At the CAWA 2017 annual dinner meeting, held in conjunction with Industry Week in Las Vegas, Jack Gosnell of Next Level Parts, Inc. was installed as the Association's 2018 Chair of the Board. Other officers installed included: Vice - Chair Dan Hanson, Jr. of Hanson Distributing Company; Treasurer Matthias Kopecky of SSF Imported Auto Parts; Secretary Tom Seboldt of O'Reilly Auto Parts and; Immediate Past Chair Michael Antonelli of Vantage Marketing Global.
The dinner was once again exclusively sponsored by Motorcar Parts of America and all proceeds from the event will go to CAWA's Memorial Scholarship Fund. The keynote speaker of the evening was Ted Wise, former COO and Co-President of O'Reilly Auto Parts, who gave an informative and compelling presentation regarding the evolution of O'Reilly's and how it corresponded to the evolution of the auto parts industry.
Next year's event will be held, as is customary, the Sunday night (October 28, 2018) before the AAPEX and SEMA Shows. For further information regarding these events contact programs@cawa.org.
| High Alert for California Employers and Employers Nationwide for the Second Wave of FCRA Class Actions |
The flurry of Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") class actions against employers started in or about 2012 and was not limited to California. Many of those lawsuits resulted in significant payouts for violations of one or more of the FCRA's no-harm, hyper-technical requirements. The U.S. Supreme Court's most recent opinion on Article III standing and "concrete injury-in-fact" (Spokeo) has helped employers slow down, but not stop, the FCRA juggernaut.
Employers across the U.S., and particularly in California, should remain vigilant about their compliance with the FCRA and related state laws. The dozens of class action filings in California make the threat even more acute in the Golden State. Read more here. Source: Rod Fliegel
| Governor Signed Legislation Requiring Cleaning Product Manufacturers to Disclose All Ingredients |
The disclosure includes all ingredients and "contaminants of concern" to be placed on the product label and on the manufacturer's website. The Cleaning Products Act defines cleaning products as "any product used primarily for commercial, domestic or institutional cleaning purposes, including an air-care product, automotive product, general cleaning product or a polish or floor maintenance product."
In addition to requiring manufactures to disclose a list of ingredients, the law mandates pictographic images on the label to communicate potential health impacts of toxic chemicals present. The law differs from California Proposition 65 because it requires cleaning product manufacturers to provide ingredient information, expands disclosure to allergens as well as toxic chemicals and does not create a private cause of action.
The online disclosure requirement for the Cleaning Products Act takes effect January 1, 2020, and product labeling takes effect January 1, 2021. For questions, contact our California based legislative advocate Gary Conover at gary@garyconover.com or 916.233.9655.
| California Fuel Tax Increase (effective November 1st) and Storage Tax Requirement - Frequently Asked Questions |
See this link provided to CAWA members from the California Department of Tax & Fee Administration regarding the fuel increase that went into effect November 1, 2017. Should you have any questions, please contact our legislative advocate, Gary Conover at gary@garyconover.com or 916.233.9655. Another member benefit.
| CAWA 2018 Scholarships - Apply Now Through March 31 |
 Interested in receiving a scholarship from the Association for your employees, children, family members and others who would be welcomed into the auto care industry? Applying is easy! The online application process allows students interested in aftermarket careers to submit one application each year online at www.automotivescholarships.com and receive consideration for several scholarships. Funds for scholarships come from generous CAWA members and the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. For more information, see www.cawa.org or contact CAWA Member Services at programs@cawa.org. Another member benefit.
| California Further Restricts Employer's Ability to Make Decisions Based on an Individual's Criminal History |
On October 14, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1008, which will add a section to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) containing new state-wide restrictions on an employer's ability to make pre-hire and personnel decisions based on an individual's criminal history, including a significant and far reaching "ban-the-box" component.
AB 1008, which is effective on January 1, 2018, continues the recent flurry of criminal background legislation activity in California, including new statewide regulations on the consideration of criminal records in employment decisions and the City of Los Angeles's recent ban-the-box law, which also mandates an individualized assessment of an applicant's criminal history prior to any employment decision based on a criminal record.
Should you have questions regarding these type of matters, contact CAWA attorney Steve Marmaduke at 916.441.2430 or smarmaduke@wilkefleury.com. Recall, as a member you can receive up to ½ hour a month in FREE legal consultation. See www.cawa.org for the attorney in your state. Another member benefit.
| The Magnitude of the Auto Care Industry in America |
Do you like numbers, amounts and figures? Then know that the auto care industry is a coast to coast network of 500,000 independent manufacturers, distributors, parts stores, and repair shops offering quality, choice and innovation for drivers. See the data here. Source: Auto Care Association
| How to Communicate Effectively During the Sales Process |
In theory sales is pretty simple: communicate the right way with the right people, and you'll make sales. It's in practice that most people complicate the issue. So how do you keep it simple?
Assuming you're selling something where someone has to deal with you for any length of time, in other words, you're not selling batteries at Walmart, you need to get several points across, one: you care, two: you're trustworthy, three: you understand their problem, and four: you're competent and can solve their problem.
That said, effective communication begins with mindset. First, you must be completely sold on and have confidence in your product, your company, and you. Next, you have to have empathy for the people you're selling to and you must put them first, before your company, your product, the sale, and even before you. If you enter the sales conversation with confidence, caring, and compassion, putting the other person's needs first, you're off to a good start. For the next step in the sales process, click here. Source: John Chapin
| Legal Counsel for Members in Arizona |
CAWA has entered into an agreement with the firm of Burch & Cracchiolo to provide FREE legal services to members in the Copper State. The lead attorney is David M. Villadolid and he can be reached at 602.234.9943. For the attorneys in California and Nevada visitwww.cawa.org and click on free legal services tab. Another member benefit.
| Learn More About Telematics |
 Telematics seems to have become a buzz word the last several years in the automotive aftermarket. Telematics really aren't new to the automotive world, but the technology has progressed to the point where aftermarket options have become available. As with any technology, there are both positive and potentially negative ramifications. So let's take a deeper look at telematics, the options available today and the potential future for telematics systems. For further details click here. Source: Jeff Minter, SearchAutoParts.com
| Are You Leaving Money on the Table Because of Your Liability Insurance? |
 When was the last time you reviewed your liability coverage? Are you over or under insured? Furthermore, if you have your insurance with Federated Insurance, Farmers Insurance or EMC, you should look for premium dollar savings in 2018. We have found, over the years, that commercial and vehicle liability insurance premiums can vary significantly and there is always an opportunity to save premium dollars. Simply, allow CAWA's insurance partners to give you a no obligation quote to see if you are paying a competitive premium and if your current coverage is adequate. See the enclosure (here) for details and call Glen Dailey at 916.690.6425 or email him at gdailey@armstrongprofessional.com. Another member benefit.
"CAWA - Representing the Automotive Parts Industry"
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In an effort to educate California motorists about their warranty rights under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, CAWA has formed a partnership the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Interested in receiving a scholarship from the Association for your employees, children, family members and others who would be welcomed into the auto care industry? Applying is easy! The online application process allows students interested in aftermarket careers to submit one application each year online at 
