About Bumper to Bumper

To understand Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc., (Alliance) it is necessary to reflect briefly on the history of the aftermarket auto parts industry and the evolution of Alliance.

By the middle of the 1970s, it was apparent that many leading automotive aftermarket parts distributors (WDs) would affiliate with one of the emerging "program distribution groups" which were being formed to better compete with mass merchandisers, chain stores and other participants in the aftermarket. Although the main thrust of these "programmed distribution" systems centered around common identification and consumer advertising, it soon became recognized that the groups represented large blocks of purchasing power which, when properly organized, had the potential to negotiate cost justified prices and terms which might lie beyond the reach of many non-affiliated WDs.

Alliance was incorporated on January 1, 2000 when two already successful program distribution groups, Auto Value Associates, Inc. and All Pro/Bumper to Bumper, Inc. joined. All Pro/Bumper to Bumper was formed in 1992 when All Pro and Bumper to Bumper merged.

In September 2002 Alliance added TEMOT International, a group of warehouse distributors from Europe, to their membership. These WDs are headquartered throughout Europe representing sixteen countries.

The group decided to move to a common name and color scheme. In December 2003, Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper emerged as the new image of Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.

Alliance is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas and is directed by president and CEO, Richard H. Morgan. Morgan served as president of Auto Value since July 1994.

Auto Value was founded in 1976 by S. R. (Dick) Downey of Chattanooga, Tennessee, William (Bill) Cherry of Nashville, Tennessee, Herman Siegel of Birmingham, Alabama and Jack Alexander of Atlanta, Georgia.

All Pro was founded in 1976, by Riley Taylor, Sr. of Andalusia, Alabama and Bumper to Bumper was founded in 1973, by Martin G. (Marty) Brown of Kansas City, Missouri.

Each of the three groups that are the basis of Alliance gave early attention to the potential liabilities associated with group buying. To provide correct guidance, leading antitrust attorneys in the industry developed operating guidelines to ensure compliance with applicable laws. Similarly, qualified legal specialists are currently retained to superintend antitrust compliance, registration of the association's logos and trademarks and to oversee its general corporate affairs. The membership understands the vital need for credibility in an operation such as the Alliance, and when this group speaks, it does so on the basis of present realities and not "blue sky" projections.

The Shareholders of Alliance meet twice annually where decisions on marketing programs, vendor proposals and other new opportunities are rendered. Between group meetings, affairs concerning major product areas and marketing issues are developed on an ongoing basis by the Product and the Joint Marketing Committees.

Alliance Parts Warehouse (APW) is a member-owned state-of-the-art warehouse distribution company located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. With an 133,000 square foot warehouse facility, APW is well situated to provide products and services exclusively for the shareholders of Alliance.

In the many years of its existence, Alliance has developed a very profitable and well-balanced mix of available national brand products and private label/specialty brand products. Each member organization thereby has the opportunity to purchase an entire spectrum of aftermarket products on a competitive basis with large WDs mass merchandisers and chain retailers. In several cases, due to its combined purchase volumes, Alliance ranks as either the first or second largest customer of a national brand manufacturer.

The group's specialty brand product series is trademarked PartsMaster with the byline "Quality Replacement Parts" prominently stated within the logo. Parts Master products are sold in "open distribution" by all distribution centers affiliated with the association.

All Alliance members currently belong to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, and collectively play an important role in the affairs of AAIA. Additionally, Alliance's Canadian WD members are all strong participants in aftermarket association activities in their country.

Today, Alliance offers an aggressive marketing program that gives an independent organization the opportunity and latitude to identify with both a local and national program. The addition of the parts stores and service center marketing programs has given many of its member's new ideas, techniques and a substantial savings in the development of programs adequate to meet their individual market needs. In addition to these many ongoing advantages, the intangibles that exist are a free exchange of ideas, information, and successes among members.

Alliance's jobber and service center support system contains a full range of marketing programs, signage, merchandising materials, seasonal promotions, personnel training, advertising assistance, and a full range of OE quality replacement parts. What sets Alliance apart from its program group competitors is that it operates in such a way that empowers and permits each of its members to make its own decisions on what mix of product, pricing, promotions and advertising methods are correct for their unique market conditions at the warehouse distributor, jobber and service center levels.

Alliance believes that a combination of wholesale/professional installer business and retail/do-it-yourself business are needed today, and that need will grow throughout the 2000s in order for parts stores and service centers to remain stable and prosperous. This premise has led the group to design an annual calendar of promotional events directed toward both market areas and each event is supported with professionally-designed promotional materials.

Marketing direction for the group comes from marketing committees and jobber and service dealer councils formed of members from different warehouse distributors. The committees discuss, review and evaluate marketing opportunities and programs before presenting them to the entire membership at the bi-annual meetings.

Through the combined efforts of its warehouse distributor members, affiliated parts stores and service center operators, Alliance continues to expand and refine its abilities to deliver quality replacement parts and value-added services.