Steve Upton is president of TruStar.
Q: With the declining number of new car dealerships, what opportunities are available for independent shops to gain customers?
There are several opportunities available to independent shops due to the decline in the new car dealership base. Marketing is more important now than ever before. Now is the perfect time to show an installer’s customer base that it is not necessary to go to the dealership. Independent repair shops have the knowledge and expertise to handle all repairs and can do it for less money.
Q: How is TruStar helping its members capture more business?
We are providing our members with the most competitive programs available. Our members have access to the TruStar brand of products from our own Distribution Center that lowers their acquisition costs, reduces freight, increases turns and helps them buy better. At the same time, TruStar is adding value to its TruTech Car Care Center program to help our member’s installer customers better serve the end user. These two elements, along with the implementation of marketing programs that tie our members to the manufacturer, help our members capture more business in a down economy.
Q: What initiatives is TruStar focusing on in 2009? What are members asking for?
TruStar is focusing on growing our membership, growing our distribution center and adding additional value to our TruTech Car Care Center program while lowering the cost.
The benefits that our members are asking for are a broader selection of products available from the TruStar Distribution Center, increased value in our TruTech Car Care Center program and increasingly competitive buying programs.
