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Covid-19 Hub
Auto repair listed as essential service in Ontario
March 24, 2020 by Allan JanssenRepair shops and auto parts stores in Ontario will not be forced to shutter during the Novel Coronavirus pandemic. Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued an order yesterday closing all non-essential businesses in the provinces. The list of essential services was…
Ontario, Quebec order non-essential businesses to shut
March 23, 2020 by Allan JanssenIt will soon be known if automotive repair shops and auto parts stores will be allowed to remain open in the two provinces hardest hit by the global pandemic of coronavirus. As cases of Covid-19 mounted yesterday, surpassing 2,000 nationwide,…
Disinfecting surfaces? Do it right!
March 23, 2020 by Allan JanssenSanitizing a surface doesn’t happen instantly. The maker of Spray Nine, a heavy duty cleaner, degreaser, and disinfectant commonly used in automotive repair shops, is reminding its customers that you have to leave the disinfectant on the surface long enough…
Audio Special: The new realities of retail
March 20, 2020 by Allan JanssenIn these unprecedented times, everyone’s looking for ideas on how to stay open and serve their clients while still being safe. We turned to management consultant Bob Greenwood to find out what he’s advising his clients. You can reach Bob…
AASA webinar offers facts, advice… and reassurance
March 20, 2020 by Allan JanssenA detailed analysis of the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) this week started with words of encouragement. AASA president Paul McCarthy adopted soothing tones to reassure those who logged on to the association’s…
Auto parts and vehicle repairs more essential than ever, AIA says
March 19, 2020 by Allan JanssenAuto parts and vehicle repairs are essential services, especially in a pandemic. That’s the message the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) is sending to legislators across the country, in an effort to ensure aftermarket businesses stay open even if…
Bestbuy cancels AGM and related events
March 18, 2020 by Allan JanssenBestbuy Distributors has cancelled its upcoming annual general meeting and all associated events. The event was to have been held next month. Bestbuy president Bill Hay says there are no alternative dates currently planned for the company’s spring meetings.
Coronavirus update: Taking the temperature of the industry
March 18, 2020 by Allan JanssenBy Allan Janssen Auto repair shops across the country remain open, but a snap poll of jobbers across the country suggests fears of a complete shutdown are close to the surface. An already quiet March Break week has gotten uncomfortably…
Congress of Automotive Repair & Service postponed
March 16, 2020 by Allan JanssenThe Automotive Service Association’s Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) has been postponed until late August or early September. The event, co-located with the Technology & Telematics Forum as well as the association’s annual business meeting, was to have been…
AIA Canada cancels national conference
March 16, 2020 by Allan JanssenIn response to the growing concerns over the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, the Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada has cancelled its national conference. Originally to be held April 28-29, at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport, the event was also to…
Lordco cancels trade show
March 13, 2020 by Allan JanssenFor the first time in its 46-year history, auto parts distributor Lordco has cancelled its trade show. The company says it is acting out of an abundance of caution for public health and safety, given the recent repercussions of the COVID-19…
In light of virus, AASA Vision to be a ‘digital conference’
March 13, 2020 by Allan JanssenOrganizers of the 2020 AASA Vision Conference say growing concerns about COVID-19 have led them to abandon their normal format and transition to a “digital experience.” In a statement on the conference website, AASA says “Given the current environment of…