Thursday, August 10, 2017

August 8, 2017



Thank You to Our Sponsor of This Edition of CAWA Connections
Automotive Distribution Network
  


Ted Wise, Formerly of O'Reilly Auto Parts, to Keynote CAWA Annual Dinner Gala

CAWA is pleased to announce that Ted Wise will be the keynote speaker at the annual dinner gala in Las Vegas during this year's Industry Week. The event will be held the Sunday night (October 29th) before the AAPEX and SEMA Shows. Mr. Wise began his career with O'Reilly as a delivery driver and later opened the Company's first retail and wholesale store. He was then promoted as the Company's first District Manager responsible for developing O'Reilly's dual market business strategy. Later on in his 45 year career, he became the Company's first Vice President in charge of Store Operations, then promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations and Sales, and subsequently promoted to Co-President over all functions of Store Operation, Sales, Advertising/Marketing, and Real Estate Expansion. To complete his career, he assumed the role of Co-President and COO at O'Reilly Auto Parts. 

For immediate details for the event, contact programs@cawa.org and watch for registration information on the gala coming soon. Recall, too, all proceeds from the event go directly to CAWA's Scholarship Program thanks to the exclusive sponsorship of Motorcar Parts of America. 





Plan Calls for L.A., Long Beach Ports to go to Zero-Emissions Technology; Cost Could Hit $14 Billion

See the interesting details from an article in the Los Angeles Times:http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ports-clean-air-20170719-story.html#nws=mcnewsletter



DIFM: Independents Versus Dealers

Do it for Me
The Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) market is composed of two major groups of repair outlets: vehicle dealers and independent repair facilities. Following the Great Recession of 2008, thousands of dealers across the U.S. closed or had their vehicle franchises canceled. As result, dealers rapidly lost DIFM product share to independent (non-dealer) repair outlets. Dealer DIFM product strength bottomed during 2014, but they are now showing renewed DIFM market strength. For more details click hereSource: Jim Lang


New Lower Pricing on CAWA's Industry Job Board

The CAWA Careers Industry Job Board now features new lower pricing, starting as low as $75 per listing, for jobs posted throughout a broad industry network. By visiting here, hiring managers will find new job posting rates, starting at $75 for technician positions and $105 for a single 30-day post. Multiple posting packages are available and internship postings continue to be available at no charge. Each posting made on the CAWA Industry Job Board is automatically posted on multiple industry job board sites, enabling employers to see all candidates in one network. The CAWA Industry Job Board network includes the following organizations: 
  • Auto Care Association 
  • Automotive Service Association (ASA) 
  • CAWA- Representing the Automotive Parts Industry 
  • Custom Automotive Network (CAN, formerly PWA) 
  • National Independent Automotive Dealer Association (NIADA)
  • Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) 
  • Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS)
For more information, contact programs@cawa.org or call 800.332.2292. Another member benefit.
CAWA Job Board  

"CAWA - Representing the Automotive Parts Industry"
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved 



Tuesday, July 18, 2017

July 18, 2017



Thank You to Our Sponsor of This Edition of CAWA Connections
Automotive Distribution Network
  

Motorcar Parts of America Steps up Again as the Association's Exclusive Sponsor of Its Annual Gala Event
Motorcar Parts of America, Inc. will, once again, be the exclusive sponsor of the 2017 Gala Dinner in conjunction with the annual AAPEX and SEMA trade shows being held in Las Vegas during Industry Week. The annual gala event is the highlight of the year for the Association, and is dedicated to raising funds for CAWA's scholarship program. The event also recognizes the outgoing leadership's service and commitment to CAWA and industry with its "Red Vest" award ceremony. Mr. Ted Wise, former Co-President and COO of O'Reilly Auto Parts, will give this year's keynote address at the event. The gala will be held at Caesar's Palace on Sunday evening October 29, 2017. 

Should you or your company be interested in donating cash, raffle or auction prizes, please see the contribution form and solicitation letter from this year's Fundraising Committee Chair, David Wendt of Delphi Products & Service Solutions ( here).

MPA

Have You Ever Wondered How CAWA is of Value to You and Your Company?
See the enclosure ( here) for clues! Plus view the "CAWA story" in the brief video below. If CAWA can assist, we are a telephone call or email away (800.332.2292 orprograms@cawa.org). Another member benefit.


Click here if you are unable to see the above video.

New Rules Went into Effect on July 1 - May Leave California Employers Scrambling to Amend Hiring Policies for Employees with Criminal Histories
Essentially, the new rules from the California Fair Employment and Housing Council significantly limit the ability for the state's employers to consider criminal records when making employment decisions. With the additional guidelines, employers will be legally prohibited from considering arrests that did not result in conviction, juvenile court convictions, sealed or expunged convictions, and non-felony cannabis possession convictions that are more than two years old. Employers found to be in violation of the new policy would be at risk of single plaintiff or class action litigation. Should you have questions regarding this new rule, contact CAWA's California based attorney, Steve Marmaduke at 916.441.2430 orsmarmaduke@wilkefleury.com, to receive ½ hour a month of FREE legal consultation on issues such as this one.  Another member benefit.  

Recent Graduates and Job Seekers Can Connect with Potential Employers at the CAWA Career Center
The online career resource center is designed specifically for the $381 billion auto care industry. After setting up a free profile here candidates can upload a resume, choose to make it confidential, designate military status and receive email alerts of new job postings. Career fields in the auto care industry include accounting, customer service, engineering, finance, human resources, inventory management, manufacturing, marketing, research and development, retail, sales, sourcing, supply chain, technical support, training, vehicle repair and more. Another member benefit.

CAWA Career Board 

Thanks Again to the Following Companies That Sponsored CAWA's Leadership Days in San Diego
Bilstein Genuine Parts CompanyHERI 
Idemitsu LiquiMoly ZF 

Want Complimentary VIP Employee Benefits Services That Would Normally Cost You Significant Dollars?
Look no further than our insurance partner Coremark & Armstrong. Here are some examples and more information can be found here.
  • HRIS onboarding and enrollment platform (Retail: $40-$60/year per employee) 
  • COBRA Administration (Retail: $20/year per employee) 
  • ERISA Plan Document and Summary Plan Description (Retail: $800-1500/year) 
  • Section 125 Plan (Retail: $150-$250/year, plus per employee fees for FSA plans) 
  • IRS Form 1095 Reporting (Retail: $70-$100/year per employee) 
  • Online HR Support Dashboard, Hotline and Document Generator (Retail: $1,700/year)
Another member benefit to save you money! Contact Mat Nabity at mnabity@coremarkins.com or 866.340.2247.

Traditional DIFM & DIY Sales

The Traditional channel increased its car and light truck product volume by $5.5 billion at user-price between 2006 and 2016. While Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) product sales rose nearly $6 billion in the Traditional channel over this ten-year span, Traditional channel Do-It-Yourself (DIY) product volume declined. The Traditional distribution channel increased its share of light vehicle DIFM product volume from 21.8% in 2006 to 24.4% by 2016. Traditional channel share of the DIY market, in contrast, declined over this ten-year span. See the enclosed report for details ( here). Source: Lang report

These Manufacturers Are Contributors in Support of CAWA's Government Affairs Program
These companies are financial supporters of the more than 70 automotive manufacturing companies that support CAWA's government affairs program. We want to recognize their support and thank them. For a complete list of companies see here

SpectraSunsongTennecoTimken
UCIVantage MarketingZF 

Important Security Updates From Superior Financial Systems Regarding Your Merchant Account
Visa and MasterCard have announced some new changes to the operating rules for merchant accounts. Please read details ( here), and contact Superior Financial Systems Customer Service department if you have any questions at toll free (866) 601-2733, direct (661) 294-3696 or CustomerService@SFSProcessing.com.

Superior Financial Systems
"CAWA - Representing the Automotive Parts Industry"
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved 

Sunday, July 16, 2017

July 6, 2017



Thank You to Our Sponsor of This Edition of CAWA Connections
Automotive Distribution Network
  

Tom Seboldt of O'Reilly's Auto Parts Elected the 2018 Secretary to CAWA's Board of Directors
Among business being conducted at the June Leadership Days and Educational Forum, the Board of Directors elected Mr. Seboldt as their 2018 Secretary. The members also heard presentations from the following individuals: 
  • "New Aftermarket Realities: Strategic Shifts and Where Do We Go From Here" - Presented by: Bill Long, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association 
  • "Remote Vehicle Data - Access and Opportunity for the Aftermarket" - Presented by: Jim Dykstra, Innova Telematics Solutions 
  • "Embedded Software and the Aftermarket" - Presented by: Chris Blalock, Dorman Products 
The presentations were very informative and well received by the attendees and you can receive a copy of the PowerPoint presentations by emailing programs@cawa.org. In another business matter during the educational forum, CAWA's Chair of the Board, Michael Antonelli gave scholarship awards to three of the eleven 2017 awardees who were in attendance. He also presented Greg Livingston his Chair of the Board plaque for his service to the Association and industry in 2016.
2017 Scholarship Awards
(l to r) Pierini - CAWA CEO, Bryan Esterly, David Robles,
Robert Marcia, Chair Antonelli
Past Chair Award
(l to r) Chair Antonelli and Greg Livingston, 2017 Past Chair

The Association's Annual Dinner Meeting Will be Held in Las Vegas on October 29, 2017
The annual gala dinner and scholarship fundraising event will be held the Sunday night before the AAPEX/SEMA shows art Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Should you or your company be interested in donating cash, raffle or auction prizes, please see the contribution form and solicitation letter from this year's Fundraising Committee Chair, David Wendt of Delphi Products & Service Solutions ( here). More information and registration materials for the gala dinner will be coming in the weeks ahead. For immediate questions, contact programs@cawa.org.


CAWA and Heri Automotive Host a YANG Regional Meet-Up at the Association's Leadership Days in San Diego
CAWA leaders and members mingle with members of the Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) who are the current and future leaders of the industry. The Regional Meet-Up was held on the Berkeley Ferry which is docked in the San Diego harbor. This was the second time that CAWA has hosted such an event for YANG members. Thurston Adams of Heri Automotive who addressed the attendees is YANG's representative to the CAWA Board of Directors. For further information, contact admin@cawa.orgAnother member benefit.
YANG Meet-up
YANG and CAWA members at Regional Meet-Up
 

Workshops for Businesses Interested in Applying for Over $200 Million in Tax Credits
The California's Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced a series of 28 workshops across California designed to help businesses apply for over $200 million in available California Competes Tax Credits (CCTC). "Our message to business owners is simple, take advantage of this tax credit and create new job opportunities," said Kristen Kane, GO-Biz Deputy Director. "The California Competes tax credit has encouraged hundreds of companies to expand in California and add thousands of good paying jobs. This application is free, it's easy to apply and we want great companies that are expanding to receive these valuable tax credits." For more information and a listing of workshops click here.


If You are Contesting an Audit, What Happens to Your Appeal with the Board of Equalization (BOE)?
BOE
As California's tax court, the BOE weighs complaints from residents fighting income tax audits and businesses that are on the hook for sales tax, airline fees, cannabis taxes, and a host of other charges. The elected Board of Equalization will continue hearing appeals through the end of this year. Over the next six months, the state plans to hire administrative law judges who would start work on weighing tax complaints on Jan. 1, 2018. They'd be hired through the Office of Administrative hearings, a department that reports to the Governor's Office. The budget provision that would create the new tax department said tax appeals would be considered by panels of three judges. Taxpayers who want to contest decisions from the administrative judges would have to file lawsuits against the state in civil court. That's how most other states handle tax disputes. Any questions associated with these type matters can be answered by CAWA attorneys, whereby members receive ½ hour FREE legal consultation per month. See www.cawa.org for the attorney in your state. Source: Sacramento Bee


Via SSF Imported Auto Parts - America Sends Team to First International Automotive Tech Challenge
A longtime member of CAWA, SSF Imported Auto Parts LLC announced that it is sponsoring the first ever American team to compete in the International Automotive Technicians Challenge. Best described as "the Olympics for automotive technicians," the AP Expert International Technicians Challenge will take place this fall just outside of Warsaw, Poland, hosted by leading Polish WD Auto Partner. SSF and Auto Partner are both of members the international Global One buying group. See details here.

Foreign Nameplate DIFM Surge
Foreign nameplates are expanding their light vehicle product share, with most gains achieved in the Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) aftermarket. Foreign nameplate cars and light trucks boosted their DIFM product share more than 800 basis points between 2011 and 2016, surging $11 billion in DIFM product volume at user-price. In-depth analysis is presented in the just-released 2018 Lang Aftermarket Annual. See more details hereSource: Jim Lang

The Next Round for Minimum Wage Increases in California is Six Months Away!
Minimum Wage
Effective January 1, 2018, for employers with 26 employees or more, the minimum wage will increase by another 50 cents this year ($10.50 to $11.00 per hour), before increasing by $1 per year until 2022: 
  • Jan. 1, 2018: $11 an hour 
  • Jan. 1, 2019: $12 an hour 
  • Jan. 1, 2020: $13 an hour 
  • Jan. 1, 2021: $14 an hour 
  • Jan. 1, 2022: $15 an hour 
Smaller businesses with 25 employees or less will follow the same progression as the larger employers, just one year behind. The $15 minimum wage for smaller businesses will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.


CAWA Provides You with a Financial Resource to Assure Success

Our partner at Wyman & Little, Inc. can provide you with accounting and financial consultation to address issues, such as: 
  • Providing quality financial statements 
  • Recommending financial direction 
  • Operating as a outsourced CFO for your business 
  • Focusing your business on the "sweet spot" of sales, profit and cash flow 
  • Helping you initiate financial goals and strategies, and 
  • Training you and your people in financial understanding for automotive business. 
For further details contact them at 951.734.5558 or WymanLittleinc@gmail.comAnother member benefit.


The Biggest Mistakes Sales People Make

For sales insights, see the enclosed article by John Chapin ( here).
Sales Insights 

Mexican Auto Suppliers Strategize for NAFTA Talks
President Donald Trump has made an example out of global automakers that produce in Mexico for the U.S. But auto parts makers south of the border also have a huge financial stake in the upcoming trade talks. Suppliers here are maintaining a united front with the Mexican auto industry, but the parts community also has strategies for a favorable revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement, industry officials said at a conference this month. See http://www.autonews.com/article/20170626/OEM10/170629844/ for details from Automotive News.


Your CAWA Job Board Posting Reaches Other Aftermarket Association Attention
Each posting made on the CAWA Careers Industry Job Board is automatically shared on multiple jobs boards via a broad industry network, including Auto Care Association, Automotive Service Association (ASA), Custom Automotive Network (CAN, formerly PWA), National Independent Automotive Dealer Association (NIADA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). To post your job at a much under-priced rate, visit www.cawa.org/jobs.aspx or email programs@cawa.org for further information. Another member benefit.
CAWA Job Board

"CAWA - Representing the Automotive Parts Industry"
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved