What you don’t know can’t hurt you. It’s a ridiculous statement, of course. If you don’t know you have an illness, you won’t go to the doctor, and so that can hurt you. If you don’t know – to go with a comical, nonsensical example – that an Acme safe is falling from the sky and about to fall on you, that, too, can hurt you. What you don’t know can hurt you when taking a test. And, of course, when driving, we’re taught immediately that what we don’t know can hurt everyone. In other words, beware of the blind spot, the areas around your car that you can’t see despite looking out of all your side view and rear-view mirrors. For most of automotive history, the blind spot has been something drivers have had to contend and co-exist with. Drivers have always been able to try to do what they can to help their vision, but the options have never been great – like glancing over their shoulder before a lane change, wh ... read more

The business of automotive sales and automotive repairs is often seasonal, revolving around major holidays and sales. But what about the aftermarket auto industry? Has it been growing in the past few years, and where will it be going in the future? We’re here to answer the question. Has the automotive aftermarket industry grown? The short answer is yes. But there’s more to it than that. In 2014, the industry grew 2.5 percent, which was just another year of sustained growth since the economy began to recover after the recent recession. As consumers hold on to cars for longer, it has created a sweet spot for services, repairs and aftermarket accessories to keep those cars running well and looking good for a long time. Will the aftermarket industry continue to grow? According to the 2014 Join Channel Forecast Model, the automotive afte ... read more

Currently, consumers are holding on to their cars for longer periods of time. That means the automotive aftermarket industry is soaring. One area that continues to grow? Paint protection film for vehicles. That might seem counter intuitive; after all, we just mentioned that consumers are keeping their cars for longer, an average of 11.4 years. But in reality, the growing market for paint protection film is a direct effect of this consumer trend with their automobiles. Since people are holding on to their cars for longer, they’re eager to make sure those vehicles can last. That trend includes performance and appearance. Also take into account that the strengthening economy has placed more expendable income in the hands of consumers. Many of those consumers are choosing to use that money on upgrading their vehicles, and individuals who purchase that new car expect it to las ... read more