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Automotive Aftermarket Stores Sales Soar During COVID-19 Pandemic

Hi Carey​,

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March, many businesses were forced to temporarily close their doors and suffered major financial losses.  Fortunately, those in the automotive repair industry were able to stay open while being deemed an essential business. 

While many shops experienced a dip in sales and struggled to find customers while people were sheltering at home, some stores actually increased its revenues during March and April.  Whether it came through providing creative discounts, offering new services or customer goodwill in the market, these businesses stood out for their profitability during a time when many others were just trying to keep their heads above water.

Here are a couple of great examples of stores in the automotive aftermarket who set record sales over the past several months and how they did it:

Alta Mere - Greg Goodman (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSj3ijj-2BjCoYYbAEnZppCi9DiHZk7LsqcOb6FOCt0ZVyvTIM-2FZ7Ma8lNzTN34k8WRXWDpWXV2GzzMdG8gMpAXS4-3DnJW5_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamT06BnLdGySaFAZlARt0DkVHZ16c36ww3jJYCj8h41ZKTLXcMDLLRmiVTBGFSns9Xu85sfiyVcycAHzUqVvFfYELLooBGvNzwh4KS4p9wkryhyJ7GtxNduY1O0Nzo3EMaeFPz3VK42j2pGHfZaF-2BIyqc-3D is the owner of Alta Mere (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUUbAUMK6hrUPTHROwLOSy5H4G6zmx2pBRwmja-2FTRfIilW-vn_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamT4WAMdgaINZt4puXMAPKUSBVQJJqBg9mXxvxOtrFPwTPBp-2Fr780dR2FBLvs6mn6VxFljY6xVYG1WsSuocrYcmAHSFFxuFOrsMU-2BTJivra0doKKgq8SN7ipKno8zN5aAcqjNt5Qsv5XJagQDvUcZaQC4-3D , a window tinting and paint protection store in Oklahoma City.  Like many non-essential businesses, his store was forced to close over a four-week period beginning on March 26 until it reopened on April 28.

Despite being closed for all but three days during the month, Goodman sold 250 window tint orders and increased sales by more than $10,000 over the previous April.  He did this by offering a 30 percent discount for online orders during the month.  The store fulfilled the orders when it re-opened and number of sales created a two-week backlog for new orders in May.

Milex Complete Auto Care – Steve Sargent’s Milex (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATURN6vyfeS8F3lWI-2FO1j3HFgMaeN7ph392GHxI0dOX7qMfBn9_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamT7fRI-2BEJiuJHZH2jM7w9N42XVno6TEoUEbqpwzN4HAWh4oFRy82LqjiHBM3DhJEhDjhxYX6rjOJSOTd0TLDMF-2FqbtWi9zz2FSHbS01l21h0rDSlrXwe6-2FlUFVQS5GBlTTIG9vVEFdzQ-2FBiL2BPkkNLU-3D store in Cary, NC broke its record for sales in the first week of May and had one of its highest-grossing months in May.  Sargent (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSj3ijj-2BjCoYYbAEnZppCi8FrsJr6jmkbflXKKy3dx2VlIJ5NebKpV62Oaq1Qci5tQUl1W6u0ai1E2Xn86xvy5A-3DkZsD_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamT8sNaZltowGdFT3oC-2FmYq0NK43Z3rbxFm46GApSslMRXx6-2FVIlSVj9NbO6vsEukgVeYMW7LsiZ-2BwtSPOoJW9FjnsvXg6JJJksFcqfBi1bnPS2hP76if1gZOWM0-2B-2Fz3dd3I-2Fpu3B-2Ft6GHbNxpirhi7jI-3D has experienced a 30 percent growth in sales compared to 2019 and is planning on hiring an additional technician as a result of the increased business.

Over the past three months, the shop has offered the option of free vehicle pickup and delivery and contactless service in which the keys and paperwork are left in the car.  They may continue to use this service for the foreseeable future as it gives customers peace of mind and can also save time for the staff.

Mr. Transmission – Jay Pond (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUSj3ijj-2BjCoYYbAEnZppCi-2B2fD8QvIGiNv1bDuQEV3RSv7m0qtU7mCQRVWUbRI2-2Bz4D1TouX8yKH3JMTJ77nHBw-3DeT_z_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamT5NS3Z8cw7pmm9v99gFvOM-2BO5-2BpsUjkEf6Um0VXoo0XwQTK8Hz0ype5rzpwd318GvHNkeqXPi-2BeSsMQCxLwwDrGe5WDHW4i9Xvox4lhF4GeD2Uccsf-2FYBsW4ZzSuSSt3S3NSe29hNpuVYdDgPdFVMM8-3D has owned his Mr. Transmission (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUURDHozo8OeZhx6M6Ow-2FDIaCznIjc3d3M1PrW-2B-2FAz4J9loAV_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamT2BMDH9D-2B0NLR9mSL0VcU6lgsSzM0o6CJDvuA3-2FSMTRF04nJ-2FdT2z9VaPwBz9SYojUxKKHcSwLVh61oLiGLgpR0N9FGFf27l8FR-2FKdgH6sZjYlLUXG38-2BQIHqNp5svS4YRVBIvWk3WRBzhtCAnGGAmw-3D store in Jackson, MS for 36 years and set a four-week record for sales in March and a five-week sales record in April.  Pond said some of the groundwork was laid through aggressive marketing over the years and a popular commercial (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWgRE384tHgp8wdcDkAUwQ9mKqEx0GccifumRx6YIbbsFtul41xeMbGcBk1eC8k6PHo4Np5adX2hOjgug7gHa7U0-2Fl7gUicinc4OWPS4WZR4Flja_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LxBL7HMT0exepcO4pkmej2GtFRoCupl1i6eIPapZS9H0ieYB0TbjZK5B2WObkysSqFI2bure3Tp1ndw-2FlJvPEleapgWU8VXV8IDPooajkCFzB2PrtJrZ-2BRiq6ZoX5IgXCpcuxlcTxqlO3HvSvxOamTzeqTp-2BIQRM7vLwtdkn7Qbmmq6SdOu3vaw1ghlUpskD6n2SZHy-2Fk-2FHiPLXGsDXADAX5CGx4PQxujp262vV0h5zbemsSw78CCyHjYGftPKXzy6CJ-2BUmb9roQ4KFC6cJvzn8QdwhUz8XcAy-2B-2F-2FqF6hp20-3D that helped increase local visibility for the shop.

The store also recently brought in several new highly motivated staff members and offered free pickup and delivery for all vehicles in need of repair during the first few weeks following the initial spread of the virus in March.  Pond thought that new car sales have probably decreased over the last several months and many car owners have decided upon repairs rather than the expensive purchase of a new vehicle.  He has noticed the quality of their leads have increased as more customers are opting for major repair work.

I would love to put you in touch with Goodman, Sargent or Pond to discuss more about how they have achieved record sales over the last several months during an economic downturn.  We can set up an interview for you via phone call, Skype, Zoom or Facetime.

Thanks for your consideration.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Kevin Behan

(919) 459-3595

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