NEWS
REPCO AND MECHANIC.COM.AU: ON THE TOOLS TOGETHER A new partnership is bringing the online platform to Repco Trade Account Customers Leading automotive aftermarket parts trade supplier Repco has teamed up with Mechanic.com.au in a partnership that is set to bring the platform to Repco Trade Account Customers, allowing them to interact with over 15,000 other users. Mechanic.com.au is an online platform through which mechanics can learn about business and automotive technology, share knowledge and information with one another, troubleshoot problems and seek out career opportunities. Since 2017, Mechanic.com.au has helped over 15,000 mechanics around Australia to develop their careers and workshops. The partnership is a natural fit with the Repco service model. With market leading and award-winning platforms that focus on better knowledge and improved workshop operations already available to Repco Trade Customers, Mechanic.com.au is highly complementary to the impressive portfolio. Repco’s focus on support and development to Professional Workshops is further shown with this exciting partnership. “We are thrilled to partner with the team at
Mechanic.com.au,” GPC Asia Pacific Executive General Manager of Automotive Australia, Amy Frangos, said. “The platform offers such a powerful tool for mechanics, helping them diagnose and problem solve issues with their customers’ cars faster, as well as helping to share knowledge and develop their careers. “It is the ideal service to complement our marketleading digital workshop solutions portfolio, available to Repco trade account customers.” Mechanic.com.au was equally excited about the opportunities the partnership can bring. “We really couldn’t have aligned with a stronger partner to accelerate the next phase of Mechanic.com.au,” Mechanic.com.au General Manager, Ryan Davis, said. “Their blue-sky approach to digital innovation, coupled with their rich heritage and enthusiasm to support workshops in as many ways as possible makes Repco highly complementary to Mechanic.com.au. “I’m delighted to see this partnership come to fruition and eager for our members to reap the
benefits that will soon be provided through our exciting new initiative.” Repco says the proven success of the mechanic.com.au platform coupled with the national reach of Repco will yield benefits for both parties, but ultimately it says it is professional Australian workshops who will be the biggest winners. Repco says it is Australia and New Zealand’s leading automotive aftermarket supplier to professional workshops and retail car enthusiasts. With more than 400 stores around Australia and New Zealand, Repco boasts it has an unmatched 100 years of automotive and motorsport heritage. For more information, visit www.repco.com.au
PEDDERS AWARDED FOR INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE The family-owned Australian business received three awards from two organisations in just one week recently
Pedders says it is proud to have been recognised by the Australian automotive and caravan industries recently as the business scored multiple awards across two separate events held in Melbourne. At the bi-annual Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo awards ceremony in Melbourne, Pedders is extremely proud to have been awarded the trophy for Most Innovative New Aftermarket Product (Parts) for the brand’s Australian-first LoadRyder Onboard Weight Scales system. As a brand that prides itself on innovation, Pedders says it was extremely satisfying for the LoadRyder team and the wider Pedders business to receive this award after the years of development and hard work went into delivering this game-changing product to market in 2021. Pedders Senior Manager Product and Brand Integration, David Montgomery, has been instrumental in leading the LoadRyder project and accepted the award on behalf of the Pedders group. On the same evening, Pedders was also bestowed with the AAAA Excellence in Repair and Service
(Chain) award for its WorkshopIQ system as well as the business rebrand. Pedders’ Senior Executive Technology and Systems, Simon Richardson, accepted this impressive award on behalf of the Pedders team. WorkshopIQ is a complete in-store experience system for staff and customers that includes integrated booking and job functionality, vehicle parts look-up, vehicle reports and job cards. This range of features allows for seamless data collection and communications, increased transparency with customers and a more polished in-store experience.
As an extension of this project to improve customer experience, Pedders also simultaneously took on a rebranding exercise across all Pedders stores and Authorised Dealers which included new internal and external signage at all sites to reflect the new Pedders Suspension and Brakes business name. To top off an extremely successful week for Pedders, the brand was awarded a third award at the Victorian Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow for Best Stand in Show. The Pedders team would like to thank Brad and the team at Custom Solutions Group for building an awardwinning display stand. For more information, visit www.pedders.com.au Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine May 2022
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