(October 23, 2009)
Contact: Della Domingo
909-396-0289, ext. 130
dellad@sema.org
DIAMOND BAR, CA (October 23, 2009) – SEMA is pleased to announce a membership benefit agreement with Insignia in support of ProPledge.
ProPledge is a program targeted to overcome the traditional barriers associated with Specialty Aftermarket products sold during the new vehicle sales process – namely warranty and customer satisfaction scores (CSI). By way of ProPledge, dealers can offer to customers industry-backed warranted products from participating manufacturers and restylers ensuring dealership confidence and consumer satisfaction.
By partnering with Insignia – an industry leader in accessory sales tools and processes for new vehicle dealerships across numerous brands – SEMA is adding additional value to the ProPledge program by providing an effective communication medium connecting aftermarket manufacturers to restylers to dealers which ultimately communicates the ProPledge advantage to the retail consumer.
Through Insignia’s e-catalog system, specialty aftermarket manufacturers can provide the marketplace real-time product data descriptions, updated pricing and color product images. Manufacturers will gain visibility to compelling usage data, such as which products are viewed the most, on what vehicles, by what customer and what has been sold across the entire network.
Restylers can offer to dealers industry-backed products from ProPledge manufacturers that reach all the way to the dealer’s consumer. In combination with Insignia, restylers will be able to identify those products that are ProPledge-backed as well as be able to provide a comprehensive product offering all in one versatile tool.
Retail customers will be able to identify ProPledge products while shopping in the dealership and differentiate those that are industry-backed and those that are not.
“Our relationship with Insignia will provide ProPledge with the additional support and benefits we strive for entering 2010,” stated ProPledge Operations Director, Joe Sebergandio.
“Insignia will reduce the ProPledge education process for manufacturers, restylers and dealers,” said David Stringer, president of Insignia. “Through Insignia, retail customers in dealerships will gain clear visibility to what products are Pro-Pledge guaranteed. Dealers will benefit by giving the customer what they want, while at the same time protecting CSI and warranty claims. Our involvement with ProPledge is a win-win for everyone.”
For more information about ProPledge visit www.sema.org or call 818-248-4900.
For more information about INSIGNIA visit www.insigniagroup.com or call 888-579-4458.
About SEMA
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $31.85 billion specialty automotive industry of 7,144 member-companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends and market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765, tel: 909/396-0289, or visit www.sema.org and www.enjoythedrive.com.
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