Tremendous Opportunity Available in Automotive Aftermarket

Research Triangle Park, N.C. - According to H. Lee "Buck" Mathews, Ph.D., professor of marketing, The Ohio State University, there is tremendous opportunity in the automotive aftermarket. But he adds the caveat, "If the aftermarket doesn’t give away the market to the car dealerships."

Mathews bases this statement on the automotive repair segment market research he has just completed, research commissioned in 2000 by the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). He will unveil the findings in his presentation at GAAS 2001, "Vehicle Service Trends and Outlook," slated for 8:45 a.m., Friday, May 18, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago, Ill.

GAAS, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, May 17-18, is the automotive aftermarket’s premier educational conference. Its proceeds fund scholarships for students seeking automotive aftermarket careers.

Complete conference details and registration information are available at www.globalsymposium.org.

Mathews’ research examined the aftermarket’s structure so that the data can be used by aftermarket firms to identify and capture market share. "This information can be used in strategic planning to determine what market niches to pursue," he said.

Mathews is a professor of marketing and past chairman of the marketing faculty at The Ohio State University and The Pennsylvania State University. He was named outstanding professor of the year by the MBA classes of 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1993. Mathews received The Pace Setters Award for the outstanding graduate professor in 1994, and he received the Sigma Chi Award for outstanding teaching. Ohio State University alumni nominated him as a distinguished teacher.

He has consulted with firms such as Abbott Laboratories, Alcan, ARO Corp., Cincinnati Milacron, Dana Corp., Eastman Kodak, Firestone, General Electric, IBM, Mellon National Bank, and Nationwide Insurance.

Dr. Mathews has helped numerous companies develop and implement strategic plans using his unique approach that focuses on implementation. Recent clients include AlphaGraphics, AT&T, BFGoodrich Aerospace, Cardone Industries, Harsco, Hill’s Pet Foods (division of Colgate), Hillyard, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Mannington Mills, McKesson, and Victoria’s Secret.

One of Dr. Mathews’ special interest areas is industrial distribution and sales management consulting, a field where he has been an active researcher, writer and consultant for 25 years. He has analyzed the Census of Wholesale Distribution for the National Association of Wholesale Distributors (NAWD). He has also consulted with both large and small distributors in the areas of sales, purchasing, marketing strategy, and financial management. He has written more than 50 marketing and marketing analysis articles.

Mathews is the academic director of the NAWD executive program offered each summer at The Ohio State University, and also serves as director of the National Wholesale Automotive Distributors program.

He also has worked extensively in executive education programs. Through Ohio State University, Mathews has taught in summer programs since 1977, and in extensive programs focused on distribution. He is a member of the University of Michigan executive education faculty.

Registration Fees

Registration fees for GAAS 2001 are $895 for sponsoring associations members’ first registrant and $795 for each additional representative.


Registration for individuals whose firms or organizations are not members of any of the sponsoring associations is $1,095 for the company’s first registrant and $995 for each additional representative.


GAAS Invests in the Future


The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium Scholarship (GAASS) fund awarded 69 scholarships to students in two-year technical college programs or in four-year college programs in 2001. GAAS has provided a total of 248 scholarships since 1996.


Scholarship program details are online at www.automotivescholarships.org.

The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association (APRA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Association of North America (TANA), and University of the Aftermarket.


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NOTE: A photograph of Buck Mathews can be accessed through the GAAS Web site, www.globalsymposium.org/bios_photos/Mathews.htm.

For more information, contact: Neal Zipser, MEMA, 919-549-4800, ext. 811, media@mema.org .