Another month has passed, which means we’re inching ever closer to the Automotive Oil Change Association’s (AOCA) International Fast Lube Expo (iFLEX) that’s co-locating with the International Car Wash Association’s (ICA) The Car Wash Show.
From May 9-11, 2016, Music City Center in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, will be flooded with fast lube and car wash enthusiasts alike. You can be there to experience it all, too.
How Much You’ll Pay
Since iFLEX and The Car Wash Show are co-locating, you’ll get the benefit of having access to both shows’ education, networking and events for one price. For $189, you’ll be able to access to the trade shows for all three days, plus the Welcome to Nashville Celebration. For $399, you’ll have access to the trade show floors for all three days, plus all networking events and education. To complete the registration process online, visit: http://bit.ly/iFLEX2016Registration
Where You’ll Rest Your Head
Once you register, it’ll be time to book your hotel. There are eight preferred hotels from which you can choose with reasonable rates. For example, you can stay at the Omni Nashville Hotel for $199/night; Courtyard Nashville Downtown for $209/night; or the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Nashville for $245/night. Downtown Nashville is 15 minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA), so make sure to check your hotel’s website for ground transportation options. To view the entire list of preferred hotels, visit: http://bit.ly/iFLEX2016Hotels
What You’ll Learn
With the partnership of AOCA and ICA, you’ll be able to attend both iFLEX-focused and The Car Wash Show-focused education sessions. For a more comprehensive education experience, you can choose sessions by track. The tracks include Business Management; General Operations; Human Resources; Leadership and Strategy; Marketing; and Vendor-Sponsored.
Monday, May 9, 2016
8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Education Sessions
8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: New Investors Seminar
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Trade Show Open
6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.: Welcome to Nashville Celebration, featuring Kellie Pickler
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m.: AOCA Membership Meeting
8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Keynote Address, “Leading No-Fail Teams,” by Scott Moore, United States Navy SEAL Rear Admiral (retired)
9:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Education Sessions
11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Trade Show Open
5:30 p.m.-6:30 pm.: Past Presidents Reception
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.: Education Sessions
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Trade Show Open
1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Car Wash Tours
1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Executive Seminar
1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Emerging Leaders Seminar
To view the most up-to-date agenda, visit: http://bit.ly/iFLEX2016Agenda.
Monday, May 9, 2016
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.: “Auto Warranty Act Showdown,” presented by Joanna Johnson, president and founder of Johnson Policy Associates.
You can’t afford to lose any more customers to unfounded allegations that aftermarket parts and services violate automobile warranties. Attend this session to learn how to protect your business and promote mandatory consumer protection disclosure requirements by automobile dealerships. Legislative actions are already underway in Massachusetts and Florida, and the next state could be yours.
9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: “Fluid Products and Recommendations,” presented by Solid Start.
10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: “TPMS and the Oil Change Business – A Chance to Embrace a New Opportunity,” presented by Scot Holloway, CEO and general manager of Bartec.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) have been part of the original equipment on cars and light trucks since 2008. Currently, there are approximately 130 million vehicles on the road with TPMS sensors on board. That number continues to grow each year and at some point, the majority, if not all the vehicles that pass through your service bays, will have TPMS sensors. How you choose to deal with TPMS is an important part of your strategic plan and is worthy of considerable attention.
Chances are, your oil change facility has already been impacted by this technology. In this presentation, we will discuss the basics of TPMS technology, how it works, what the impact is on the various levels of service provided and how it is an opportunity to increase customer satisfaction and improve the bottom line. At the very least, you will learn things that will help to mitigate customer issues and prevent owning a vehicle with pre-existing conditions.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: “The ATF Panel,” presented by AOCA Talk Live.
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: “Oil Change Tech Tips – When Plastic Parts Fail,” presented by Eric Frankenberger, president and chief operating officer of Oil Changer, Inc.
When parts are designed to fail, who ends up bearing the cost of replacement? Should it be you? Today, engines are more expensive than ever, and many are being made with plastic parts. Attend this session to learn how technicians can avoid common issues on today’s cars. Review best practice techniques that will help you minimize costly repairs in your oil change bays.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.: “Motor Oil 101: Everything You’ve Wanted to Know, but Were Afraid to Ask,” presented by Joshua Frederick of Valvoline.
Great customer service starts with understanding the products going into your consumers’ vehicles. This session will help you answer key questions around the specifications required for oils in your shop and how to measure oil grade and performance. Learn how to keep up with the technical side of your business and what questions to ask of your oil manufacturer in this engaging discussion.
To look at the entire education session list, visit: http://bit.ly/iFLEX2016Education and click “View Full Schedule” next to each day.
AOCA and ICA have come together to make sure the oil change industry and car wash industry will get the most out of this experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity. We’ll see you in Nashville!
