For more information about the program, WASCO members can contact their local WÜRTH Sales Representatives or call us at 800-987-8487 to schedule a consultation.

About Wholesale Auto Supply Company (WASCO)

Wholesale Auto Supply Company was founded in 1959, when a group of individual business owners realized the necessity of pooling their purchasing power to acquire goods and services which would lower their operating costs.  In 1967, it became apparent that the concept worked well and a warehouse facility in South Hackensack was purchased. Currently this space is 30,000 square feet, equipped with the latest technology in distribution functionality allowing optimal inventory management.

The Company’s mission is to offer the highest quality products and services at the most competitive pricing to their members, in order to ensure the highest return on their investment.

For more information, call 800-732-4511 or visit www.wascoonline.com.

The UBM Toy Run of 2011 produced OVER 10,000 toy donations for less fortunate kids during the holidays this year!

It’s estimated that between 9,000-10,000 bikes made the trip to the Windsor Fairgrounds, making this run the largest in 30 years. The parade of bikes stretched almost 15 miles from the Civic Center to the Fairgrounds.

Darling’s in Augusta made an abundant contribution as well, asking all registrants at the 2011 All Mopar Car Show to donate one unopened toy in lieu of a registration fee for the Annual Toy Run.

Here’s a video of St. Nick himself leading nearly 650 bikes from the LA Harley Davidson dealership in Lewiston, ME to the Toy Run:

If you run a collision center, at times the OSHA guidelines can seem overwhelming. As you know though, keeping your shop in compliance is essential. No matter how challenging keeping up with these regulations can be, it’s a walk in the park compared to having an OSHA inspector show up – and your shop isn’t prepared.

The reality is that an OSHA inspector can show up unannounced at any time, so proper planning for surprise visits can help you avoid fines and other big headaches. According to the Safety First article in the August issue of Fender Bender magazine, this is becoming more of a reality for collision shops because OSHA is concerned about occupational health hazards and shop air quality for employees.

While it’s nearly impossible to be 100% compliant, the article outlines some of the more common problems that can be avoided if OSHA shows up at your door, including having a respiratory protection program, keeping chemical MSDS sheets handy, proper guarding of grinding wheels, and keeping fire extinguishers up to date. The article also cites the importance of providing ongoing shop hazard training programs, including making sure that your employees know how and when to use protective equipment such as safety glasses and gloves.

Here are a few other steps to ensure you’re prepared if OSHA comes knocking:

1) Have Your Paperwork Ready – In minutes, you should be able to get your hands on your safety and equipment training records, proof of hazard communications and material safety data sheets. If you can’t produce this stuff quickly, the OSHA inspector might get the impression that your shop isn’t that organized and there are probably more violations to be found.

2) Let the Inspector In – By law you don’t have to let OSHA inspectors onto your property, but if you don’t, they can get a subpoena and come back. As you can imagine, once they show up with a subpoena, they’ll be checking everything thoroughly. So be prepared at all times and let them do their inspection any time they show up.

3) Fix What You Can on the Spot – When walking around with the inspector, if he points out something that’s a problem, if you can fix it on the spot – do it. The more the inspector sees that you’re concerned for the safety of your employees, the less likely he’ll be to leave you with a ton of fines.

4) Document Everything – If you have to make repairs after the inspector leaves, document your costs and any other information associated with the repairs. Once repairs are finished, send all of the documentation to the OSHA inspector along with “before and after” pictures. These simple steps could help you avoid a re-inspection.

Since there are literally thousands of OSHA regulations a collision shop has to follow, if you feel you’re in over your head consider hiring a private company to come in and do an inspection. This will give you an idea of what (if any) violations you need to address before OSHA might show up.

For more information or to view WURTH USA’s line of shop safety supplies, visit our website at http://www.wurthusa.com.

Once again, this year’s All Mopar Car Show in Augusta, Maine will give local car enthusiasts a chance to share their passion, and help children in need.

Darling’s in Augusta recently announced that the show will be returning for a second year in September, and have asked registrants to donate one unopened toy in lieu of a registration fee. All of the toys collected at the show will be donated to the United Biker’s of Maine Annual Toy Run.

The All Mopar Car Show was started in 2010 for owners to showcase their current and classic restorations of anything and everything Mopar – including Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and Plymouth just to name a few. Last year’s show included 150 Mopar vehicles and generated proceeds of over $500 and 160 toys. “The show is a great way to see some classic vehicles and support a worthwhile cause at the same time”, said Todd Farrin, Mopar enthusiast and Manager of Darling’s Collision Center, “This year’s show promises to be a fun and exciting event for everyone.”

In an effort to help support this worthy cause, WURTH USA set up a toy collection drop at their Ramsey Corporate Headquarters in Ramsey, NJ. Toys will be collected from August 1^st-September 5^th.

About Darling’s Augusta

As part of the Darling’s family of businesses, Darling’s Augusta shares the same vision and goals that has made Darling’s one of the most successful companies in Maine. From humble beginnings selling cars, trucks and bicycles in 1903, to one of the largest dealership groups in the State of Maine, Darling’s is proud to be one of the most recognizable and trusted names in Maine business.

Built around our commitment to customer satisfaction and employee well-being, Darling’s has grown from one brand, one location to twelve brands offered at six locations around the state including Bangor, Ellsworth and Augusta. Through hard work and commitment to strong values, the Darling’s family is now in its fifth generation striving to meet the automotive needs of our customers.

For more information about the All Mopar Car Show, please visit www.darlingscarshow.com, or call the Car Show Information Line at 877-216-0008. Entrants are encouraged to pre-register online. There is no entrance fee for the general public.

In the past you’ve heard us talk about ways to keep your customers coming back to you – from providing great customer service and high quality work to offering special discounts or promotions. And all of those things will certainly have an impact on the customer’s decision about your business, when they’re at your shop. But once they leave, how do you maintain that relationship? Is it a postcard in 90 days saying they’re due for a checkup? Do you sponsor a local little league team to keep your name out there in your local community? Or do you send them emails with tips on car maintenance and specials you’re offering?
 
Email marketing is an inexpensive way to reach your customers and generate more business for your auto shop, and if you haven’t included email in your advertising plan yet, you can bet your competitors are, or will be in the near future. If you’re already sending out emails to customers, then you’ll probably find yourself ahead of the game. But if not, now’s the time to begin collecting email addresses from your customers, whether it be through asking them if they’d like to be on your list, by including a form on your website, or by offering special giveaways. Sometimes you can get lists of emails from groups you may belong to, like your local Chamber of Commerce.
 
There are many affordable, user-friendly Email marketing programs out there on the web, like Constant Contact, Mailchimp, or Exact Target just to name a few. These programs have ready-made Email templates that you can customize or use as-is, and they allow you to track who is opening your Emails and also give you a good idea of what’s working and what isn’t.
 
Once you get your list together you can start with some promotions, like service reminders or monthly e-newsletters. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you may want to include “tips and tricks” or other information that your customers would find useful, besides just coupons or sales promotions. Not everyone likes giving out email addresses because they don’t want to be sold to in the mailbox. But if your email tells them how to avoid a major car repair bill in just 3 simple steps, in addition to offering them a promotion, they’ll be more likely to have a positive reaction.
 
You may ask “if I’m not selling something in every email, what good is it to me?” It’s also about your customers remembering your shop. Every month they will get an email telling them how to take better care of their cars…and somewhere on the email will be your shop logo and address. Over time, they’ll just naturally associate you with better car care. So the next time they need their cars serviced or repaired, they’ll be much more likely to give you a call.
 
With e-newsletters, you’re both the editor and the advertiser… so you have complete control. Start collecting email addresses now. It won’t take much effort, and the payoff can be huge in the long run.

Now that air conditioning repair season is upon us, many shop owners are facing the challenge of high labor costs associated with replacing leaking underhood metal lines. If you’re among those who are looking for ways to solve the AC line replacement problem – without the time and money that’s usually tied into it – line splice repair kits are the answer.

Gone are the days when an entire AC line needs to be replaced. Line splice repair kits allow shop technicians to remove only the damaged section and splice the line back together.  What’s more, it can be done in ten minutes flat, which means saving time and money for your shop – and for your customers.

Not all line splice repair kits are created equal. WURTH’s new Line Splice™ range is available in SAE and metric sizes, and is engineered to maintain the approximate diameter of the aluminum tubing, so gas flow won’t be compromised.

This specially engineered system is also designed for specific fitting for AC (as opposed to a standard compression fitting), and the seal sleeve has nearly 8 times more sealing surface area than a regular O-Ring does.  Equally important, the self-adjusting, anti-vibration tension ring resists vibration leaks for permanent leak-free repairs.

For more information on WURTH Line Splice™ or other air conditioning system accessories, call 800-987-8487 or visit www.wurthusa.com.

One of the newest ways that many auto shop owners are bringing in new business is through advertising on group discount websites. These websites, such as Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com or BuyWithMe.com offer daily discounts to a huge database of local users in your area.

How They Work

Group Discount sites operate in several areas across the country. Once you’ve figured out what kind of offer you can realistically make and still make money (like a discounted oil change or radiator flush), you will sit down with a rep from the website and run through numbers to make sure you’re being realistic. Before your campaign is run, you will also set a minimum and maximum number of deals to be sold. The minimum number should be your tipping point or how many you need to sell to make it worth it for your business.

Groupon and sites like it don’t take upfront fees when you set up a deal with them. But they do take a percentage of the sale, so you really have to be aware of the numbers to make sure that you don’t lose money.

What They Can do For Your Business

The whole idea behind these online group discount sites is the potential to get lots of new people walking through your door to take advantage of your deal. While this is great, it’s important to realize that these new customers are doing so at a greatly discounted rate. So to make an impact on your business long term, you need people to return after their initial discounted visit. You can accomplish this quite a few ways, but collecting Email addresses or offering them a second coupon when they come in may spur them to come back again.

In addition to the influx of customers who buy these deals and visit your shop, these sites also offer serious exposure for your business. Your daily deal is sent out to a huge database of users who like to receive the daily deal by email, as well as through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. So even people who don’t end up purchasing your deal are being exposed to your company in an email they look forward to and open every day.

Many auto shops have had great success doing these types of campaigns. If you set the price of your deal well and really take care of the customers who come in, the sky’s the limit on the amount of new customers you can bring in with promotions like these.