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Jay Leno Receives Token of Appreciation from BASF During SEMA 2015 by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Jay Leno, legendary comedian and host of Jay’s Leno’s Garage, received a special token of appreciation from BASF during SEMA 2015. Fans gathered at the BASF booth on November 4 while Dan Bihlmeyer, BASF’s North A- Jay Leno and the BASF Refinish team at SEMA 2015 merican marketing manager, his preference for BASF products. presented a signature leather jacket to “I’ve been using their products for Leno, who has a collection of 140 cars years and years,” said Leno. “It’s fun of his own. to have this kind of relationship. It’s Autobody News asked Leno about See Jay Leno, Page 16
CIC Debates How to Define a ‘Class A’ Shop—And If Such a Definition is Even Needed
See CIC debates, Page 24
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Whether the 2013 version of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) definition of the “Minimum Recommended Requirements for a ‘Class A’ Collision Repair Facility” is up-to-date given changes in vehicle and repair technology was not up for debate at the latest CIC in Las Vegas in November. Randy Stabler “We have a wholly inadequate Class A shop definition today,” CIC Chairman Randy Sta-
bler said. “Things are moving a lot faster than we are. So we need to keep up.” But a number of representatives of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) argued at the meeting that there is no longer much of a need for the document at all. “The real-world situation is this Class A definition is irrelevant in today’s market,” SCRS board member Dusty Womble of Roger Beasley Collision Center in Austin, Texas, said. “The cars have changed. The [automaker shop certification] programs have changed. There’s really not a
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by John Yoswick
VOL. 5 ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2015
Winning SEMA New Product Awards Can Be Life Changers by Ed Attanasio
Capturing an award in the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) New Products Showcase can be a life changing experience for manufacturers that are looking for a fast track to success. Years of research and development coupled with hard work and buoyed by the spirit of entrepreneurship, these awards are given to the most innovative and cutting-edge new automotive aftermarket products in the industry today, judged by some of the biggest names in the automotive world. On Nov. 3 at SEMA’s opening breakfast, a handful of companies from all over the world received these highly coveted awards announced at a ceremony rivaling the Academy Awards. By just being associated with the SEMA brand, companies can gain instant cred-
ibility and fast track their journey to success.
The Collision Repair & Refinish Product First place winner went to Innovative Tools and Technologies, Inc. for the Scangrip Sunmatch Color Match LED. From left, General Manager Jason Cox and Scangrip’s Marketing Manager Hanne Nadolny.
Nearly 2,000 products were entered into 16 different Showcase categories to be considered for SEMA New See SEMA New Product Awards, Page 26
Service King Acquires 15 CARCARE Locations in IL Service King Collision Repair Centers announced its largest partnership of the year by finalizing a deal to acquire CARCARE Collision Center, a Chicago -based MSO, according to a press release. The deal includes all 15 of CARCARE’s repair centers throughout the Chicago metro and Central Illinois areas, reported the release, and operations will transition to Service King immediately. Terms of the merger were officially agreed upon and signed on Nov. 6. “Partnering with Service King is truly an exciting step forward for the CARCARE team,” said Bill Aeschliman, CARCARE owner and CEO, in the release. “Service King’s standard of superior service will only enhance our operations and propel opportunities for our very own teammates. CARCARE customers and insurance partners will continue to receive the same exceptional service they have come to expect throughout this period of growth.”
Service King now operates 37 locations across the Chicago and Central Illinois market, continued the release, and the company, which first expanded to Chicago in 2014, has a total of 275 locations in 23 states across the U.S. “The Chicago community has embraced Service King, and we couldn’t be more excited about [the] continued growth,” stated Jerod Guerin, regional vice president of Service King, in the release. “Partnering with CARCARE and its excellent network of 15 superior collision repair centers and teammates is a monumental step forward in our mission to provide Chicago and its residents the very best service possible.” The Chicago market has played a significant role in Service King’s growth strategy for 2015, noted the release, and this year alone, the organization has partnered with four area collision repair providers, such as Riverdale Body Shop, Central Collision and Loro Auto Bod
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