Two new University of the Aftermarket workshops kick off AAPEX show in Vegas

Are you an aftermarket professional looking to enhance your competitive skills while earning continuing education units (CEU)? Then look no farther — the University of the Aftermarket is offering two new three-hour business workshops on Monday., Oct. 29 at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. The workshops — "Improving Sales Proficiency" and "Fact-Based Marketing/Category Management" — will take place during the 2007 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), which opens Tuesday, Oct. 30.

"Improving Sales Proficiency," from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 29, is designed for aftermarket professionals with responsibility for sales growth, margin retention, customer acquisition and overall customer satisfaction. The course will help participants learn how to track proficiency rather than sales performance in making sure that their employees, service groups and channel partners properly sell, support and service specific product lines. This workshop will be led by Tom Easton, AAP, senior partner of the Essential Action Design Group.

"Fact-Based Marketing/Category Management," from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 29, will help prepare manufacturers, distributor buyers and sales agency professionals to more effectively address the changing needs of today's service dealers and consumers. Led by Jon Rubich, vice president of marketing services and category management for United Components, Inc. and chairman of the AAIA Category Management Committee, this workshop will cover common category management pitfalls in today's aftermarket as well as best practices from outside the industry.

Tuition for each workshop is $149 for professionals who have earned an AAP or MAAP designation and $199 for all other participants. Each course offers .4 CEU.

For more information or to register for one or both workshops, please call (800) 551-2882 or visit the University's Web site.