Virginia Automotive Report December 2012

VAA Heading to The Homestead for 2013

After years of holding our conventions in the Richmond-Williamsburg-Charlottesville areas, we are heading

to the Allegheny mountains of Virginia and one of America’s finest resorts, The Homestead, the weekend of April 12-

14. Known for it’s rich amenities and southern hospitality and charm, The Homestead has something for everyone.

If you have ever stayed there, you know what a great experience it is. If you have always wanted to go, this is the

perfect opportunity. When we began looking for new properties to consider, one of the deciding factors was the

incredible room rate of $132 per night, for single or double occupancy. We were able to keep our Full Registration

package at $130 per person which includes everything on the schedule except golf. And included in this package

is the Homestead Breakfast Buffet on Saturday morning –we wanted to make sure everyone got to experience this.

As always, we have put together education that is second to none. Richard Flint, an international speaker

and trainer for small businesses is one of the very best in the business, and he will be presenting on both Satuday and

Sunday mornings. Bill Ford, President and CEO of Sesco Management Consultants will present on Saturday morning,

and will again moderate our informative “Peer to Peer Roundtable Discussion”. Each of these sessions is sure to pro-

duce many ideas for you to take back to your business.

The Trade Show will be held on Saturday from 11;30 am to 2:00 pm and will feature a wide range of vendors

representing industry products and services. It’s the perfect atmosphere, away from the hectic pace of your busi-

ness, to really get answers to your questions, and to discuss the latest. Lunch at the Trade show is included in your

registration.

We were able to arrange an incredible entertainment package for Saturday evening after our banquet.

Two of Virginia’s finest singers and songwriters will come back together for “A Special Evening of Music with Robbin

Thompson and Steve Bassett”. Their careers have spanned five decades, numerous albums, and include off their

“Together” album our unofficial state song, “Sweet Virginia Breeze”. Both have had phenominal careers and have

played with some of the biggest names in the business. Robbin Thompson played in Bruce Springsteen’s original

band, Steel Mill, which evolved into the E Street Band. When Springsteen played the Richmond Colisieum, he invit-

ed Robbin up to sing and play with the band. Steve Bassett was discovered and signed by one of music’s most

legindary scout of talent, John Hammond, and has opened for Stevie Ray Vaughan and has played with a collec-

tion of who’s who including Delbert McClinton. For one night, we have them together for a special concert, exclu-

sively for our VAA group. (continued on Page 6)

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VAA Board of Directors

President: Brenda Carpenter

Carpenter Tire, Lynchburg

President Elect: Bobby Cutchins

Bobby’s Muffler & Tire Pros, Franklin

Vice-President: Scott Brown

Cardinal Plaza Shell, Springfield

Secretary-Treasurer:Jerry Tatum

Leete Tire & Auto, Petersburg

Past President: Larry Williams

University Tire & Auto, Charlottesville

Directors:

Northern Virginia Area:

Myron Boncarosky, MSS, Inc./Va. Tire, Fairfax

Chris Barnett, Tire Tread Service, Fredericksburg

Richmond Area:

John Kline, Old Dominion Tire, Midlothian

Clint Farrar, American Tire Distributors, Richmond

Emmerson Miles, Miles Auto Service, Richmond

Tom McClain, Napa Auto Parts, Richmond

Tidewater Area:

Mark Anderton, Shore Drive Shell, Virginia Beach

Lynchburg Area:

Eric Hughes, Harris Tire, Lynchburg

Southwest Virginia Area:

Matt McCoy, M & M Tire, Blacksburg

Fran Boyd, Thompson Tire, Radford

Shenandoah Valley Area:

Steve Crawford, Hepner Tire, Woodstock

Terry Westhafer, Central Tire, Verona

Tom Jones, Fisher Auto Parts, Staunton

VAA Office:

Steve Akridge, Executive Director

Email: sakridge@vaautomotive.org

Web: www.vaautomotive.org

6126 Fox Haven Place

Midlothian, VA 23112

Phone: 804-739-1400

Toll Free: 800-488-2732 Fax: 804-739-4700

Skee Zuchowski, Membership Recruitment

P: 703-615-7358 E: hzuchows@erols.com

Happy Holidays

From the VAA

Officers, Directors & Staff

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VAA Going Electronic

As we are all aware, our world is getting faster and

more techincal by the day. Technology allows us to pro-

cess more quickly and get information with just a few clicks.

It also allows us to access this available information when

and where we want it, and with whom we want to share it.

For some, that may mean reading this info each morning

with coffee before you open. Others may prefer to read it

at home where it is quieter in the evening or on the week-

end. And forwarding this information to employees, suppli-

ers or others can be done in seconds.

At the VAA, communicating our value is essential. If

you don’t see the many things we do, you may not feel the

true value. In order to more efficiently deliver timely infor-

mation to you, we plan to primarily communicate to you

electronically– in particular through emails and our website

for 2013. This will include Training Class information, the

Convention and Trade Show information, General Assembly

and Government Affairs information, this newsletter, The

Virginia Automotive Report and more. As we evaluate our

need to communicate to you frequently and timely, con-

sider this. We have been mailing our newsletter to mem-

bers since our inception in 1965. We know for a fact it takes

anywhere from 2 weeks to over a month for many mem-

bers to actually receive it. How current is that information?

And think if we had to mail requests for grass roots lobbying

(contacting your legislators). At this rate the General As-

sembly would be half over before you received the infor-

mation and request. I know you may be thinking, “I get so

many emails as it is” let me assure you I understand, and

am in the same situation. Let me also assure you, when the

VAA sends you an email, it is important, and we will not

waste your time. In every email we send you, the subject

line will read: “Important message from the VAA and Steve

Akridge”.

Now, here is where I need your help. For us to be

successful in this communication process, several things

need to happen. First, make certain the emails coming

from VAA are not going to your spam or junk email folder.

And second, we need you to open (and read) the emails

we send you. Without these two steps, you won’t receive

the value I spoke of earlier, and you won’t be informed

about the important business the VAA is involved in each

and every day. While we are discussing communicating, I

encourage you to communicate with me directly, and I

welcome hearing your comments or suggestions.

You can reach me at: bcarpenter@carpentertire.com.

In closing, I want to congratulate our Executive Di-

rector, Steve Akridge for receiving the TIA Ed Wagner Lead-

ership Award, which was presented to him during the Sema

show on October 29. It was quite a recognition and honor

for Steve, and confirms what we already knew—we have

one of the very best in the business leading us. Well done

and well deserved, Steve.

I wish you and your families a healthy and happy

holiday season, and I look forward to a great 2013 working

together.

President’s Corner By Brenda Carpenter

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April 12-14, 2013

VAA Convention

& Trade Show

The Homestead

Workplace Lessons From “Survivor”

One journalist has picked up a few lessons from being an

avid "Survivor" watcher all these years. They translate surpris-

ingly well to the workplace.

Be prepared. Many contestants seem to ignore this Boy

Scout motto. There is no good reason why a contestant

should show up wearing high heels in the wilderness — but

they do. And after all these seasons, prospective "Survivor"

contestants have to know that their most pressing need in

the first few days will be to somehow start a campfire (for

boiling contaminated water, cooking, etc.).

Workplace lesson: Predict the predictable. If you're going

to a meeting, bring a pen, paper, and the agenda. If

you're conducting interviews, please prepare by at least

reading the applicant's résumé prior to the interview.

Be adaptable. Contestants must also expect the unpredict-

able. Host Jeff Probst and the producers love to throw con-

testants a curveball at least once each season. The best

contestants know how to change their game plan on the

spot.

Workplace lesson: Don't let yourself be fenced in by work

routines and expectations. You may be great at your regu-

lar tasks, but if an unexpected request puts you in a com-

plete tailspin, that's a problem.

Be willing to cooperate and collaborate with your competi-

tors. Yes, there can be only one million-dollar winner, but

smart "Survivor" contestants know they must build an

"alliance" if they want to succeed.

Workplace lesson: Teamwork is essential. You don't neces-

sarily have to like or agree with the people on your team,

but you must learn to compromise and work toward a

common goal, at least temporarily. A true loner generally

cannot succeed within an organization.

Be an effective communicator. It's not about being the best

swimmer or fastest runner. No matter how many sweaty

"challenges" a contestant wins, the ultimate million-dollar

decision usually comes down to whether or not the person

can make a compelling oral argument in the final "Tribal

Council" for why they deserve to win over their competitor.

Workplace lesson: Communication skills are key in any set-

ting. You may succeed at individual work tasks, but if you

can't write and speak to managers and customers effec-

tively, you will not move up in an organization.

Stay in the moment. Some contestants basically give up

because of homesickness. The best contestants are those

who appreciate the opportunity they've been given and

compete their hardest knowing that it will ultimately benefit

their loved ones back home, not those who moon about

and cry over those they've left behind.

Workplace lesson: Be thankful for what you've got, here

and now. You might fret about being overworked and un-

derpaid, but if you have a paycheck coming in right now,

you've got it a whole lot better than many folks do.

Professional human resource services are available to VAA

members from SESCO Management Consultants. You may

contact SESCO by phone at 423-764-4127 or by email at

sesco@sescomgt.com.

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Aftermarket Insight by Jim Lang

FOCUS: Spiking Used-Car Prices Will Boost Aftermarket

"In addition to over $50 billion in property damage and untold

human suffering, Hurricane Sandy, destroyed an estimated 250

thousand cars and light trucks along the east coast and adja-

cent states. This sudden need for replacement vehicles (mostly

used rather than new models) is spiking used-car prices nation-

wide."

"Higher used-car prices are generally positive for the aftermarket

since rising prices increase the vehicle-value threshold at which

cars and light trucks are scrapped and also make it easier for

consumers to 'justify' investing in the repair of older vehicles."

Vehicle Destruction Of Hurricane Sandy

At least 250 thousand cars and light trucks were destroyed in

eastern states by the devastating hurricane, with damage to

hundreds of thousands more vehicles.

$1,000 Used-Car Price Spike

This surge in used-car demand is spiking used-car prices an aver-

age of $1,000 nationwide. In the short run, loss of these cars and

light trucks (which generally represent a cross-section of age

groups) means most destroyed vehicles were many years young-

er than "scrappage age."

Millions Of On-Road Years Lost

As a result, millions of vehicle on-road years were lost in terms of

potential aftermarket product consumption, especially among

cars and light trucks in the repair-age sweet-spot, which were

destroyed.

Offset Negative Aftermarket Impact

The surge in used-car prices will more than offset any negative

impact on aftermarket consumption in the short run, since higher

used-vehicle prices will change the perception of consumers

across the country toward 'justifying' the repair of older cars and

light trucks.

Regional vs National Impact

The negative impact of Sandy will be focused on the states af-

fected by the storm; while the positive aftermarket consequenc-

es of higher used-car prices will occur nationwide over a longer

time.

Vehicle Scrappage Over Long Run

While Hurricane Sandy caused the immediate scrappage of at

least 250 thousand vehicles, higher used-car costs will tend to

reduce the overall scrappage rate by encouraging vehicle re-

pair which in most cases will be less expansive than replacing

existing vehicles with used cars and light trucks (whose prices are

rising). This impact on the scrappage rate will persist for at least a

year or so and will more than offset the immediate loss of the

250,000 destroyed vehicles in terms of aftermarket volume.

Higher Vehicle Age

Higher used-car prices in the U.S. will also work to increase the

average age of vehicles in operation by encouraging the repair

of older vehicles and lowering scappage.

Repairing Damaged Vehicles

Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed at least 250 thousand vehicles,

also damaged hundreds of thousands more. Putting these dam-

aged vehicles back in operating condition will provide an addi-

tional boost to aftermarket volume, specifically in the states hit by

the hurricane.

Longer Term Impact

While the near-term impact of Hurricane Sandy is negative for

aftermarket sales in the affected states, longer-term conse-

quences will generally boost aftermarket sales nationwide. From Aftermarket Insight by Jim Lang, President of Lang Marketing Re-

sources, Inc., www.langmarketing.com”.

6

Proper Tire Repair Training Classes Held

VAA Convention continued from Page 1

Our golf tournament, the VAA Open, has really grown and turned into one of our most enjoyable and popular events. It’s

a great opportunity for dealers and suppliers to come together and have some fun. The Homestead’s Old Course, completed in

1892, will host our tournament. Updated by William Flynn and Rees Jones, the Old Course is distinguished as the home of the na-

tion’s oldest first tee in continuous use, and provides a unique set up of six par 3’s, six par 4’s and six par 5’s. For all levels of play,

our VAA Open registration fee is $99 per player and includes greens fee, cart, range balls and a box lunch. Put together your own

team or just register and we’ll pair you up. To learn more about The Homestead’s historic Old Course, visit http://

www.thehomestead.com/old-course.

In order to take full advantage of all The Homestead has to offer, we are leaving Saturday afternoon open for free time.

There are many amenities to choose from including skeet shooting, fly fishing, taking in the spa, going for a hike, taking a swim, or

just enjoying some time relaxing. Check it all out at http://www.thehomestead.com.

Our theme, “Connecting Virginia’s Automotive Professionals” says it all. It’s hard to put a price tag on the invaluable op-

portunity to bring our industry together for one weekend and discuss ideas with both dealers and suppliers. And what better set-

ting than The Homestead to do it in.

Watch your email for promotions or go to the VAA website: http://www.vaauto.org for complete information and details.

Here you can pull up our brochure and complete schedule for the weekend, register for the convention, either directly online or

by downloading a form, and book your sleeping room at The Homestead.

If you are a regular attendee of VAA Conventions, welcome back. If you haven’t been for a while, make 2013 the year

you come, and connect with fellow shop owners and suppliers across Virginia. See you April 12-14.

Robbin Thompson

The proper way to repair a flat tire has gained a lot of attention both nationally and at the state level. During

the week of November 12-15 VAA hosted training classes in Chesapeake, Fredericksburg, Fairfax and Rich-

mond. Our instructor, Rich Watts of Patch Rubber, gave a live demonstration as to how to repair a tire accord-

ing the standards set by the Rubber Manufacturers Association. He also discussed the importance of also edu-

cating the customer on this procedure. The subject proved to be one shops wanted to learn more about, and

we had a good mix of owners, managers, sales personnel, service managers and tire technicians, for a total of

98 students trained across the four classes.

A big thank you to Rich for flying in from Oklahoma to share his vast knowledge on this subject, and to Tony

Waugh and Myers Tire Supply for sponsoring the class. We plan to bring this class to several locations in the

western part of the state in early 2013. Watch your email for more information.

Steve Bassett Bill Ford Richard Flint

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What They Do on Their Own Time Is Their Busi-

ness…… or Is It?

Your employee is running late as he quickly returns to the shop

for some materials he’s forgotten. As he passes through a

school zone, he fails to notice a car slowly pulling to a stop in

front of him. He suddenly brakes, but can’t stop in time. A

young mother and child are critically injured.

Your driver is cited for speeding and careless driving. Within

days, both he and your company are named in a lawsuit.

As the owner of the business, you find yourself on the witness

stand facing the family’s attorney. He asks if you knew that your

driver had received three citations for speeding in the last two

years. How would you respond?

In many states, the personal driving records of employees can

be used in litigation against employers if those employees are

involved in accidents with company vehicles. The harsh reality

is that what employees do on their own time can become your

business.

An MVR Program

Every business owner may benefit from establishing a Motor

Vehicle Report (MVR) Program. The good news is that an MVR

Program is easy to establish. Here are some simple steps.

1. Establish and communicate firm and fair standards of driv-

ing performance, both on and off the job.

2. Order MVRs on potential new hires and annually on drivers.

3. Compare the MVRs to the standards for safe driving that

you have established.

4. Document performance, counsel drivers, and restrict ac-

cess to vehicles if necessary.

Federated can help you set up an MVR program and offers a

driver insurability service to screen your prospective drivers. It is

a simple step to check a person’s driving history, and that step

may save your business and quite possibly a life.◊

For more information, contact Federated’s District Managers

for Virginia: Hugh Weeks– 804-257-9850 or

Christopher Terry– 540-966-2037.

VAA is Going Electronic It’s the very best way for us to keep you informed.

Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure we are not in your spam folder.

2. If you use a particular email the most, please

let the VAA office know.

3. Bookmark the VAA website: www.vaauto.org

and refer to it often.

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VIRGINIA AUTOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION

6126 FOX HAVEN PLACE

MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23112

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED