Agreement to bolster aftermarket industry unity

Officials of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) announced a landmark agreement whereby AWDA and its nearly 300 member companies will join AAIA as a new segment, effective January 1, 2004. At its meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the AWDA Board of Governors unanimously recommended that its members vote to join forces with AAIA. AWDA, founded in 1947, is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers. AAIA is the only automotive aftermarket trade association in the United States that represents the shared interests of suppliers, distributors, retailers, program groups and manufacturer's representatives. "On behalf of the officers and board of directors of AWDA, I am extremely pleased and excited that we made a monumental decision that is in the very best interests of our members," said Ron Levene, AWDA chairman." The agreement, once ratified by the membership, ensures that AWDA will maintain its identity and proud heritage while greatly expanding the resources, programs and benefits to our member companies.""The coming together of AAIA and AWDA will further strengthen our industry through solidarity and create the foremost multi-dimensional channel associations," said Michael Moshontz, AAIA chairman. "We hear the terms synergy and collaboration expressed often these days because it is the mantra of our great industry. This unprecedented union between AAIA and AWDA is the ultimate example."The two associations have worked together closely for many years in a number of key areas including education, government affairs and most recently with the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign. Today's agreement, according to association officials, will help capitalize on the economies of scale by fusing market research, technology, trade shows and meetings, and marketing and communications.