Monday, June 23, 2014

AAPEX to Feature New General Session Open to All Attendees - Steve Forbes to Keynote


MOKENA, Ill. – June 23, 2014 – The Town Hall breakfast, hosted by the Auto Care Association, and the Executive Breakfast, hosted by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (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.

“We are responding to event fatigue that is experienced by our members and others throughout the industry, as time has become a more precious commodity,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Every product has a life cycle and we had a great run with our Town Hall breakfast. But it’s time for a fresh event that can accommodate more AAPEX attendees.”

“AASA and the Auto Care Association are consolidating their traditional AAPEX events – the AASA Executive Breakfast and the former AAIA Town Hall – to provide attendees a unified industry General Session event,” said Bill Long, president and chief operating officer, AASA. “Steve Forbes’ expertise on the global economy is particularly timely, as our industry is in the midst of its largest global growth ever. The new AAPEX General Session, expanded custom programs for the thousands of repair professionals attending the show, and many other enhancements this year are designed to maximize the experience, value and time together in growing our industry and that of our attendees.”

The General Session will be held from 8 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, in The Venetian Palazzo Ballroom. Plans are being developed and more details will be announced soon, including a VIP pre-General Session “meet and greet” and book signing with Forbes and premier seating sponsorship packages.

The 2014 AAPEX is expected to feature more than 2,400 exhibitors, 5,000 booths and attendance by more than 140,000 aftermarket industry professionals. To register, 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). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or email info@aapexshow.com.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Remanufacturing Section at AAPEX 2014: Now Sold Out


MOKENA, Ill. – June 12, 2014 – The expanded Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) Remanufacturing Section – co-hosted by theAuto Care Association and the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA) – is sold out for 2014, withmore than 40 exhibitors set to grow their remanufacturing business before an international audience of more than 39,000 buyers. 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.

We are very excited to see that the AAPEX Remanufacturing Section is sold out for the third time in three years, said John Chalifoux, president and COO, MERA. “Thsectioncontinues to grow, and all of our member companies know that they will grow their business at AAPEX 2014.”

“Engine repowering and rebuilding has always been an important segment in our association,” said Rich White, senior vice president, Auto Care Association. “The AAPEX Remanufacturing Section provides an unprecedented setting to showcase and highlight this unique segment of the auto care industry.”

The expanded Remanufacturing Section at AAPEX 2014 will feature leading exhibitors from the automotive aftermarket remanufacturing industry, live engine rebuilding demonstrations by Hendrick Motorsports technicians, and an interactive remanufacturing exhibit powered by the Electronics Remanufacturing Company at the MERA booth.

The Remanufacturing Section at AAPEX 2014 also will feature sponsorship opportunities for 
exhibitors and companies engaged in the remanufacturing industry. To learn more, contact Chris Kalousek at (708) 326-5146 orchris.kalousek@aapexshow.com.

For more information, visit AAPEXShow.com/Remanufacturing.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

AAPEX Attendee Webinar Connects Branding to Actual Results

MOKENA, Ill. – May 29, 2014 –Real-World Branding for Profit,” a free AAPEXedu attendee webinar slated for Wednesday, June 11, at 4 p.m., EST, will show how branding is a strategic and tactical tool that can help businesses cut through the clutter in today’s world of “sameness” and commoditization of features and benefits. 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 webinar will focus on how good branding helps businesses communicate with customers in ways that matter to them and to their business. While most businesses fail to connect branding to actual results, participants in this webinar will learn how it can be done successfully.

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

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

To register for “Real-World Branding for Profit” 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.


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). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail: info@aapexshow.com.