<Aftermarket car seat covers.
Growth in the automotive aftermarket.
Retail sales in the automotive aftermarket rose 7.7 percent to $28.9
billion in 2003 according to a report by the Speciality Equipment
Market Association. Most of the growth came in parts and accessories
for the sports compact market. (Car part business is roaring. By John
O?Dell. Los Angeles Times. April 13, 2004)
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040413/REPOSITORY/404130301/1014
Light Truck Aftermarket Growing.
The size of the light truck aftermarket has nearly doubled in the past
10 years, rising from $38.8 billion in 1993 to $74.1 billion in 2002,
according to a recent study released by the Automotive Aftermarket
Industry Association (AAIA). Sales in the light truck aftermarket
experienced a 7.4 percent increase from 2001 to 2002, growing from $69
billion to $74.1 billion. The study forecasts the size of the 2003
light truck aftermarket as $79.9 billion, an estimated 7.8 percent
increase over 2002. (Truck Aftermarket Growing. By Levy Joffrion).
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/april2003/briefs.cfm
Median age of U.S. vehicles increases to 8.4 years.
The increase in aftermarket sales can be attributed to the increasing
median age of U.S. vehicles on the road. This study by Polk shows that
in 2002 the median age of U.S. vehicles reached 8.4 years compared to
7.3 years in 1993.
http://www.polk.com/news/releases/2003_0211.asp
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Growth of the seat covers market
This article reports on interviews with manufacturers of seat covers.
Demand for seat covers exceeded interviewed manufacturers'
expectations in 2003 as global car sales continued to grow. US auto
sales in June 2002 totalled 16.43 million vehicles, up from June 2001
sales of 16.36 million, according to US sales analyst Autodata.
Interviewees in Taiwan and mainland China are setting up new factories
or expanding existing ones, and raising export targets for the first
quarter of next year to meet car sales growth. One manufacturer plans
to raise its yearly capacity by 2.5 million.
The report highlights the growing competition from mainland China
which has weakened the car seat cover line in Taiwan. Yang Hua
International Trade Co. Ltd plans to increase exports to the US in
2004. Intense competition has resulted in 5 to 7 percent cuts in car
seat covers from Hong Kong in the last 12 months. (Sourcing Report:
Car seats/seat covers/seat cushions. Makers gear up to cover more
markets. December 01, 2003. Global Sources.)
http://www.globalsources.com/am/article_id/9000000047207/page/showarticle?action=GetArticle
Tom Plotkin, president of Comfy/Inter-American Sheepskins, Inc., an
eight-employee West Los Angeles, Calif., company that manufactures,
imports, and distributes seat covers and other sheepskin products,
says: "Chinese tannery entrepreneurs have created a huge [U.S.]
importing business. So with this influx of new competition, we've been
reluctant to raise prices. We've only raised three times in the last
five years, and that was minimally. (The Tricky Art of Raising Prices.
Nation?s Business. By Howard Scott. February 1999)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1154/is_2_87/ai_53664168
-----------------------------------------------------
Demographics of seat cover purchasers.
This report shows the type of vehicle driven, occupation, age, gender,
regional activity and DIY participation of consumers purchasing car
seat covers.
Seat covers most appeal to younger consumers with slightly more women
than men purchasing seat covers.
(30th Annual DIY survey. Aftermarket business. August 2004).
http://www.aftermarketbusiness.com/aftermarketbusiness/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=119941
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Revenues.
A business manufacturing and retailing auto seat covers and floor mats
is advertised for sale on this site (Merger Network). The company
based in California has been trading for 18 years, has sales of
$337,177 and profits of $22,881.
http://www.mergernetwork.com/static/details/13958.htm
Units sold and retail sales of Wet Okole.
This company sells 200 units per day, with retail prices of between
$99 and $249, the retail value of sales is at least $7 million.
Wet Okole
Manufactures seat covers.
Wetokole Hawaii Inc.
660 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96813
808 531 9778
http://www.wetokole.com/
Established in 1988.
Currently distributes 200 seat covers a day all around the world (2003).
http://www.sgmag.com/gear/okole/
The company experienced steep growth on the manufacturing and
distribution side. The Honolulu store of Wet Okole experienced 40
percent growth from 1994 to 1996. In May 1998 the company expanded its
20,000 square feet factory to 30,000 square feet, increasing
production from 140 covers a day to 200 a day.
Wet Okole covers retail for between $99.00 and $249.00.
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/1998/02/23/smallb2.html
Best Friends Company
P.O. Box 1175
Royal Oak, Michigan 48068-1175
877 685 2547
Established 2002.
Manufactures SUV seat covers aimed at dog owners ? the upscale end of
the market. They predict a market of five million potential
customers. According to General Motors, 50 percent of SUV owners have
pets.
The company was started with an initial investment of under $1
million. For 2003 sales of over $2 million were predicted.
http://www.detnews.com/2003/business/0302/28/b01-96330.htm
This company was started to give a solution for SUV?s messed up by dogs and kids.
http://www.bestfriendscompany.com/01profile.html
Key company employees.
http://www.bestfriendscompany.com/01leadership.html
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US Manufacturers
Seat Covers Unlimited
2937 East Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85213
(888) 410-5050
http://www.seatcoversunlimited.com/
Seat Covers Unlimited was established 25 years ago. Their emphasis is
on supplying quality products. The company have consistently grown at
a rate of 10-15% every year.
http://www.seatcoversunlimited.com/about.html
Ruff Tuff Products
850 West 1700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
801 972 5845
Manufactures custom car and truck seat covers.
Established 1976.
http://www.rufftuff.com/
Autocraft
Established 1942. Entered the seat cover market in 1971 supplying
stores in the New England region. In 1977 started shipping products
nationwide.
http://www.customseatcovers.com/aboutus.htm
Elegant USA, LLC
100 Bomont Place
Totowa, NJ 07512
http://www.saddleman.com/about.html
GT Covers
17100 E Ohio Dr, Aurora, Co 80017
866 755 6005
Established 1982.
http://www.greatcovers.net/about/index.asp
Irvin Automotive
2600 Centerpoint Pkwy, Pontiac, MI 48341
http://www.irvinautomotive.com/products.htm
Legacy
3411 W. Northern, Suite G, Phoenix, Arizona 85051
http://www.legacyseatcovers.com/
Seat Cover Specialities.
Manufacturer of seat covers.
Established April 1983.
Fresno California.
http://www.seatcoverspecialties.com/about.asp
Marathon Seat Cover Inc.
520 W. Griffin Dr, Bozeman, MT 59715
800 735 2769
http://www.marathonseatcovers.com/index.html
Eclipse Covers
664 East 440 South, Hyrum, Utah 84319
http://www.eclipsecovers.com
Seatcover.net
2937 E. Main Street Mesa, Arizona 85213
Toll Free 1-800-255-8086
http://www.seatcovers.net/
Jean Seat International Inc.
1607 N. State Road 7, Hollywood, FL 33021.
Manufacturers and distributors of seat covers.
Established 1965
http://www.autoseats.com/contactus.html
Axius
PO Box 4427
Houston, TX 77210-4427
Manufactures car accessories including seat covers.
http://www.axius.com/html/products/seatcovers_cushions/seatcovers.htm
Qualitex
Manufactures seats and covers.
P.O. Box 428
Mabank, TX. 75147-0428
800 233 1306
http://www.qualitex.com/contact/
-----------------------------------------------
Canadian manufacturer.
Shear Comfort Ltd
165 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1K3
Phone: (604) 732-3337 Fax: (604) 732-4743
Established in 1983. Distributes products throughout the US.
http://www.shearcomfort.com/seatcovers/company.asp>
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<Report
North American Convertible Top, Sunroof, Floor Mat, and Seat Cover
Aftermarket. Published January 2001. Mindbranch.
According to this report, fierce competition will determine market
winners. Innovate designs key to success. The report costs $4640.>
<http://www.mindbranch.com/listing/product/R1-1805.html>
<Report
Automotive Aftermarket Products. Packaged Facts. 2000.
According to this report, competitive pressures are intensifying. The
leading retailer is Autozone. Retail sales of accessories in 1999
approached $15.3 billion. 42% of U.S. adults buy accessories.
Accessories account for 25% of auto retailers sales.>
<http://www.academic.marketresearch.com/product/print/default.asp?productid=112865&surl=&curl=&prid=1111111>
<Trade shows
The Sema Show.
The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo.>
<http://www.aaiwshow.com/>
<Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAAI).>
<http://www.aftermarket.org/Home.asp>
<AAAI ? mini-monitor
Do-it-yourself products ? part and accessories:
2000 $28,747
2001 $29,089
2002 $29,887>
<http://www.aftermarket.org/Market_Research/pdf/2002Mini-Monitor(english).pdf>
<Aftermarket Insider bimontly magazine published by AAAI.>
<http://www.aftermarket.org/Information/Aftermarket_Insider/Aftermarket_Insider.asp>
<Keeping old cars on the road. American Demographics. July 1977.
This article looks at the reasons why people keep old cars on the road.>
<http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4021/is_n7_v19/ai_19570341/pg_1>
<Search strategy:>
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<Hope this helps.> |
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