Auto Action Group, premier service provider to dealerships in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, announced it has launched a new wheel repair division within its Tri-State service area. The additional capabilities provided by the division empower local dealerships to profit from a highly valued service offering.

“We use the term, ‘Wheel repair made easy,’” said Jared Cohen, president of Auto Action. “As with every offering of our business, our goal is to help dealerships improve their profits. Wheel repair is a lucrative, growing service category for dealerships because it plays into a car owner’s love for his or her car. Great-looking wheels make the right impression, so owners are motivated to keep them looking great.”

Auto Action uses state-of-the-art equipment to remove dents and scrapes from wheel edges and surfaces, as well as return bent wheels to manufacturer’s specifications. In addition, the company made a significant investment to add repair and restoration of machine-finished wheels to its offerings, a service not available from mobile wheel repair businesses because of the equipment required.

Wheel repair is the latest in a series of cosmetic enhancement services that Auto Action has debuted in the past few months, including vinyl roof wrapping and vehicle-specific trim accessory packages. Also recently introduced is the ability to paint rims any color to match a customized vehicle’s paint or décor.

Auto Action has paired the new service with a comprehensive program to get dealerships up and running quickly. In it, dealerships call the company when there is a wheel to be repaired. An Auto Action representative picks up the wheel free of charge. It is repaired and returned to the dealership within one business day if the order is placed before 1 p.m.  As part of the program, Auto Action is inviting dealerships to evaluate the service with a “1 Wheel for Free” campaign.

DAS Distributors, the full-service United States supply chain division of DAS Companies, Inc., announced the expansion of its distribution territory for the Pioneer Car Electronics product line into North Carolina. This total DAS territory will now include Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Washington D.C., Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York (excluding Metro NY), Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

In addition, George “Boomer” Robinson, has joined the DAS team as Sales Territory Specialist. Robinson is specifically responsible for driving the satisfaction of the North Carolina Consumer Electronics Retail Partners, particularly 12-volt dealers, to ensure their productive, profitable growth. He will perform outside customer service, execute marketing support, conduct product training and consult with dealers to improve their performance. Robinson has been helping customers build their businesses in the mobile electronics industry for over two decades with sales and installation experience as well as being MECP Certified. He was previously an owner/operator of his own installation business, Absolutions.

“We are excited with the Pioneer territory expansion into North Carolina, and the addition of Boomer to the team. His presence builds on our already strong footing in the Mid-Atlantic and provides our customers with superior industry knowledge,” says Rex Berfield, National Sales Manager at DAS Companies, Inc.

Pioneer is an after-market 12-volt brand and manufacturer. Pioneer has an extensive line of in-dash navigation devices, DVD audio/video receivers, CD receivers, amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers.

DAS Distributors is the full-service United States supply chain division of DAS Companies, Inc. 

For further information, please contact DAS at 717-964-3642 or online at www.DASinc.com.
.

Legendary musician Neil Young says he has a new device that makes listening to music on MP3s or even CDs seem like listening underwater -- and a surging Kickstarter campaign suggests music fans are all ears.

So far, the campaign has raised more than $2 million for Pono -- a personal music player designed "to revive the magic that has been squeezed out of digital music," according to a Pono's Kickstarter page.

"Pono is about the music," Young says in a promotional video atop the page. "It's about the people who make the music and the way it sounds to us when we're in the studio making it. It's about you hearing what we hear."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/neil-young-kickstarter-raises-2m-aims-leave-mp3s/story?id=22887853

A new report focused on the accessorization of utility task vehicles (UTVs, also known as side-by-sides) reveals that approximately 670,000 UTV models were sold in the United States in 2010-2012. Released by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), the 62-page report provides auto accessory businesses with an understanding of the needs and purchase habits of UTV owners and aids in their marketing, sales and product development efforts.

“This is the first time we have done such extensive research into the powersports market,” said Gavin Knapp, SEMA senior manager of market research. “This report validates the belief many have had that there are great opportunities in the powersports market, and furthermore, that there are many similarities with the automotive aftermarket.”

The number of automotive accessory businesses branching off into the powersports market has increased in recent years. A dedicated powersports area was added to the SEMA Show floor in 2009.

“One of the ways companies grow their businesses is by expanding into related markets,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA VP of events and communications. “Buyers at the SEMA Show have increasingly expressed an interest in powersports products, particularly those already selling trucks and SUV products.”

The “Powersports: UTV Accessorization” report is designed to help businesses identify target consumers, expand their customer base, develop strategic messages and marketing campaigns, as well as assess the market potential. Among the report’s findings:

- About 82% of UTV owners have, or plan to purchase, upgrades to their UTV.
- Three segments of UTVs provide different accessorization opportunities for owners.
- Accessory decisions are made early, with most purchases occurring within the first three months.
- Modifications to UTVs are usually geared towards enhancing its overall functionality.
- The average accessorizer spends about $1,700 outfitting his/her UTV.
- Three out of four UTV owners also own a pickup truck and often accessorize their truck for towing the UTV.

The “Powersports: UTV Accessorization” report is one of many market research reports that SEMA offers to help members make informed and strategic business decisions. Members may download a copy of the report at no cost at www.sema.org/utvreport.

For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765, tel: 909/610-2030, or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.

In line with the successful launch last June of the Pacific NW Consumer Electronics Expo, early commitments have already been received from vendors/partners for the April 8^th and April 10^th events in Seattle and Portland. The event was moved to an earlier, more convenient time of the year based on requests. The dealer response this year has been “through the roof!” according to the Expo organizing committee. They had to secure larger venues to facilitate the 20 percent growth in both vendor and projected dealer participation.

The Expo was created by a group of Pacific Northwest manufacturer’s representative firms committed to giving their vendors an opportunity to meet with dealers who typically do not go to the international or national shows due to financial or time restraints. Many of the dealers now have an opportunity for their whole staff to see what this industry has to offer and to meet with the vendors they do business with. This year, there are fourteen independent representative companies committed to the show.

For more details, please visit www.pnwcee.com, facebook.com/pages/Pacific-Northwest-Consumer-Electronics-Expo and twitter.com/PNWCE_Expo.

Seattle Show                                                            Portland show

Tuesday, April 8th                                                   Thursday, April 10th

10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.                                            10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Hilton Seattle Airport                                               Embassy Suites Washington Square

17620 International Blvd                                        9000SW Washington Square Rd

Seattle, WA 98188                                                   Tigard, OR 97232