Document YDO2jzL0Law6m8YwY6a9BLNgk

NAM & MIDASA WINNING COMBINATION A year ago, NAPA began its National Accounts Program with Midas Interna tional. What started out as a 19-store test program in Tampa, Florida, in January of 1987 has grown into a nationwide opera tion that supplies auto parts to over 1,100 Midas locations. The NAPA-Midas relationship began in early 1986, when management repre sentatives from the two organizations met to discuss the possibility of a Nation al Accounts Program. From the begin ning, it looked as if the program would be beneficial to both NAPA and Midas. Though Midas has its own distribu tion system, its various distribution cen ters do not carry 100% of the automotive replacement parts and products sold by Midas stores. For years individual Midas stores had to find suppliers for those parts that its distribution centers didn't carry. Plain logic told Midas that an inte grated system of supply for these parts would take a burden off of their local stores. It was also evident that an estab lished relationship with one outside sup plier would prove economical in the long run. And NAPA, with its reputation for high quality products, premium service and the best distribution system in the business, fit their needs exactly. The National Accounts Program that resulted from that initial test in Tampa has proved successful for both Midas and NAPA. By supplying Midas with the parts they need, when they need them, participating NAPA AUTO PARTS stores have increased their sales and their profits. Mike Malone, sales manager of Midas locations in Green Bay, Eau Claire and Schoefield, Wisconsin, describes his busi ness philosophy as providing "good qual ity parts at competitive prices and above all giving our customers the best service we possibly can." NAPA Auto PARTS of Schoefield. Wisconsin, services Malone's Schoefield location. And Malone has come to rely on the store because he has learned that they do business under his same philoso phy of quality products and first-rate service. Though starting the program with Midas took extra effort, Jeff Heinz, out side salesperson for the Schoefield NAPA store, emphasized that it was worth it from a profit standpoint. In a year's time he has seen the store's business with Midas jump from S300-8I00 a month to $3000-$5000 a month. "We've bent over backwards to provide the Midas location with what they need, but we've more than made up for our efforts with volume and profits," be explained. To help smooth the transition for Midas, Heinz has scheduled technical clinics, and he often brings local NAPA factory representatives to the Midas out let to make sure the reps are familiar with developments and product information. Ed Becher of NAPA AUTO PARTS in Rochester, Minnesota, acknowledges that supplying Midas usually requires a store to increase its inventory, but "werealized that if we've got the inventory on hand, Midas is going to buy it." Becher's store also added delivery drivers and counter people to ensure that Midas and the rest of their dealer customers received needed parts quickly. As with the increased in ventory, this extra effort has paid off in sales and profits. Describing his store's relationshipwith Midas. Lucky Wells, manager of NAPA WHNp AUTO PARTS in North Olmstead, Ohio, echoes the enthusiasm of Heinz and Becher. "Midas calls us first because of our prompt delivery serviceand the avail ability of hard-to-find parts through our NAPA Distribution Center." The future looks bright for NAPA's National Accounts Program with Midas International. Midas has begun an ag gressive front end and suspension adver tising program that will increase chassis and suspension work substantially. And NAPA is committed to providing the parts and sendee Midas needs. Only a year old, NAPA's program with Midas is already running strong and getting stronger. If you are interested in receiving infor mation on how to participate in the Na tional Accounts Program with Midas, contact Alan Rideout, national accounts manager, NAPA Headquarters, at 404 956-2200.