75 years on

75 years on

31 Dec 2005

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ADF looks ahead

At the end of the 75th year of its existence, the ADF is, “Possibly more relevant to the market’s needs than at any time in its history,” according to the Federation’s chief executive, Brian Spratt.   In an end-of-the-year statement, the ADF’s chief spokesman said that the whole independent aftermarket faced challenges, which could only be met by working together.   “Thankfully,” he said, “we have plenty of opportunities to build the whole of the independent automotive aftermarket in the minds of consumers – private and fleet motorists, and there is evidence that we are succeeding.   But we can only continue, and accelerate this, by making sure all of the supply chain; parts manufacturers, wholesalers and garages and service workshops, work effectively together.”   Failure to understand each other’s problems and failure to accept responsibility could mean that garages and motor factors miss their chance to build a sustainable independent offering for motorists.   “That means fair dealing on all sides. It means recognising each other’s needs, and it means jointly developing a new professionalism.   That can only come through intensive educational and training programmes, adopting new techniques, and understanding that, unless factors and garages swim together, then they will surely drown alone,” he asserted.   Spratt promised that the Federation work be working hard to secure every advantage possible for members. Contacts with government and legislators would increase, the media would be even more heavily targeted, and links with other groups in the independent aftermarket would strengthened.   “We will remain vigilant and proactive on behalf of our members,” he said. “It would have been easy to take our Seventy-Fifth Anniversary (the original Motor Factors Association was founded in 1930) as an excuse to sit back and reminisce.   But the ADF Council and I felt that the demands upon our members would have made that an indulgence.   What we are about is making sure that the ADF, and its members, are still here in another seventy five years’ time!”

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