CARS event Nov. 1-3 in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS-The eighth annual Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will be held Nov. 1-3 in the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.
Sponsored by the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division, the CARS 2001 event will feature 10 technical training classes conducted by top industry instructors, as well as four management classes from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). It will coincide with the annual Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week shows in Las Vegas.
Sessions include a keynote address Nov. 2 by Steve ``The Car Guy'' Ford on ``Servicing the Machine of 2015.'' The morning of Nov. 3 a general session will feature Bob Redding Jr., ASA's Washington representative, who will provide updates on vehicle information availability, shop regulations and other issues affecting mechanical repair shop owners.
As a prelude to CARS, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and ASA will conduct a forum-from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Tropicana-on the status and future of safety inspections and emissions inspection and maintenance. It will include both panel and group discussions and will provide time for questions and answers.
iCARumba creating dealer network
SEATTLE-The Internet-based automotive service portal iCARumba.com is creating a national dealer network for its TopShop accelerated marketing system.
TopShop is an Internet-enabled marketing program that captures new business for repair shops and provides the tools and programs to retain current customers and increase gross margins, Seattle-based iCARumba said.
Mark Heistermann, vice president, service provider development, said the TopShop dealer program ``offers a whole new approach to building a business selling products to automotive service providers. The powerful recurring revenue component allows the reseller to build an annuity income and the strategic advantages provide the reseller with a host of online tools to help them accelerate the sales of their entire line card.''
A TopShop brochure can be viewed online by visiting the Web site www.topshop.icarumba.com.