Hedges & Company Blog: Auto Aftermarket News, Analysis & Trends

Average Age of Cars On The Road

admin — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:29:34 +0000

What’s the Average Age of Cars On The Road?

We get asked from time to time how old are cars and what’s the average age of cars on the road. We’ve been analyzing automotive data for two decades! Here is some vehicle average age analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

The average age of passenger cars in the US will hit 13.7 years in 2024, according to a projection by Hedges & Company. We’re projecting the average age of passenger cars at 14.5 years in 2029. By contrast, the average age of passenger cars in Europe is 12.3 years in 2024 (ACEA).

What’s the average age of a car?

This data is from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) for average age of vehicles. We added projections through 2029.

The average age of a car is older than the average age of a light truck. The BTS puts the age of a passenger car at 13.6 years and light trucks at 11.8 years in 2023.

Average age of passenger cars from BTS, Hedges & Company
Year	Average Age, Passenger Cars
2029	14.5 (proj.)
2028	14.3 (proj.)
2027	14.1 (proj.)
2026	14.1 (proj.)
2025	13.9 (proj.)
2024	13.7 (est.)
2023	13.6
2022	13.1
2021	12.9
2020	12.6
2019	12.4
2018	12.1
2017	11.9
2016	11.6
2015	11.5
2014	11.4
2013	11.4

Average age of light trucks from BTS, plus Hedges & Company analysis
Year	Average Age, Light Trucks On The Road
2029	13.2 (proj.)
2028	13.0 (proj.)
2027	12.9 (proj.)
2026	12.7 (proj.)
2025	12.6 (proj.)
2024	12.4 (est.)
2023	11.8
2022	11.6
2021	11.6
2020	11.6
2019	11.6
2018	11.6
2017	11.6
2016	11.6
2015	11.5
2014	11.4
2013	11.3

All light vehicles from BTS, plus Hedges & Company analysis
Year	Average Age, All Light Vehicles
2029	13.4 (proj.)
2028	13.3 (proj.)
2027	13.1 (proj.)
2026	13.0 (proj.)
2025	12.8 (proj.)
2024	12.7 (est.)
2023	12.5
2022	12.2
2021	12.1
2020	11.9
2019	11.8
2018	11.7
2017	11.7
2016	11.6
2015	11.5
2014	11.4
2013	11.4

Americans hold on to their cars longer than ever. In 2000, the average age of a passenger car was only 9.1 years. Ten years later, in 2010, it was 10.8 years old.

Going back to 1995, the farthest the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) data goes, the average age was just 8.4 years old.

The average age of passenger cars vs. light trucks has rarely varied more than six months to a year. They tracked very closely until 2023 when the average age of passenger cars was nearly two years older than light trucks.

If you’re curious, the nation with the oldest average age of vehicles in the world is Bolivia, where vehicles are an average of 18.8 years old. They really hold onto their cars. The nation in the European Union with the oldest passenger cars is Greece, at 17.3 years.

Average age of vehicles on the road and scrappage rate

There are several factors adding to the increasing average age of cars on the road. One, with the recent economic environment and supply chain issues, is that it’s hard to get a new car! That, and the price of a new car (even used cars) really jumped in 2022.

The scrappage rate has influenced the average car age, too. Historically over the past decade or so, the annual scrappage rate for passenger cars dropped from 5.5% per year to the mid-4% range. More current scrappage has gone back up to the 5% range, even with fewer miles driven during the pandemic and rising vehicle prices. Lower sales of new vehicles makes the average car age for vehicles in operation (VIO) even older.

The annual scrappage rate for light trucks is slightly lower than for cars, dropping from about 4.5% in 2009 to the mid-3% range about ten years ago. That scrappage rate is likely to be higher today, too.

Percentage of cars still on the road (some numbers rounded)
VIN Year Range	% of Vehicles
2020-24 model years	12%
2015-19 model years	26%
2010-14 model years	19%
2005-09 model years	20%
2000-04 model years	14%
1995-99 model years	5%
1990-94 model years	2%
1985-89 model years	1%
Older than 1985	1%

Average age of cars on the road, by year range

We looked at our database and did an analysis of vehicles on the road by year, by comparing the VIN year of the vehicle. This table shows our results.

Quick side note: The VIN year is the model year of a vehicle, not the year it was sold. It also doesn’t indicate the year it was manufactured. Those are three different things.

For example it’s possible to buy a 2024 model year vehicle in 2023, and the VIN would indicate that it’s a 2024 model year.

It’s also possible—not likely but possible—to purchase a 2025 model year vehicle in 2024 that was manufactured in 2023. Now that we have that out of the way, back to our analysis of average age of cars on the road by year.

How many 20 year old cars are still on the road

About 23% of all passenger cars on the road today are 20 years old or older. The most vehicles on the road today are model years 2015 to 2019 model years, which make up approximately 26% of all vehicles. 2010-2015 model year vehicles and 2005-2010 model year vehicles are about 19% and 20% respectively.

You’re much less likely to see the oldest cars driven around. The oldest group of vehicles, model year 1999 and older, make up just 10% of all vehicles.

Three model years, 2017, 2018 and 2019, each make up at least 5% of all vehicles in the US VIO (VIO is also sometimes called car parc, too).

How many classic cars are left?

Car enthusiasts often ask us how many classic cars are left? The topic of how many classic, antique, vintage or whatever you want to call it, is complicated.

Hedges & Company estimates there are just over 5 million vehicles, for model years 1919 through 1981, in existence. It’s difficult to say because only some of these older vehicles are left, registered and in operation. These can be seen on the road or driven in parades or at car cruises.

Some of these older vehicles that are left are not in operation all twelve months of the year. These classic cars can fall in and out of active registration throughout the year.

Some classic cars are in various states of restoration, ranging from a “basket case,” or barn find, to nearly completed.

And of course, some classic cars are in museums and not operational.

We estimate that about a third of these older classic vehicles are model years 1960 through 1969. About half are 1970 through 1981 vehicles.

Car production during WW2

The smallest group of vehicles by model year is easy. Production slowed to a halt in 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945, when the US was embattled in World War II. The Federal Office of Production Management stopped production and delivery on Jan. 1, 1942, although some production continued until Feb. 22. There was a small stockpile of 1942 model year vehicles that were rationed out to essential drivers during the war.

Domestic production of civilian vehicles basically stopped until October 1945, while factories poured nearly all resources into the war effort. Product ramped back up to what was considered normal beginning with the 1946 model year.

Enthusiasts are more interested in classic cars with more value or rarity. Hagerty estimates there are at least 350,000 original 1965-1966 Ford Mustangs left today.

Quoting this analysis

This article is copyrighted, but hey, it’s polite to share! This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License and can be distributed or quoted, with attribution given to Hedges & Company with a link to this article.

Note to the content folks at Statista: Nope, you may not copy this data and post it on your site behind a paywall.

The post Average Age of Cars On The Road appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Number of Licensed Drivers in the US 2024

admin — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:27:14 +0000

How many licensed drivers are there in the US?

We’ve tracked automotive data and statistics for two decades, and here are some facts on how many people drive in the US. In 2024, there are a projected 239.24 million licensed drivers in the US, which includes 91% of US residents of driving age. That’s up from 236.4 million in 2023.

Need to know even more about how many drivers are in the USA? What’s the percentage of Americans with driver’s licenses? This information isn’t always easy to find, so we put some stats together on the number of licensed drivers in the USA and how many Americans drive.

This includes our projection of licensed drivers through 2025. Scroll down!

More than nine out of 10 adult Americans drive. That’s 239.2 million people who drive in the US.

We pulled data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). We also pulled additional data for our analysis and projections.

Note: click for even more automotive aftermarket trends and stats on this page.

What percentage of American adults have a driver’s license

91% of all American adults have a driver’s license in 2024. That’s up from 89% in 2020 and 90% 2021-2022. That counts everyone from 18 years old and up.

Overall there are more licensed drivers in California than any other state, with over 27 million licensed drivers. 88% of the population of California that is of driving age is a licensed driver.

The second highest state of licensed drivers is Texas, with 18.3 million, followed by Florida with over 16 million licensed drivers.

A distant fourth place is held by Pennsylvania with just over 9 million licensed drivers, followed by Illinois (8.3 million) and Ohio (8.28 million).

All numbers are from the FHWA Office of Highway Policy Information 2021 report, the most current available as of this writing.

The state with the highest percentage of licensed drivers vs. the driving age population isn’t event a state, it’s the District of Columbia.

In fact, the US states with the highest percentage of licensed drivers are geographically near to D.C. According to FHWA statistics D.C. is at 168%, which doesn’t make sense until you consider a transient/commuting population with homes in multiple states, and people with multiple licenses (private and commercial).

New York and Maryland are next, tied at 108%, followed by New Jersey at 104%. Massachusetts is at 98%.

The state with the lowest percentage of licensed drivers vs. the driving age population is Montana. In fact, the US states with the lowest percentage of licensed drivers are all geographically next to or near Montana.

According to FHWA statistics 42% of Montana adults have a license. They’re followed by Wyoming and Iowa, tied at 52%, then Iowa and North Dakota, tied at 61%.

After that, Idaho comes in at 66%. Next is Alaska at 67%, which is not near any other US state at all.

Licensed drivers by year
Year	Licensed Drivers in US
2025 (proj.)	242,112,000
2024 (proj.)	239,241,000
2023	236,404,000
2022	233,644,000
2021	232,782,000
2020	228,196,000
2019	228,914,000
2018	225,721,700
2017	223,707,325
2016	221,711,918
2015	218,084,465
2014	214,092,472
2013	212,159,728
2012	211,814,830
2011	211,874,649
2010	210,114,939
2009	209,618,386

Statistics on number of drivers in the US

How many Americans drive? In the post-war 1950s, the number of drivers in the USA increased an average of 3.6% every year.

In the next decade, the 1960s, the number of drivers in the USA increased at a lower average of 2.51% each year.

The 1970s saw the annual increase rise slightly to 2.84%, but we’ve never had an annual growth rate like we had in the 1950s.

The 1980s were much slower in terms of annual year-over-year growth, with an average of a 1.46% increase in the number of licensed drivers in the US.

In the 1990s that continued to drop, to an average annual increase of 1.24%.

The 2000s saw a continued slowdown with an average annual growth of 1.14%.

The 2010s had the lowest growth since the 1950s, at 0.81%. In fact, 2012 was the first year with a decline in licensed drivers in the US from the previous year. (It happened again in 2020 during the pandemic.)

In the 2020s the growth rate in licensed drivers has rebounded a bit. It is hovering around 1% per year and less. We’re now projecting over 239 million licensed drivers by 2024 and 242 million by 2025.

One thing slowing down the number of licenses issued: miles driven per year. Miles driven decreased in 2020 during the pandemic and that had a negative impact on total licensed drivers.

Miles driven per year peaked at February, 2020, at a 12-month moving average of 3.28 million miles. It bottomed out one year later at 2.87 million miles.

Miles driven per year in 2023 recovered to pre-pandemic levels. And with that, a slight uptick in licenses issued.

Licensed drivers by age

We looked at how many drivers are in the USA by age. Here is the percentage of Americans with driver’s licenses compared to the total population, using statistics from the Federal Office of Highway Policy Information.

Across all age groups, 91% of all Americans have a driver’s license. The lowest percentage of total licensed drivers is among 16- to 19-year-olds, where just 39.5% of the population has a driver’s license.

Statistics are from the 2023 Highway Statistics Series, the most recent data available as of this writing, plus projections by Hedges & Company.

Licenses by age group
Age Group	% With License
All ages	91%
19 and Under	39.5%
20 to 24	81.0%
25 to 39	89.9%
40 to 49	91.4%
50 to 69	92.6%
70 to 84	89.3%
85 and older	69.1%

Percentage of adults without a driver’s license

About 9% of adult Americans don’t have a valid driver’s license. The age groups with the highest percentage without a driver’s license are 19 years old and under (60.5%), 85 and older (30.9%) and 20 to 24 (19.0%).

How many people drive in the US?

Excluding legal, licensed drivers, it’s difficult to determine exactly how many people drive in the US. On one hand, some people without a driver’s license drive illegally. On the other hand, some people with a valid license don’t drive and have a license for identification purposes, or they just prefer to not drive. Some people may choose to not drive due to health reasons. It’s probably safe to assume that at least 235 million to 240 million Americans actually drive.

Driver’s licenses by men and women

The question, “how many drivers are in the USA?” often also leads to gender questions. The split between driver’s licenses held by male licensed drivers and female licensed drivers is very even. Based on recent data, 49.3% of all licensed drivers are male and 50.7% are female.

Part of the reason the percentage is higher for female licensed drivers is related to life expectancy. For drivers 85 and older, 53.3% of licensed drivers are female, 46.7% are male.

In a younger age bracket, ages up to 24, that ratio favors males. 51.4% of all 24-year-old and under licensed drivers are male, 48.6% are female.

Number of drivers in the world

It is estimated there are about 1.4 billion drivers in the world, but the number may be higher and closer to 2 billion. Here’s why it is difficult to come up with a number: Although about 91% of the US population is a licensed driver, the percentage of drivers around the world is closer to 16% to 17%. It is nearly impossible to determine how many licensed drivers there are in the world because different countries enforce driving differently. Some third-world countries may not enforce licensing or testing very much, or at all. The total number of drivers in the world is easier to determine than the number of licensed drivers in the world.

How many Uber drivers are there? How many Uber drivers in the US?

If you need to know how many Uber drivers there are, in 2022 Uber claimed there were 5.4 million monthly active drivers and couriers worldwide. Drivers are in 69 countries. That’s up from 2018 when Uber said there were 3 million Uber drivers around the world, in 65 countries.

The Ride Share Guy estimated there were between 1.5 and 2.5 million Uber drivers in the US in 2019. Cnet estimated 1 million Uber drivers in the US in 2019.

According to CNN there were 750,000 Uber drivers in the US in 2017. Business Insider claimed there were 327,000 Uber drivers in the US in 2015. Ride sharing declined significantly with the impact of COVID but seems to be recovering. If you need the NAICS code for Uber drivers follow this link.

How many Lyft drivers in the USA?

It has been claimed that there are 700,000 Lyft drivers in the United States and 1.5 million around the world. CNet cites a report of 1.4 million Lyft drivers in the US. If you need the NAICS code for Lyft drivers follow this link.

How many CDL drivers in the USA?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there were 2,192,300 heavy-duty truck and tractor-trailer drivers in the US in 2022. That’s up from 1,871,700 in 2016. This is projected at 2,060,500 by 2029. These drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

The BLS is forecasting an increase in 30,600 jobs through 2029 with a 4% growth rate.

Sources for this article, including number of licensed drivers, are the US Census Bureau, the Federal Highway Administration and Department of Transportation, with additional analysis by Hedges & Company.

The post Number of Licensed Drivers in the US 2024 appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Auto Parts eCommerce Solutions

admin — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 18:47:56 +0000

58 Best Automotive eCommerce Solutions and Platforms

Here’s the ultimate comparison of automotive eCommerce solutions and platforms. This is a complete list of 58 companies offering eCommerce platforms or services for auto parts sites. These companies act as an auto parts website builder, or offer auto parts website design/development.

These companies and their services cover both OEM parts as well as aftermarket parts eCommerce. We identify these companies with “aftermarket” or “OEM” icons, below.

It’s tough to be the single “best” eCommerce platform for auto parts. That’s because of the unique nature of vehicle fitment and parts lookup, and the different variations involved.

Shoppers need to easily find parts based on vehicle fitment with a minimum number of clicks. If you’re looking for an auto parts website builder, you must pick one that understands fitment. Use an auto parts eCommerce platform that can either filter or search for parts by fitment. (For more on fitment and parts data, read our article on ACES and PIES data.)

Scroll down to see our table listing companies with the best automotive eCommerce solutions. You’ll find a link to their website and a phone number if they have one listed.

Auto parts eCommerce platforms

Auto parts web developers generally have two options for a website platform. They’re either proprietary or open source eCommerce platforms. Sometimes you’ll see an automotive eCommerce platform marketed as “software as a service” (SaaS). Scroll to the bottom of this article for more information on open source vs. proprietary software platforms.

Reading this on a phone? Scroll right>>

Comparison of auto parts ecommerce website builders and platforms (alphabetical)
Web developer	Platform Solution	Contact Info	Software Notes, ACES PIES Capability
Admark $-$$	Proprietary Nebhub platform, custom development	(305) 595-4388 Link to Admark website	Besides Nebhub, also does development in PHP, .NET, Java, Node.js and Angular.js
Adobe Commerce (Magento) $$-$$$	Proprietary SaaS platform owned by Adobe	Link to Adobe website	Adobe Commerce, powered by Magento, offers fitment lookups.
Aftermarket Websites® by The AAM Group $-$$	Proprietary Aftermarket Websites platform	(888) 251-4252 Link to Aftermarket Websites	Affiliated with The AAM Group with Parts Pro, Performance Corner and Total Truck Centers buying groups.
Altos Digital $$	Open source: Shopify, Magento, Volusion, WordPress/ WooCommerce, others	(480) 656-4505 Link to Altos Digital website	Builds sites for aftermarket or OEM auto parts; Manages Amazon and eBay auto parts listings
American Eagle $$	Works with Magento, BigCommerce, WordPress and other platforms	(877) 932-6691 Link to American Eagle website	Does custom development work, web design and hosting
Anzael $$	Proprietary or open source platforms, uses ACES and PIES product data	(888) 201-0804 Link to Anzael website	WordPress / WooCommerce, .NET and PHP; VCDB database tool for ACES XML files
ARI $	Proprietary ARI platform	(877) 805-0803 Link to ARI website	Aftermarket, powersports or OEM eCommerce
Auto Parts Shopping Cart $$	Proprietary Auto Parts Shopping Cart platform, uses ASAP Network, SEMA Data, DCi, Turn14; PIES and ACES importers; custom Excel data imports	(602) 592-0390 Link to Auto Parts Shopping Cart website	Does development; Licensed platform, or monthly lease with hosting starting at $399/mo., 1 yr term
BigCommerce $ +development	SaaS BigCommerce platform	(888) 248-9325 Link to BigCommerce website	SaaS platform for auto parts, other industries; claims unlimited catalog software and options; partners do development work
Cellacore $$-$$$	Works with BigCommerce, Magento and Shopify	(813) 775-4109 Link to Cellacore website	Develops auto parts websites on BigCommerce, Magento and Shopify; manages ACES and PIES product data
Classy Llama $$	Specializes in Adobe Commerce and BigCommerce	(417) 866-8887 Link to Classy Llama website	Develops auto parts sites in addition to other industries
Complete Web Solutions $-$$	Works with Drupal open source software	(719) 432-9415 Link to Complete Web Solutions website	Provides graphic and web design, programming; uses data from brands managed by ASAP
Convermax $$-$$$	Year/make/model integration with AmeriCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, OpenCart, PrestaShop, Shift4Shop, Shopify, WooCommerce	(800) 451-0972 Link to Convermax website	Cost based on unique users/month, starting at $250 for 10,000 users
Data Here-to-There $-$$	Proprietary Data Here-to-There platform, integrates with all supplier, WD and catalog software	(587) 989-3428 (587) 989-DH2T Link to Data Here-to-There website	Specializes in the automation/data integration of aftermarket auto parts eCommerce stores of all types
DCi $	Proprietary DCi platform	(515) 276-0442 Link to DCi website	Recently launched “SpeedShoppr” web platform for local retailers, which uses their eStore CMS
Dev VIP $-$$	Uses WordPress/WooCommerce, based in UK	Link to Dev VIP website	Builds aftermarket & OEM sites; Manages Amazon & eBay auto parts listings; Full stack and hosting available
Distribution Service Technologies (DST) $$	Uses proprietary TurboParts eCommerce platform integrated with OEM auto parts data from Epicor	(800) 700-4DST Link to DST website	Also an IBM Business Partner
DMS Systems Corp. $$-$$$	Proprietary DMS platform	(888) 985-2500 ext. 207 Link to DMS website	Software solutions for automotive, heavy-duty, marine and RV, including EDI, order processing, inventory management, intelligence and HR
EBIZPLATFORM $$	Proprietary EBIZPLATFORM platform or API	(877) 366-0200 Link to EBIZPLATFORM website	Offers a consumer website platform, or API to deliver data; includes hosting services
Epicor $$	Proprietary Epicor platform	(800) 999-1809 Link to Epicor website	Epicor Parts Network connects to distributors; uses Epicor PartExpert data
EtechGlobal $	Proprietary EtechGlobal platform	(605) 339-4529 Link to EtechGlobal website	Includes hosting services
eTool Developers $-$$-$$$	Proprietary eTools platform	(616) 803-0443 Link to eTool Developers website	Uses ACES data for year/make/model look up; uses a series of modules for their web services
FeedStation $$	Proprietary SaaS Solution with customized workflows and fully-managed services	(800) 975-9491‬ Link to FeedStation website	Specializes in aftermarket and powersports selling 50K-5M SKUs; integrations with suppliers, ERPs, in-house databases, marketplaces and eCommerce tools
Frooition $$-$$$	Works with BigCommerce for auto parts sites, also works with Shopify	(512) 831-7600 Link to Frooition website	Works with auto parts data using Parts Connect
GCommerce $-$$-$$$	Supports all automotive marketplaces with sales transactions and EDI functionality; purchased by SPS Commerce July 2022	(515) 228-5850 Link to GCommerce website	Integrates drop ship vendors; ACES/PIES catalog management capabilities
Gearhead Commerce $-$$	Proprietary Echo platform	(704) 716-3400 Link to Gearhead Commerce website	Parent company is E-Dreamz
Glendale Designs $$	Works with Miva SaaS platform, BigCommerce, Shopify, Magento, WordPress / WooCommerce	(623) 322 6066 Link to Glendale Designs website	Offers website design and development
GravityShiftDigital $-$$	Works with Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce	(800) 555-8888 Link to GravityShiftDigital website	Works with ACES and PIES from SEMA Data; Integrates with drop shipper inventory
iKnow eCommerce $-$$	Proprietary iKnow platform	No phone number listed Link to iKnow eCommerce website	Three package levels from $199 to $599/mo., includes payment processing and hosting
Illumaware/WHI $-$$	Online catalog management tools and services to fuel eCommerce sites with latest updates leveraging ACES and PIES; purchased by eBay August 2022	(919) 341-1650 Link to Illumaware website	Offers Evokat Premier, Illumaware InSight and eCommerce Catalog solutions
Integreat Commerce $$	Year/make/model search integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento and X-Cart	(303) 888-1639 Link to Integreat website	Offers make/model filters, custom landing pages, bulk product data importing and process automation
InteractOne $$-$$$	Works with Magento, Shopify, BigCommerce	(513) 469-3345 Link to InteractOne website	Builds websites for auto parts eCommerce retailers, plus other industries
MAM Software $$-$$$	Proprietary OpenWebs B2C plaftorm	(610) 336-9045 Link to MAM website	Designed for tire wholesalers and dealers
Miva $-$$ +development	Open source SaaS platform	(866) 605-9890 Link to Miva website	Has websites selling auto parts as well as other industries; lists Miva developers on the website
myFitment $-$$	A service to manage Amazon and eBay listings with vehicle fitment data; purchased by eBay August 2022	Contact myFitment Link to myFitment website	From Illumaware; subscription for Amazon or eBay $19/month and up
Net Driven $-$$	SaaS platform	(877) 860-2005 Link to Net Driven website	Specializes in tire dealer websites, auto repair shop websites and used car dealer websites
Net Solutions $$-$$$	Custom, Magento, Drupal, others	(305) 767-3821 Link to Net Solutions website	Services aftermarket and many other industries; locations in Canada, UK, India and US
OEConnection $$	Proprietary OEC platform	(888) 776-5792 Link to OEC website	CollisionLink platform for collision parts; RepairLink for repair parts; ConsumerLink Pro for online OEM parts to consumers; Includes hosting services
PartsPal $-$$	SaaS platform, integrates with Shopify, WordPress, eBay	+64 022 09 63758 Link to PartsPal website	Inventory management software designed to manage auto parts fitment. Serves US, Middle East and Europe.
PartSites $$	Proprietary PartsSites platform	(800) 915-3353 Link to PartSites website	For OEM replacement parts; uses EPIC auto parts catalog software, 42 OEM brands (makes); includes hosting; helps manage eBay listings
Parts Square $-$$	Proprietary Parts Square platform or API	No phone listed Link to Parts Square website	Offers web platform or API that integrates into an existing website; includes hosting
RevolutionParts $-$$	Proprietary RevolutionParts platform	(480) 525-5177 Link to RevolutionParts website	For OEM replacement parts; works with over 2 dozen OEM brands incl. GM, Ford, Honda & others; Includes hosting; helps manage Amazon and eBay listings
RPMWare, Inc $-$$	Proprietary RPMWare platform, uses data from nearly 300 aftermarket manufacturers	(877) 776-9222 Link to RPMWare website	Prices start at $399/month, no contracts; credit card processing through FORTIS Payment Systems; includes hosting services
Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart) $-$$	Proprietary Shift4Shop platform	(800) 828-6650 Link to Shift4Shop website	Also works with WordPress; includes payment processing services. Cost range is $19 to $299/month.
Shopify $ +development	SaaS platform. Shopify is a publicly-traded corporation.	No phone number listed Link to Shopify website	Three pricing tiers range from $29/month to $299/month, plus 30¢ per online transaction; includes hosting services
Shopping Cart Elite $-$$-$$$	Proprietary Shopping Cart Elite platform	(800) 401-8296 Link to Shopping Cart Elite website	Designed for auto parts with year/ make/ model lookup, plus other industries; Three tiers of service levels; charges a commission on sales volume
SimplePart $$	Proprietary SimplePart platform	(888) 843-0425 Link to SimplePart website	For OEM replacement auto parts; works with 18 OEMs incl. Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Stellantis brands; Includes hosting; acquired by Infomedia in 2021
Sitation	Custom software to plugin to a PIM	(855) 748-2846 Link to Sitation website	Offers data migration, taxonomy and data modeling services
Sophio $-$$	Proprietary Sophio platform, uses data from 1,000 aftermarket and OEM brands	(888) 563-2591 Link to Sophio website	Works with many auto parts data integration partners; Includes hosting services
Sound Press $$-$$$	Uses WHI’s Nexpart B2B eCommerce platform and WHI B2C platform	(513) 561-5975 Link to Sound Press website	Serves distributors, manufacturers, heavy-duty and aftermarket
SureDone $-$$	Proprietary SureDone platform integrates with Amazon, eBay, BigCommerce and Shopify	(877) 773-6755 Link to SureDone website	Aftermarket, marine and powersports eCommerce; Hosting available; Integrates with DCi, SEMA Data, ASAP, myFitment, many WDs.
TradeMotion $$	Proprietary TradeMotion platform; Status is presumed closed.	(866) 231-3000 Link to TradeMotion website	Status unknown as of Dec. 2019. Parts.com is no longer processing new orders.
Tradesoft $$	Proprietary Web-Auto Resource platform built with PHP language	+7 (8332) 71-42-42 Link to Tradesoft website	Based in Kirov, Russia. 2 tiers, at $330/month and $590/month
Veloxigo $$-$$$	SaaS eCommerce platform; provides integration with SEMA Data, DCi data and supports all other custom products data imports	(833) VLX-FONE (833) 859-3663 Link to Veloxigo website	Specializes in aftermarket automotive & powersports industries; Offers automation, back-end integration with financial systems & API coverage; Includes cloud hosting services
Web Link Solutions Corp. $	Proprietary WebLink platform	(866) 296-1977 Link to Web Link Solutions website	Integrates with Epicor, ShowMeTheParts, SSF Import Parts, WHI and others; Offers a custom cataloging tool for unlimited application or non-application catalogs
Web Shop Manager $-$$-$$$	Proprietary Web Shop Manager 5.0 platform, integrated with DCi and SEMA Data; also accepts custom data imports	(619) 278-0872 Link to Web Shop Manager website	Builds websites for auto parts and powersports eCommerce retailers; Includes hosting services
WHI $$-$$$	Proprietary Nexpart platform	(914) 697-9301 Link to WHI website	Supports aftermarket, OEM and heavy duty; Owned by eBay
X-Cart $-$$	Proprietary X-Cart platform	(800) 657-7957 Link to X-Cart website	3 options for $199/$299/$399 a month; Up to 1 million SKUs

Fitment’s role in the best eCommerce platform for auto parts

Are you looking for auto eCommerce solutions? If so, this next point is important. Any automotive eCommerce platform should let a consumer easily search by keyword or by fitment. Fitment in this case is the obvious year/make/model. But, the aftermarket is unique, and fitment can also include transmission, engine displacement, drivetrain, truck bed length, or any number of fitment requirements.

ACES auto parts data defines parts fitment for websites.

3 variations of eCommerce platforms for auto parts

An auto parts eCommerce website, or an auto parts shopping cart, generally falls into one of three main categories:

It can be a proprietary platform from an automotive website builder, like Web Shop Manager, for example.
An auto parts shopping cart can be built from an open source platform, like Drupal, or like WordPress using WooCommerce.
The auto parts eCommerce platform can be offered as software as a service (SaaS).

Proprietary platforms have one advantage. Any auto parts eCommerce website builder with a proprietary platform understands automotive data and fitment requirements. The benefit of using proprietary automotive eCommerce solutions is that auto parts fitment is “built-in.”

Any auto parts eCommerce platform that is open source requires development work by a developer that understands data and fitment. That can be in-house development if you’re blessed with an awesome IT team. Or it can be done by hiring a outside auto parts website builder, either an individual or a company. When screening website builders, ask about the ability to provide fitment data, what the source for the data is and if fitment data is included in their price or if it’s an extra fee.

Automotive eCommerce solutions that are SaaS will need to be developed by the host, or by a developer that works with the SaaS platform. Either option requires knowledge of aftermarket data and fitment.

Open source auto parts eCommerce solutions

An auto parts eCommerce platform that is an open source platforms include WordPress (and generally, WooCommerce, the auto parts shopping cart that plugs into WordPress), Drupal, OpenCart or PrestaShop. These platforms are sometimes described as “free” because they’re free to download, but that’s misleading. You can easily pay an auto parts website builder tens of thousands of dollars in development work.

Open source software lets you choose the developer you want to work with. There are typically hundreds or thousands of website builders that specialize in any open source platform. Plugins that add website functionality are typically available for free or for a nominal cost.

Open source platforms can be complex and expensive to maintain. When considering open source software look at the complexity to build and maintain a website vs. the practicality of trying to do that in-house.

Security is important, too. An open source automotive eCommerce platform isn’t necessarily more vulnerable to hacking but maintaining security and updating plugins or patches is your responsibility. If a site isn’t maintained, security becomes more of an issue.

Proprietary auto parts eCommerce platforms

Proprietary platforms are usually hosted by the website builder/developer. Due to their proprietary nature, custom or advanced programming usually must be done by the builder or by “official” affiliated developers only. This is neither good or bad, you just don’t have as much freedom to pick the auto parts website builder you want to work with. However, if this seems like one of the best automotive eCommerce solutions for your business, here’s one important question to ask. Find out if the proprietary automotive eCommerce platform uses a Distributed Content Network (CDN) for images. It’s a technology that improves site speed.

SaaS, for an automotive eCommerce website, a third option

Some platforms are marketed as open source Software as a Service (SaaS), like Miva, Shopify, PartsPal or Veloxigo, which are hosted services with a monthly “rental” or subscription fee. Some SaaS eCommerce platforms don’t describe their software as open source, because they are a proprietary platform and hosted by the developer.

Some platforms can be either. ASPDotNetStoreFront is available for outright purchase, or as a monthly hosted and managed storefront. Magento Open Source from Adobe (formerly Magento Community Edition) is open source and free to download. On the other hand, Adobe Commerce, the rebranded Magento (formerly Magento Enterprise Edition and Magento Commerce Cloud) are sold as SaaS platforms. Magento is owned by Adobe.

A high-end Adobe Commerce website (the rebranded Magento platform) or BigCommerce site can run over $100,000.

Some SaaS platforms, like open source platforms, let you choose the website developer you want to work with.

Automotive eCommerce solutions must consider website speed and mobile

When building a new auto parts site make sure you have a clear understanding of how fast the site will load and how it works with Google’s Core Web Vitals. Also know what the shoppers’ experience will be on a mobile phone. Both are critical to improving your site’s conversion rate and building sales.

Questions to ask an auto parts eCommerce website builder

Getting a new auto parts website is complex. Here are important questions to ask when picking automotive eCommerce solutions.

How do I start an automotive eCommerce website?
If you don’t already have an online parts store, then first determine your market niche. Successful online auto parts retailers sell into defined market niches. Then you can review this list and get in touch with these web developers.

Where can I sell auto parts?
With an online parts store you can sell auto parts in your state, region, country or anywhere in the world. Some automotive eCommerce website owners will only sell in their native country, or the continental US, due to freight costs.

Is it possible how to find what eCommerce platform a website uses?
Yes, two popular ways are to use Wappalyzer or BuiltWith.

In your search for the best eCommerce platform for auto parts, here are a few questions to ask your auto parts website builder:

Questions: Platform functionality, shopping cart and navigation

Do you specialize in auto parts eCommerce, or do you serve other industries too?
Am I buying an auto parts eCommerce template, a customized solution, or something in the middle?
What will the website navigation structure (website taxonomy) look like? How many clicks does it take to get to a product page? What about filtering for search results?
How many clicks does it take to check out and complete an order? Does the platform have one-page checkout?
How does a customer verify fitment for an auto part to make a purchase on the website?
How will vehicle selection or filtering (year/make/model) work on the new website?
What is the average page load time for your websites and what do your clients’ Core Web Vitals look like?
How does site search work? How is it maintained and managed (do you manage keywords or is it automatic)? Is there an additional charge for third party search platforms?
Will my website use a CDN to speed up image load times?

Questions: Website tech support for automotive eCommerce solutions

What technical support for the website is included? Is there an additional charge for technical support?
How reliable is your hosting platform and what is your uptime?
How long does it take to respond to technical support issues? How is the technical support team reached? What time zone are they in?
How is website security maintained?
How do you maintain security of customer data?

Questions: Website builder, design and customization

How much control do I have over the auto parts website’s “look and feel” and branding?
How easily can the auto parts website design be updated?
If this is an auto parts eCommerce template how much customization is available?
Is a blog included or integrated with your eCommerce platform? Is it on the regular domain (recommended!) or is it on a subdomain (not recommended!).

Questions: Automotive parts data and brands

How is automotive product data added to the website?
How will fitment for products maintained and what is the source for that data? Is it compatible with ACES?
Is automotive data automatically updated on my website and what is the update frequency?
What brands of auto parts do you work with, and am I limited to those brands or are there options for custom data? Can I create/upload my own product data? What about kits?
How are product prices managed? Are there automated pricing rules for parts, or do parts prices need to be uploaded?

Integration to your own eCommerce business

What are my options to integrate my website with my parts inventory levels?
Can you integrate my website with my Amazon or eBay business?
Do you only manage Amazon or eBay Motors listings or do you also facilitate order processing?
Can my new website connect directly with aftermarket drop shipper warehouses?
How is customer credit card information managed and is the website compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS, usually just called “PCI-compliant”)?
What payment gateways do you support?
How are fraud orders prevented and managed? Is fraud detection included in the price?

Keep this eCommerce website builder list current

What do you think about this list? Did we leave any website provider out or is there an error? Please contact us so we can keep this list of automotive eCommerce solutions current.

See more on auto parts website design here.

The post Auto Parts eCommerce Solutions appeared first on Hedges & Company..

What Is The Most Popular Truck in America

admin — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:14:02 +0000

Best-Selling Truck in America

What is the most popular truck in America? We’ve analyzed vehicle sales for nearly two decades and have all the best-selling full-size trucks right here.

CLICK TO ENLARGE: New light trucks and SUVs generate $5.90 in sales revenue for every $1 that new cars generate.

Total new registrations of light trucks* and SUVs in the US broke 9 million in 2018 and around 12 million in 2019. Pickup trucks alone came in at about 2.7 million in 2022 and 2.8 million in 2023. In 2021 pickups were around 2.1 million units. That’s about a 20% drop in units from 2020, due to supply chain shortages, especially for computer chips required for these vehicles.

*Note that the definition of a “light truck” comes from GVWR classes and includes pickups, SUVs, CUVs and even some station wagons.

Best selling truck of all time

The Ford F-Series is the most popular truck and best-selling truck in the US. It’s been that way for nearly half a century. The Ford F-Series reaches an amazing 48-year streak in 2024 as the most popular truck in America.

Ford F-Series trucks are also the most popular vehicle including cars in the US, not just most popular truck, for nearly 40 years.

The first F-series, the Ford F1, was introduced way back in January, 1948, about 75 years ago. Although popular in post-war America, it took 29 years to move to the top of the best selling full size trucks list. And, it’s been there ever since.

The current F-Series includes the F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 pickups and the F-550, F-650 and F-750 chassis models.

The F-Series came out in 1948 with the Ford F-1 through F-8 pickups. The F-1 was the lightest as a 1/2-ton truck with a GVWR rating of 4,700 lbs. It was followed by the 5,700-GVWR 3/4-ton F-2 pickup. The F-3 was a 3/4-ton “heavy duty” truck.

The second generation appeared as a 1953 model with the Ford F-100 replacing the F-1.

Ford announced the new all-electric F-150 Lightning on May 20, 2021. It first sold as a 2022 model year truck. With Ford Intelligent Backup Power, and enough power to run a home in a blackout for up to 10 days, the new electric F-150 will probably help extend the F-150’s reign in the future. It also has a 9.6 kW option to run power tools and other accessories, using eleven 120 volt and 240 volt outlets.

The F-150 Lightning has a charge time of 14 hours at 220 volts. It comes as a crew cab pickup. The base MSRP is $54,995 and the initial 2022 model year was quickly sold out. Ford planned to produce 150,000 Lightnings per year but cut 2024 production plans in half.

Most popular truck in America: full-size pickup

Best-selling truck in America. This data may not be reproduced and placed behind a paywall.
Full-Size Pickup	2023 Sales (approx.)	2022 Sales	2021 Sales	2020 Sales	2019 Sales
1. Ford F-Series pickup	748,000	618,000	720,000	850,000	580,000
2. Chevy Silverado pickup	553,000	530,000	520,000	575,000	395,000
3. Ram pickup	444,000	569,000	550,000	620,000	426,000
4. GMC Sierra pickup	294,000	249,000	236,000	230,000	162,000
5. Toyota Tundra pickup	122,000	82,000	82,000	110,000	90,000
6. Honda Ridgeline pickup	53,000	41,000	40,000	33,000	27,000
7. Nissan Titan/Titan XD	21,000	27,000	27,000	31,000	30,000

We’re estimating 2023 unit sales of full-size pickups was around 2.2 million, up from 2 million in 2022. That’s on par with the 2.2 million units sold in 2021.

In 2019 for every new automobile sold, 2.5 new light trucks sold.

In 2021 it was 3.6 new light trucks for each automobile.

If you ask what is the best selling truck in America, it seems like they all are!

You can see in the chart the Ford F-series pickups continue their traditional dominance as the most popular pickup truck in the US.

Any list of most popular trucks has to start with the Ford F-150.

The Ram pickup isn’t the most popular truck in America but it made a run for it. The Ram pickup probably won’t ever be the best selling truck in America but it “picked up” second place 2019 through 2021. That spot traditionally belonged to the Chevy Silverado, which is back at the number two spot for 2023.

More top selling trucks in America

The list continues with Chevy Silverado’s sister pickup, the GMC Sierra, at number four. Then you have the Toyota Tundra (#5), Honda Ridgeline (#6) and Nissan Titan and Titan XD (#6).

Believe it or not, the Ford F-series trucks are the most popular truck in America. It’s in its 45th year as king. Its reign started as the most popular truck in 1977, according to Ford.

America’s favorite truck is electric, too. Ford has announced a new all-electric version of the F-150 and a hybrid version is available as a 2021 model. This hybrid F-150 has a twin turbo EcoBoost 3.5L V6 engine called the “PowerBoost.” This is coupled with a 10-speed auto transmission with an embedded electric motor. With the combined gasoline engine and electric with a full charge the PowerBoost has 430 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque.

The most popular fuel for full-size pickup trucks is gasoline or flex fuel. The heavy-duty versions of these trucks use diesel fuel.

Most popular truck in America: mid-size

In the mid-size pickup category, you can see how Toyota dominates. It easily outsells the second most popular mid-size truck, the Ford Ranger. The Chevy Colorado used to be at #2 but in 2021 is projected to fall to #4.

A new American pickup truck: Jeep Gladiator

The new Jeep® Gladiator truck came in at #6 and first shipped in April 2019. The Gladiator started out as a 2020 model year and is now the third most popular mid-size truck.

Mid Size Pickup	2023 Sales (est.)	2022 Sales	2021 Sales	2020 Sales	2019 Sales
1. Toyota Tacoma pickup	235,000 Units	216,000 Units	248,000 Units	240,000 Units	176,000 Units
2. Chevrolet Colorado pickup	71,000 Units	89,000 Units	63,000 Units	120,000 Units	98,000 Units
3. Nissan Frontier pickup	58,000 Units	76,000 Units	50,000 Units	72,000 Units	53,000 Units
4. Jeep Gladiator pickup	55,000 Units	78,000 Units	89,000 Units	40,000 Units	18,000 Units
5. Ford Ranger pickup	32,000 Units	57,000 Units	94,000 Units	83,000 Units	46,000 Units
6. GMC Canyon pickup	22,000 Units	28,000 Units	22,000 Units	32,000 Units	28,000 Units
7. Rivian R1T	19,000 Units	10,000 Units

The Nissan Frontier returned to third place, up from fifth.

Keep your eye on the Jeep® Gladiator mid-size pickup (also known as the Jeep JT). It resembles a Jeep Wrangler JLU Unlimited with a pickup bed attached. It first shipped in May 2019 as a 2020 model. It peaked in 2022 with 77,000 units sold.

We saw a lot of Gladiators at the 2019 SEMA Show, such as this one sporting the overland style, complete with mounted tent. The 2020 SEMA Show was cancelled but we saw a lot of Gladiators at the 2021, 2022 and 2023 shows.

The Gladiator is very versatile if you want to go off-road or just look the part.

You may also be interested in our latest article on Jeep® owner demographics.

When is the Tesla Cybertruck coming out?

The Cybertruck had a lot of publicity around its November 2019 unveiling. At one time it was the most discussed truck in America.

It certainly stands out with a unique profile and all-electric drivetrain. With the optional Tri Motor AWD version you get acceleration from zero t0 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. And you get 7,500 lbs. towing capacity.

You can pre-order the Tesla Cybertruck now. Tesla originally claimed production would start in late 2021. The Tri Motor AWD trim version was supposed to production in late 2022. Now it looks like we won’t see any Tesla Cybertrucks until late 2024.

Ford’s new F-150 Lightning electric truck went on sale as a 2022 model year vehicle.

Pickup truck brands included in this article

We cover Ford, Ram, Chevrolet, GMC, Jeep, Honda, Nissan and Toyota in this article. One pickup truck brand not included is Jiangling, a pickup truck brand in Asia manufactured in China and commonly called JMC. Jiangling pickup trucks include the Baodian and Yuhu. Another brand not included is Great Wall, another Asian pickup brand manufactured in China. Great Wall manufactured the Wingle 3, replaced by the Wingle 5 and Wingle 6 (also sold in the UK as the Great Wall Steed). Another brand is Mitsubishi, manufacturer of the Triton pickup (also known as the L200 in most markets around the world, as well as the Mitsubishi Strada and Fiat Fullback).

The post What Is The Most Popular Truck in America appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Core Web Vitals for Automotive Websites Simplified

admin — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 20:52:03 +0000

CLICK TO ENLARGE: There are many metrics to measure website performance. Core Web Vitals include 3 of the metrics, and we updated them for 2024 to include Interaction to Next Paint (INP).

Core Web Vitals made simple!

We get it, Core Web Vitals have weird names and acronyms. They’re confusing.

Plus, there are many additional metrics to measure website speed and usability, outside of Core Web Vitals.

And to add to that, Core Web Vitals are changing in 2024. Here, we simplify everything you need to know about these important metrics, and we show you how to check your own site.

Measuring your auto parts site’s speed

There are many metrics to measure the speed and usability of an auto parts and accessories website (or even a dealership site to sell cars). Core Web Vitals includes only three metrics, so these three are the most important to start with in this article. We cover some additional metrics farther down, scroll down to see more.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Translation: The user sees something useful as a website starts to load.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is simply the amount of time it takes for the largest piece of content on a webpage to become visible to the user.

This content could be an image, a video, or a block of text. LCP is important for user experience because it gives an idea of when the most significant part of the page is loaded and ready for the user to see and interact with. A faster LCP generally means a quicker and more enjoyable experience for website visitors. That’s why Google considers this to be important.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Translation: Things move on the page as other things load.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is simply how much things on a page move around as the page loads.

It quantifies the visual stability of a webpage. When you’re trying to read or interact with a page, it’s frustrating if buttons or text suddenly shift, leading to unintended clicks or confusion. That’s why Google considers this to be important. Usually CLS makes things on a page shift down, but things can shift left or right, too.

CLS helps assess and improve the user experience by measuring how stable the page layout as it loads. A lower CLS score generally means a more visually stable and user-friendly website.

First Input Delay (FID)

Translation: Users think they can interact, but can’t yet.

First Input Delay (FID) is simply how long it takes for a user to be able to interact with a website for the first time.

It specifically looks at the delay between a user’s first interaction, such as clicking a button or a link, and the website’s response to that action. FID helps assess the responsiveness of a website and is crucial for a positive user experience. A lower FID score generally means that users will experience less delay when trying to engage with a website, leading to a smoother and more satisfying interaction.

First Input Delay is being replaced in March 2024 with Interaction to Next Paint (below).

Interaction to Next Paint (INP)

Translation: The website responds to clicks quickly.

Interaction to Next Paint (INP) measures how quickly a website responds to a mouse click, pressing a key or a tap on a touchscreen. INP replaces First Input Delay in March 2024.

Interaction to Next Paint is a continuous measurement, while First Input Delay just measures the first interaction. Google likes INP because it measures how a user continues to interact with a site, not just the first interaction.

Important non-Core Web Vitals metrics made simple

At the beginning of this article we said there were many additional metrics to measure a website that are not part of Core Web Vitals. They’re still important to know.

Time to First Byte (TTFB)

Translation: server speed.

Time to First Byte is a measurement of how quickly a server responds to a new web page visitor and starts to load a page. That’s a bit of an oversimplification but to keep things simple, we’ll go with server response time. Note that it’s possible to get an artificially slower TTFB in a test. That’s because tools like PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix add their own latency to simulate the real world (scroll down and read about lab data vs. field data).

First Paint (FP)

Translation: I think I see something happening.

The First Paint metric measures the time it takes for you to notice something happening when you visit a web page.

First Contentful Paint (FCP)

Translation: I’m now sure something is happening.

First Contentful Paint is the first meaningful thing rendered on the page. It reassures the user that something is happening. This happens before Largest Contentful Paint.

Time to Interactive (TTI)

Translation: I can interact with this page and click on things.

Time to Interactive measures how quickly a user can click on buttons, links, forms, see the navigation menu or scroll.

DOM Content Loaded (DCL)

Translation: The page is done loading. For now.

DCL means the HTML part of your web page finishing loading and all JavaScript scripts have fired, including any scripts that may have been deferred. It doesn’t wait for images, asynchronous scripts, most css files or iframes.

Core Web Vitals checkers

There are several ways to measure the speed and usability/responsiveness of your website. There are specific metrics for site speed, they’re free to use and they’re all available four main ways through the Google ecosystem: Lighthouse Core Web Vitals, a tool that measures speed, SEO best practice and usability; Google Search Console, a tool that monitors your site’s performance, ranked keywords, organic clicks and impressions; Google’s PageSpeed Insights; and Google’s Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX for short), a tool that measures site speed and usability.

There are also a lot of non-Google tools to monitor Core Web Vitals including GTmetrix and WebPageTest.org.

The CrUX Dashboard is really handy because you can create your own report in Google LookerStudio.

Here are the differences with the four Google Core Web Vitals checkers (on a phone? scroll right):

Metric	Lighthouse	Google Search Console	Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX)	PageSpeed Insights
First Paint
First Contentful Paint
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
First Input Delay (FID)
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
Time to First Byte (TTFB)
DOM Content Loaded
Total Blocking Time (TBT)
Speed Index
HTTPS

Website usability metrics and Core Web Vitals 2023

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Important web usability metrics including Core Web Vitals, before Interaction to Next Paint (INP) replaces First Input Delay (FID).

This graphic shows the important metrics to measure site speed using the 2023 version of Core Web Vitals.

Google prefers the new Interaction to Next Paint (INP) metric, because it measures the responsiveness during a user’s entire time on a website. That’s why it is replacing First Input Delay (FID) in March 2024, which only measures the first time a website is able to respond.

Why are these web performance KPIs important?

Don’t take our word for it that web performance KPIs (key performance indicators) are important. Check out WPOstats.com if you aren’t convinced that web page metrics and Core Web Vitals are important. It’s full of case studies with before/after results showing improvements in conversion rate vs. improvements in site speed and performance.

Improving site speed and performance usually leads to a lower bounce rate and a better conversion rate. That’s backed up by countless studies, including our own, comparing conversion rate to site speed.

Are you web performance KPIs real? Field vs. lab data

OK, we showed you how to measure your site’s performance, and we showed you the important metrics to know. But if you run a test, how do you know the results are valid?

Great question!

There are two data sources to be aware of: field data and lab data.

Field data comes from thousands of real site visits to your website, by real users, on all pages, using a rolling 28 day average (assuming your site has visitors and isn’t new). The term “real user monitoring” or RUM is sometimes used, it’s the same thing.

Field data is stored in a massive, massive public dataset, pulling from millions of websites.

Lab data uses one test, on one page, in a controlled environment. Some of the sources for metrics in the table above use field data, some use lab data.

Here’s a comparison of data (on a phone? scroll right):

	Lighthouse	Google Search Console	Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX)	PageSpeed Insights	WebPageTest	GTmetrics
Data Source:	Lab data	Field data	Field data	Both	Lab data	Lab data

Field data is great for reviewing the overall performance of your auto parts and accessories website over time. It’s a great high-level point of view and it can show you overall trends.

Lab data is great for debugging specific pages.

PageSpeed Insights field data vs. lab data

It’s important to know, if you use Google’s PageSpeed insights, it reports both lab and field data. This is one of the most misunderstood thing about PageSpeed Insights, which looks like it is reporting lab data. When you run a page through PageSpeed Insights, the performance scores you see from 0 to 100 are using lab data. The Core Web Vitals stats come from field data.

We hope this article was helpful. Now, go test your website!

The post Core Web Vitals for Automotive Websites Simplified appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Shopify vs. BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce for Auto Parts

admin — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:30:35 +0000

Shopify vs. BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce for Auto Parts

In this article we do a comprehensive comparison of Shopify vs. BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce to sell auto parts and accessories.

In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, selecting the right automotive e-commerce software for your automotive parts and accessories business is crucial. With a plethora of options available, it is challenging to navigate through the myriad of features to find the perfect fit for your website. In this article, we compare four popular eCommerce platforms – Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) – focusing on their marketing and selling capabilities in the context of the automotive aftermarket industry.

Shopify for auto parts: the all-in-one solution

Shopify claims to be good at starting and scaling an online auto parts business. They cite advantages with inventory management and bulk product uploads, a smooth checkout process, and customer personalization. It is also designed to be used by eCommerce companies relying on dropshipping, which is very common in the aftermarket industry.

Some benefits of Shopify

Unlimited SKUs: All Shopify plans handle an unlimited number of SKUs but does have a limit of adding 1,000 new SKUs each day.

User-Friendly Interface: Shopify stands out for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for automotive retailers to set up and manage their online stores without the need for extensive technical expertise.

Inventory Management: Shopify lets you track in-stock products with built-in inventory management. It includes the option to sell or not sell out-of-stock products (although that option doesn’t apply to Shopify POS).

Extensive App Store: The Shopify App Store offers over 10,000 plugins and extensions, providing flexibility for automotive retailers to enhance their store’s functionality and cater to specific customer needs.

Mobile Responsiveness: With a growing number of users accessing online stores through mobile devices, Shopify ensures a seamless and responsive mobile shopping experience for automotive enthusiasts on the go.

If you need an automotive POS system for your brick and mortar store, Shopify has an option that integrates with their eCommerce platform, too.

Some disadvantages of Shopify

Transaction Fees: While Shopify offers various pricing plans, automotive retailers should be mindful of transaction fees for using a third-party payment provider, which can impact overall costs. It can range from 2.9% per transaction or 3.9% per American Express and international transactions, for Shopify Basic.

Customization Limitations: Although highly customizable, advanced customization options for your auto parts website may require familiarity with Liquid. That is Shopify’s proprietary language, and is potentially a challenge for automotive retailers with specific design requirements that require a programmer.

Table of Shopify costs:

Shopify Plan	Monthly Shopify Charge	Shopify Transaction Fee/Credit Card Fee	Notes
Shopify Basic	$39.00/month	2.9% + 30 cents online transaction (international and Amex slightly higher); 2.7% in person transaction	Basic reports included; Up to 1,000 inventory locations; Up to 77% shipping discount; 2 staff accounts
Shopify Regular	$105.00/month	2.6% + 30 cents online transaction (international and Amex slightly higher); 2.5% in person transaction	Professional reports included; Up to 1,000 inventory locations; Up to 88% shipping discount; 5 staff accounts
Shopify Advanced	$399.00/month	2.4% + 30 cents online transaction (international and Amex slightly higher); 2.4% in person transaction	Custom report builder included; Up to 1,000 inventory locations; Up to 88% shipping discount; 15 staff accounts
Shopify Plus	$2,000.00/month and up	Credit card fees vary by country; 0.15% for third-party payment processors; No fee if you use Shopify Payments	For high volume sellers

BigCommerce for auto parts: Scalability with built-in features

BigCommerce claims to be used by over 2,600 auto parts and accessories websites globally. Like Shopify, BigCommerce has plugins available to download, including several that are designed for year/make/model/engine search.

BigCommerce includes a business-to-business (B2B) option to include on a business-to-consumer (B2C) website, eliminating the need to develop a separate site.

The platform also has built-in integration with Feedonomics for product data.

Some advantages of BigCommerce

Scalability: BigCommerce is designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, offering robust scalability that allows automotive retailers to expand their product offerings without the need for a platform switch.

No Transaction Fees: BigCommerce does not charge a transaction fee if you use one of 65 standard payment gateways.

Built-In Features: With a comprehensive set of built-in features, BigCommerce minimizes the reliance on third-party apps for essential functionalities, including multi-channel selling and inventory management, catering to the diverse needs of automotive parts retailers.

Responsive Customer Support: Automotive retailers appreciate BigCommerce’s responsive customer support, ensuring timely assistance and issue resolution.

Some disadvantages of BigCommerce

Pricing Structure: Some users find BigCommerce’s pricing structure complex, with costs increasing as the business grows, especially with the Enterprise version. Smaller automotive businesses may find the initial investment relatively higher compared to other platforms.

Learning Curve: While user-friendly, there may be a learning curve for automotive retailers new to e-commerce, as they acquaint themselves with the platform’s features and settings.

Table of BigCommerce costs:

BigCommerce Plan	Monthly BigCommerce Charge	BigCommerce Transaction Fee/Credit Card Fee	Notes
BigCommerce Standard	$29.00/month (billed annually)	No transaction fees on leading gateways	Up to 3 storefronts; Integration with Amazon, eBay and Walmart; Unlimited staff accounts; Single page checkout; Built-in blog
BigCommerce Plus	$79.00/month (billed annually)	No transaction fees on leading gateways	Same plus up to 5 storefronts; abandoned cart saver; persistent cart; stored credit cards.
BigCommerce Pro	$299.00/month	No transaction fees on leading gateways	Same plus up to 8 storefronts; Google reviews; custom product filtering
BigCommerce Enterprise	$1,000.00/month and up	No transaction fees on leading gateways	For high volume sellers

WooCommerce: The store for WordPress

WooCommerce is the popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress, with about 4.5 million installations worldwide. “Woo,” as it’s known by a lot of developers, is technically free but that has a big asterisk: If you’re able to devote the time and resources to setting it up, great, otherwise it’s best to hire a developer. One of the big benefits of WooCommerce and WordPress is the myriad of plugins to add functionality. Some are free and some have an upfront cost or monthly/annual fee.

Benefits of WooCommerce

Good for Smaller Sites: Since customization is easier on WooCommerce, it’s usually a good choice for smaller auto parts websites.

Flexibility: As a WordPress plugin, WooCommerce provides unmatched flexibility for automotive retailers already using the WordPress content management system. It seamlessly integrates into existing websites, allowing for a cohesive online presence.

Cost-Effective: WooCommerce is an open-source platform, making it a cost-effective choice for automotive retailers on a budget. The base plugin is free, with the option to enhance functionality through various extensions.

Community Support: The large and active WooCommerce community ensures ample resources for troubleshooting and expanding the platform’s capabilities, providing a valuable support network for automotive parts retailers.

Disadvantages of WooCommerce

SKU considerations: While WooCommerce technically doesn’t have a SKU limit, adding a large number of SKUs can slow the site down. When you get up to 50,000 SKUs or more, look at Shopify, BigCommerce or Adobe Commerce. Still, we’ve worked with WooCommerce sites that have a high SKU count and using some clever programming and site hosting, the sites worked fine.

Technical Knowledge Required: While user-friendly, WooCommerce may not be as straightforward for automotive retailers new to eCommerce. Some technical knowledge of WordPress and web development can be beneficial. For auto parts and accessory sites managing their own product data, WooCommerce is easier to use than Shopify or BigCommerce.

Hosting Responsibility: Unlike Shopify or BigCommerce, WooCommerce users are responsible for their own hosting. This requires additional considerations and costs for reliable hosting services.

What does WooCommerce cost?

Well, actually, we don’t have a pricing table for WooCommerce, there are too many variables to consider. Some plugins are free, some aren’t; you have to factor your own hosting fees, and transaction fees through your own gateway. WooCommerce is an accessible platform to non-technical store owners, but you may still want to hire your own IT company to manage it.

Adobe Commerce: The power of open source

Adobe Commerce is the rebranded Magento platform. Adobe purchased Magento in 2018 for $1.7 billion and has rebranded it as Adobe Commerce. Keeping the old and new names straight can be daunting but we’ll lay it out for you.

And to make things a bit more complicated, a “Magento” product still exists, it’s Magento Open Source. It’s truly open source with a vibrant community of developers.

Benefits of using Adobe Commerce

One platform to manage your business: Adobe talks about a “single unified platform” with everything you need to run an eCommerce business.

Flexibility and Customization: Adobe Commerce is an open-source platform that provides a lot of flexibility for automotive parts retailers. It allows deep customization, catering to the unique needs and branding requirements of sellers in the automotive parts industry.

Scalability: Like BigCommerce and Shopify, Adobe Commerce is known for its scalability, making it a suitable choice for growing automotive businesses. The platform can handle increased traffic and product listings as retailers expand their offerings.

Advanced Features: Adobe Commerce comes with advanced features, making it suitable for automotive retailers looking for a robust platform with capabilities such as product bundling and advanced inventory management. Adobe Commerce handles B2B, B2C, inventory, personalization, just about anything you’d need.

Disadvantages of using Adobe Commerce

Reviews: Adobe Commerce tends to get lower reviews from users than Shopify, BigCommerce and WooCommerce.

Technical Expertise Required: While Adobe Commerce offers extensive customization, it requires a higher level of technical expertise and a knowledgeable developer. Automotive retailers might need assistance from developers for complex customizations and maintenance. Adobe Commerce is not a DIY platform. The world of Adobe is complex.

Cost of Hosting: Being a self-hosted solution, automotive retailers using Magento Open Source or Adobe Commerce need to consider the cost of hosting. This adds an additional layer of responsibility and potential expenses. The various editions of Adobe Commerce can get pricy and tend to be better for larger eCommerce sellers.

Magento and Adobe Commerce pricing table:

Adobe Commerce Plan	Monthly Adobe Charge	Adobe Transaction Fee/Credit Card Fee	Notes
Magento Open Source (previously Magento Community Edition)	Technically free, but plan on spending $500 to $2000/month depending on hosting, IT support, etc.	You set up your own credit card processing.	Yes, there’s still an option named “Magento.”
Adobe Commerce (previously Magento Commerce On-Premise and Magento Enterprise Edition)	$1,800 to $10,000/month depending on gross merchandise volume (GMV) and average order value (AOV)	2% to 4%	For high volume sellers
Adobe Commerce Pro (previously Magento Commerce On-Premise and Magento Enterprise Edition)	$1,800 to $10,000/month depending on gross merchandise volume (GMV) and average order value (AOV)	2% to 4%	For high volume sellers
Adobe Commerce Cloud (formerly Magento Commerce Cloud and Magento Enterprise Cloud Edition)	$3,500 to $18,000/month depending on gross merchandise volume (GMV) and average order value (AOV)	2% to 4%	For high volume sellers
Adobe Managed Services	$3,500 to $18,000/month or more depending on gross merchandise volume (GMV) and average order value (AOV)	2% to 4%	Platform as a Service (PaaS); For high volume sellers; Includes hosting services

Conclusion for your automotive eCommerce business

In the dynamic realm of automotive eCommerce, choosing the right automotive eCommerce software is a strategic decision that hinges on the specific needs and goals of each retailer. Any comparison of Shopify vs. BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce gets very complicated.

Shopify offers simplicity and a vast app store, BigCommerce excels in scalability and built-in features, WooCommerce offers the advantage of WordPress integration and cost-effectiveness, while Adobe Commerce provides unmatched flexibility and power.

For automotive parts and accessories retailers, considerations should extend beyond general eCommerce features to industry-specific needs. Features like advanced inventory management, compatibility with automotive data, and seamless integration with automotive marketplaces can play a pivotal role in enhancing the customer experience.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on the unique requirements, budget constraints, and growth plans of automotive retailers. We have a lot of experience with all four platforms and the best platform for you depends on what you need, where you are in terms of business growth, or your comfort level with technical complexity. There’s just no easy answer.

By carefully evaluating the pros and cons of each platform in the context of selling automotive parts and accessories, retailers can make an informed decision that aligns with their vision for online success.

The post Shopify vs. BigCommerce vs. WooCommerce vs. Adobe Commerce for Auto Parts appeared first on Hedges & Company..

What is “Aftermarket?” Is It A Unique Industry?

admin — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:19:13 +0000

What is “aftermarket” and is this actually a unique industry?

What is the automotive aftermarket? And is it actually unique among industries? We say it is all the time.

But is it?

We’ve compiled some compelling reasons to say the answer is “yes.” Here are some specific things that define what the automotive aftermarket is, and what makes the aftermarket unique among industries in the world.

What is the aftermarket?

The aftermarket definition is simple. It’s the auto industry’s after-sale market, and it includes vehicle parts and equipment, service repair shops, collision repair shops, replacement tires, and really, any parts and accessories, sold after the original vehicle.

Other than the fact that our industry obviously sells goods and services for vehicles, there are other things that stand out as unique.

Complex fitment requirements

The automotive parts world is full of products that have specific fitment and compatibility requirements. In fact, if you try to install an incorrect part it may result in mechanical failure. A part for a ’57 Chevy probably has no place on a 2023 Bronco. Maybe a generic floor mat but not much else.

The aftermarket’s fitment requirements even spurred the development of the ACES data standard for fitment (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard). The ACES standard covers over 60,000 combinations of year, make and model. But fitment can include other things, like bed length, four wheel drive vs. front wheel drive, pickup truck cab size, and many other requirements.

The aftermarket has a wide product range

The automotive aftermarket includes millions of part numbers. About ten years ago we came up with an estimate of six million part numbers. Today, with more imported parts, more private label parts, more “manupactured” parts, more complex technology used on vehicles, and because of parts proliferation in general, it’s probably more than twice that amount. Not many industries have 12 to 15 million part numbers to keep track of.

Not only do millions of new vehicles each year add to the growing list of part numbers, but vehicle age is a factor. For one thing, the average age of a vehicle on the road keeps getting older. For another, vintage and classic cars are a big deal in our industry. There’s still demand for parts that fit a Model T Ford, and some Model Ts are over 100 years old.

Technical specifications and knowledge requirements

The aftermarket is full of technical requirements and specifications. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), itself over 100 years old, has defined standards for just about anything you can think of for a vehicle. They have nearly 50,000 technical publications available for download covering things from designing snowmobile headlamps, to testing the upper temperature limit of elastomers used in cars.

That technical requirement carries over to professionals in the automotive aftermarket. Engineers and mechanics undergo rigorous training and testing in order to perform some types of work. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a non-profit organization conducting testing for automotive technicians. There are currently over 222,000 technicians holding some type of ASE certification, with an additional 68,000 students holding ASE Entry-Level certification.

The Do-It-Yourself car culture

We love our cars! The aftermarket is supported by millions of automotive enthusiasts to love to tinker and fix things. The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture is live and well, and was recently fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, that created an uptick in DIY activities.

Supporting the DIY culture are thousands of car clubs, websites, car shows and cruise-ins, and even books and movies.

Related to the DIY culture is the desire for customization. Enthusiasts like to personalize their vehicles to make them unique. This can take the form of custom paint, custom interiors, aftermarket tires/wheels, vehicle modifications to suspension or drivetrain, and many other things. Like the fashion industry, trends go in and out of style in the aftermarket. Last year’s rat rod may be this year’s restomod.

The aftermarket is huge

The aftermarket is so large, it’s a significant factor when calculating this nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 2026 there will be over 300,000 businesses in the US serving the auto care industry in some way, including stores that sell parts, car washes, tire dealers and convenience stores. That doesn’t count 130,000 new and used car dealers, adding up to over 430,000 consumer-facing businesses by 2026.

Add in distributors, wholesalers and manufacturers and it’s well over 540 million businesses.

All those businesses employ people, and the Auto Care Association has employment in the auto care industry at 4.8 million people. That’s a lot of folks paying taxes, supporting families and contributing to local economies. So, what is “aftermarket?” It’s a whole lot of businesses and people contributing to the economy!

Speaking of huge, the automotive aftermarket supports a massive trade show each year in Las Vegas. The SEMA Show and AAPEX are the 4th largest trade show in the US, and one of the largest in the world.

Aftermarket seasonal trends

The aftermarket has unique seasonality. Many industries have regular peak seasons but not the aftermarket. Many products have peak sales in March, April and May. Some products related to travel in cars, cruising, or general maintenance will peak in the summer. Many truck products related to hunting, fishing, camping or tailgating will peak in the fall. Towing products will sell well in the weeks leading up to Memorial Day and Labor Day. Collision repair products will sell well in the winter and after an ice storm. Winterizing products, batteries, snow tires and wiper fluid sell in the winter.

Technological advancements in the auto industry

The automotive industry constantly improves its technology (one reason the average age of cars is increasing). The aftermarket has to keep up with that new technology in order to supply products and services. Many times the aftermarket industry develops its own technology that ends up being used by OEM manufacturers.

The auto industry and the automotive aftermarket contribute to developments in electric power technology, artificial intelligence research, predictive maintenance, cybersecurity, innovations in manufacturing including 3D printing, recycling technology, emissions and environmental technology and too many more to list.

Regulatory compliance

Please don’t “roll coal.” Photo courtesy EPA.

The automotive aftermarket has to comply with many regulations. These cover diverse areas from emissions to safety.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates vehicle safety and under the DOT umbrella are departments like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Any parts that are governed by regulations have to be replaced by aftermarket parts that have also been tested and also comply with regulations.

Emissions is another big area of regulation. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate any part or function that creates emissions. OEMs and their suppliers have to comply with these regulations, as does any replacement aftermarket part that affects emissions.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article gave you insight when you wonder what is “aftermarket,” and whether the automotive aftermarket industry is actually unique.

We’d say it is definitely unique among industries on this planet.

What do you think? Did we leave something out? Let us know!

The post What is “Aftermarket?” Is It A Unique Industry? appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Amazon Listing Template for Auto Parts

admin — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:47:10 +0000

If you’re selling auto parts and accessories on Amazon and need an Amazon listing template, we’ve got your back. Use this template and you’ll be selling more parts on Amazon!

The Amazon marketplace is a highly competitive environment to sell automotive products, and is growing rapidly (just like automotive eCommerce is in general). Creating a compelling product listing needs captivating and well-organized content. It also needs to follow specific optimizations. This is to make sure your product listing gets good visibility and converts well.

How to sell auto parts on Amazon? Start by optimizing your title

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Here’s a representation of the Amazon product listing template showing the product title. This is an opportunity to optimize for Amazon SEO.

Crafting a compelling product title on your Amazon product page is critical to maximize visibility and to drive click-through rates. Amazon sets a 200-word limit for product titles, so use this space wisely.

Include important information in the Amazon title including the brand name, product type, color and key features relevant to your automotive product. It’s important to include the make and model of car or truck it fits (that is, if it’s not a universal product). If your product fits dozens or hundreds of combinations of year, make or model, then try to use the most popular examples or think of the broadest way to describe the fitment.

Here’s an example for including product type keywords: If you’re selling car seat covers, use keywords like “custom car seat covers,” “waterproof seat protectors,” and “luxury leather car seats” strategically in your product title.

Also avoid keyword stuffing. Avoid unnecessary fluff words to maximize search visibility. Don’t use HTML code or ALL CAPS. And don’t use the PIES file descriptions!

SEO for Amazon titles

The product title is where you start to optimize for “Amazon SEO” and take advantage of the Amazon A9 search algorithm. It isn’t nearly as sophisticated as Google’s but doesn’t need to be, either. If you’ve already experimented with Amazon’s autocomplete suggestions when you enter text, you already know the suggestions aren’t as expansive as Google. Amazon’s A9 is strictly for eCommerce and looks for relevant keywords in the product title and listing (it also factors in positive customer reviews, prices and historical sales volume).

Amazon Pro Tip: You can learn a lot about how Amazon A9 search works by conducting your own product searches and watching the autocomplete suggestions to help find the best keyword phrases.

A good strategy is to identify highly relevant and frequently searched keywords to enhance your listing’s ranking by using third-party search tools. There are a number of these tools available to help Amazon sellers optimize their listings.

Ahref’s free Keyword Generator or paid Keyword Explorer are two options that work with Amazon search. Jungle Scout’s Keyword Scout or Magnet by Helium 10 are other good options.

5 bullet points in your Amazon listing template

CLICK TO ENLARGE: One of the most important parts of your Amazon listing template are the bullet points. Use them wisely.

Your Amazon listing gets five bullet points under “About this item.” These show before the description, so they’re very important. Amazon gives you a total of 1,000 characters for all 5 bullet points so do your keyword research and plan ahead. Avoid adding prices or any other information that may change over time to your bullet points. Use phrases instead of grammatically-correct sentences and don’t use periods, question marks or exclamation marks.

Bullet point tips

Keep bullet points short
Most important or persuasive information at the top
Remaining bullet points in descending order of importance
Limit yourself to two sentences per bullet point, 1 or 2 lines
Capitalize the first word

See what we did there with bullet points? Short and to the point.

Also Amazon recommends using numerals (“3”) instead of spelling (“three”), don’t use symbols like “®” or “©” and avoid puffery like “most popular item.”

Also, abbreviations are common in PIES file descriptions. Don’t let these slip into your bullet points. These are common abbreviations that make sense to us in the aftermarket but not to a consumer. Look for things like “mrkr assy,” “Sbc,” “lng bd,” “w/o” and so on (actual abbreviations from PIES files).

Amazon Pro Tip: If there are bullet points already in the product’s PIES file, avoid the temptation to re-use them on your Amazon product listing!

Some research suggests to put important words in ALL CAPS. Other research says to avoid that. Test it for yourself and see what the results are.

Amazon’s research shows that bullet points increase product sales. It’s wise to follow Amazon’s own advice for your bullet points: they help you sell the most important key features and benefits of your product. Most importantly, your customers use them to understand your product’s distinguishing characteristics as they compare them to competing products.

Optimize your product descriptions

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Use the 2,000 character product description to give detailed information that separates your product from competitors.

Your automotive product description is the sales pitch. It’s your closing statement. It gives the customer more detailed information while highlighting the benefits of your offerings.

The description is where you gain the customer’s trust.

Give the customer information that distinguishes your product from the competition.

Automotive aftermarket enthusiasts do a lot of pre-purchase research before buying, so the product description is very important. The product description has a 2,000-character limit and is often overlooked by sellers when setting up their product listing.

It shows up after the customer learned enough from your bullet points to be interested in clicking the “See more product details” link.

Product descriptions: differences matter

Focus on the differences that matter most to your customer. For example, describe how your high-performance air filters improve engine efficiency and fuel economy better than your competition. If you’re selling car accessories, be comprehensive and accurate when describing your products’ features and functionality. Provide specifications such as compatibility with year, make or model, even though this will also be in the fitment data you upload to Amazon.

Amazon Pro Tip: Manufacturers and resellers tend to think in terms of product features. Customers tend to look for benefits and finding out what’s in it for them. “Made from stainless steel” is a feature. “Made from high-grade 316 stainless steel to resist corrosion” is a benefit because the customer knows the product won’t rust easily.

Accuracy is important with product descriptions. Don’t over-promise because that can lead to returns and bad reviews.

Avoid keyword stuffing in your description (and in bullet points and titles). Keyword stuffing is the unnatural repetition of keywords to try to rank higher in search results. The Amazon A9 search algorithm detects and penalizes keyword stuffing. Always distribute your keywords evenly throughout the description to maintain relevancy and improve your visibility.

If you do mention model year ranges in your descriptions, make a note on your calendar to review this in six to 12 months. You want to make sure a product that originally showed fitment covering “2021-2023” vehicles gets updated to “2021-2024” if needed.

Your product photos

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Amazon recommends 6 photos and 1 video.

Include multiple images showcasing your products and accessories listings. Use different angles, and if appropriate use “before and after” photos.

Use both product isolated photos as well as lifestyle imagery if appropriate. and use all available slots that Amazon provides.

Be sure to follow Amazon’s photography guidelines and specifications. Amazon requires 72 dots per inch (dpi) images that are .jpg or .jpeg, .gif, .png or .tiff, but definitely prefers .jpg.

If you use a third-party data provider for your ACES and PIES files your photos are probably already available.

Amazon likes large images that are a minimum 1,600 pixels wide or tall, so their photo zoom function works, but you can go as small as 500 x 500 or 1,000 x 1,000.

Amazon Pro Tip: It’s relatively simple to enhance photos for your listings in Photoshop. Just changing Brightness from 0 to 10 or 20, or Saturation from 0 to 10, can make a big difference. Just keep the color faithful to the actual product.

If you use Google Shopping you’re probably already familiar with Google image requirements for auto parts. It’s similar for Amazon images.

Amazon prefers six high-quality product images and one video.

If you don’t have high-end video editing capabilities that’s fine, try making a “glorified slide show” product highlight video from still photos, using zoom or pan functions. It’s easy to do, even with entry-level video editing software. Keep the final video at a 16:9 (1920 x 1080) aspect ratio, which is also a standard in entry-level video software. For higher-end products consider hiring a professional to create a lifestyle or product demonstration video.

Amazon suggests limiting video ads to 15 seconds and product video should be no longer than a minute.

Amazon product listing template wrap up

We hope this article gets you well on your way to successful Amazon listings for your auto parts and accessories.

There are a lot of other things to consider for product listings including search terms fields, product prices and reviews. We’ll cover those in a future article.

If you need help with your Amazon advertising, we’re an Amazon Ads Verified Partner agency specializing in the automotive aftermarket, and would love to have a conversation with you.

Good selling!

The post Amazon Listing Template for Auto Parts appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Amazon FBA vs FBM, and Amazon FBA Startup Costs

admin — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 19:22:00 +0000

We help you navigate Amazon Fulfilled by Merchant vs. Amazon FBA in this article as well as talk about Amazon FBA startup costs.

If you’re an auto parts or accessories seller on Amazon, FBA vs. FBM raises a lot of questions. Switching from Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM), or from a drop shipping model, over to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) can be a challenge. You need to consider your strategy and startup costs.

CLICK TO ENLARGE: The Amazon Buy Box.

Switching to Amazon FBA has benefits like reaching a larger customer base for your automotive parts and accessories.

It also gives you reliable shipping for your customers and a much better chance to win the coveted Amazon Buy Box.

Winning the Buy Box is a huge revenue benefit, since over 83% of sales made on Amazon are from products in the Buy Box!

Amazon FBA startup costs for auto parts and accessories

Amazon FBA vs. FBM: FBA stands for Fulfilled by Amazon, where Amazon stores and ships products. FBM stands for Fulfilled by Merchant, where a seller uses Amazon for a product listing but is responsible for warehousing and shipping.

Shifting from Amazon FBM to Amazon FBA has startup costs to consider and requires strategic planning.

To help you navigate through the Amazon maze, we reached out to the experts at Tromml. They specialize in making order reconciliation simple, preventing unnoticed losses and improving profits. Even better, Tromml has a lot of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry.

Many sellers believe that transitioning to Amazon FBA is an all-or-nothing approach. But that’s a myth.

It’s important to know you can choose what parts of your business to shift to FBA and what remains under your current FBM model. This is essential in the auto parts and accessories market, where sellers have a wide range of sizes, weights, and even regulations.

What is the Amazon Buy Box? The Buy Box is in the upper right corner of an Amazon product page, with the orange “Add to Cart” button. Below that are additional merchants listed under “Other Sellers On Amazon.” Over 80% of Amazon’s product sales come from products in the Buy Box.

Using a mixed-model approach to FBA has some distinct advantages. This is where some items are sold through FBM and others through FBA. This can be a more profitable and balanced strategy, according to the experts at Tromml.

To better illustrate this transition, let’s ride shotgun with “Tim,” a seasoned Amazon FBM auto parts seller. He’s getting ready for a pivot to Amazon FBA. He’s eager to tap into its benefits, but equally aware of the need for a well-planned roadmap.

CLICK TO ENLARGE: This infographic quickly shows the difference between Amazon FBA and FBM. With FBA the merchant is responsible to warehouse and ship the product to the customer.

Amazon FBA startup costs affected by the right parts

Starting on his Amazon FBA journey, Tim’s first task is deciding which parts of his extensive auto parts inventory to choose. He’s got everything from spark plugs to heavy car batteries in his product lineup. FBA startup costs depend on product size and weight, so he knows that transitioning larger items risk a heftier price tag.

To turbocharge his profits, he analyzes each product’s selling rate, profit margin under FBM, and projected sales growth on FBA. This analysis leads him to pick smaller, high-demand items like brake pads and air filters for launching his FBA venture.

List of costs on the transition from FBM to FBA

The initial investment in an FBA venture can vary widely across categories in the auto parts and accessories sector. Here are some statistics from a survey conducted by Jungle Scout:

18% of sellers began selling using FBA with an investment of $500 or less
12% of sellers began with $501–$1,000
15% of sellers launched with $1,001–$2,500
21% of sellers kicked off with $2,501–$5,000
13% of sellers began with $5,001–$10,000
22% of sellers initiated their journey with more than $10,000

Guided by these stats, Tim maps out his budget. Here are real-world examples of costs for auto parts sellers:

Initial inventory investment shipped to Amazon: $3,000
Shipping costs for sending inventory to Amazon’s warehouses: $600
Amazon FBA fees for storage and fulfillment: $1,200
Provision for Removal or Disposal Fees: $300
Preparation Costs to meet Amazon’s packaging and labeling guidelines: $200

Tim’s total startup cost revs up to approximately $5,300 with these estimates.

Breakdown of Amazon FBA startup costs

On the FBA roadway, Tim finds several recurring costs demanding regular attention, akin to routine maintenance for a vehicle.

Amazon Fulfillment Fees: These cover storage, picking, packing, and shipping costs. Tim’s costs here hinge on product size and weight.
Amazon Storage Fees: With his products parked in Amazon’s warehouses, Tim needs to factor in storage fees, which fluctuate seasonally.
Amazon Removal and Disposal Fees: When certain products don’t sell or become obsolete, Tim sets aside a budget for their removal or disposal.
Labeling and Preparation Costs: Amazon’s specific packaging and labeling rules lead to additional costs, including a $0.55 fee per item for barcode application.
Amazon Shipping Costs: Now, Amazon handles picking, packing and shipping, but these costs are bundled into Tim’s FBA fees, also calculated based on product size and weight.

So, what does it cost to sell FBA? There are two selling plans, Individual ($0.99 per item sold) and Professional ($39.99 per month). Generally, the Professional level is for selling more than 40 parts per month and will apply to most Amazon merchants selling auto parts.

There is also an Amazon referral fee of 12%, with a $0.30 minimum fee, for each item sold. Tires are 10%/$0.30 and tools are 15%/$0.30.

There is also an FBA fulfillment fee ranging from $3.22 for the smallest item, up to $158.49 plus $0.83 per pound above first 90 pounds. If you qualify for the “Small and Light” program the fulfillment fees drop to as low as $2.47 per item. Most automotive parts and accessories don’t tend to be small enough.

Then there are Amazon storage fees. From January through September these range from $0.87 per cubic foot for standard items, down to $0.56 per cubic foot for oversize. From October through December, Amazon’s busiest time, the fees are $2.40 per cubic foot for standard, and $1.40 per cubic foot for oversize.

There may be additional fees such as a refund administration fee or aged inventory surcharge not included in the $5,300 estimate.

Analyzing your Amazon profitability

Transitioning to Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) for auto parts sellers is a complex, yet rewarding endeavor, as highlighted by Tim’s experience.

Beyond factors like product weight and size, the folks at Tromml point out you should conduct a comprehensive profitability analysis. While Amazon FBA can boost sales volume of parts and accessories, it’s crucial to realize that this doesn’t necessarily mean greater profits for every SKU. Therefore, a detailed SKU profitability analysis is vital.

A profitability analysis helps Amazon sellers to identify the products that are best suited for FBA, those yielding the highest income, and those requiring reevaluation or adjustment.

In addition, keeping an eye on product movement within Amazon’s warehouses is crucial to avoid long-term storage fees and to confirm the effectiveness of FBA sales.

The journey of FBA transition isn’t linear. It is filled with opportunities that can lead to substantial gains in sales and profits when managed well. Navigating this competitive marketplace successfully requires a robust, data-driven approach. By continuously evaluating, adjusting, and making strategic decisions, sellers can effectively handle market complexities. This proactive methodology not only optimizes profitability for your Amazon store, but also uncovers the full growth potential of your entire auto parts business.

Additional Amazon resources to use:

Amazon guide to fulfillment: click here.

Amazon pricing: click here.

How FBA works: click here.

If you need an agency to help with advertising on Amazon, we’re an Amazon Ads Verified Partner agency, too. We can help you reach more auto parts and accessories buyers on this huge marketplace.

The post Amazon FBA vs FBM, and Amazon FBA Startup Costs appeared first on Hedges & Company..

Digital Influence on Auto Parts, Accessories and Replacement Tires

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 19:03:42 +0000

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Digital influence is everywhere and is projected at $177 billion in parts and accessories in 2023.

Digital influence on the automotive parts & accessories market will be at $177 billion in 2023 in the US. It’s projected at $200 billion in 2026 and $217.8 billion by 2028.

Note: scroll down to download a PDF of this article, no registration necessary.

Digital influence is the impact of digital media on retail sales, both online and offline. We’re all exposed to online ads, videos, social platforms, product reviews, and product information on marketplaces.¹

It even includes the quality and user experience (UX) of a brand’s own website, whether that brand sells direct or not.

Digital influence is everywhere

We all spend an average of six hours, and 37 minutes online.² Every. Single. Day. We check email, scroll through our social accounts and read up on subjects we enjoy. All that time online exposes us to a lot of non-stop brand information.

Digital Influence Definition: Creating change in opinions or behaviors based on exposure to online reviews, search engine results, social platforms postings, online videos, online brand messaging and other digital sources.

Shoppers buying big-ticket items spend a lot of time online researching products and brands before purchase, even if they buy in a brick-and-mortar retail store. Between 80% to 85% to 90% of consumers research products online before they buy.^3,4,5

The percentage grows steadily over time, too. The most recent surveys show 90% of consumers do pre-purchase research. Older surveys show 80%. Our own research from 2017 puts it at 85%.

The influence of the internet on the auto aftermarket

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Digital influence on auto parts and accessory sales was at $142 billion pre-pandemic and jumped 13% in 2020 with the explosion in eCommerce.

Here’s a graph showing the growth of digital influence from the pandemic through 2028.⁶ This covers the United States aftermarket/auto care industry, using US dollars.

Sales of influenced parts and accessories jumped 13% in 2020. That’s when consumers largely stayed and worked at home, and shopped online.

In 2020 eCommerce sales had a similar jump. Digital influence sales went up with eCommerce sales because 100% of online sales are impacted by the internet.

Influenced sales dropped back a bit in 2021 when more consumers returned to shopping in person. The internet has a slightly lower influence on brick-and-mortar sales. Then, influenced parts and accessories sales came back in 2022 and reached a new record at $169.6 billion. That’s because the aftermarket started out very strong in 2022, both for online sales and brick-and-mortar sales.

How we calculate influence

Buyer intent helps calculate digital influence. This includes do-it-yourself (DIY) and do-it-for-me (DIFM) sales.

DIY sales channels have an extremely high digital influence

We put DIY influence at 90% in the automotive aftermarket. In other words, 90% of products sold to DIY and enthusiast consumers come under the influence of the internet in some way. It also varies by sales channel. Buying parts through an online store or marketplace is at 100% because they’re online. Other DIY sales channels such as brick-and-mortar auto parts retailers are lower.

DIFM sales channels have lower levels of influence

Many service repair businesses don’t even discuss the brands of parts used to make a service repair or used for maintenance. That makes influence lower through many DIFM sales channels. That also explains the dip in influenced sales in 2021, as more consumers visited service repair businesses. Influence on retail sales for DIFM consumers ranges from near zero to very high.

Sales channel examples

Sales channels include parts and accessories stores; online retailers; viable marketplaces like Amazon or Walmart; hardware stores; tire dealers; and independent or chain service repair stores. All of these channels have a different ratio of DIY to DIFM sales and different amounts of digital influence.

Digital influence on DIY sales

CLICK TO ENLARGE: DIY parts and accessories sales have increased steadily following the strength of the DIY channel.

DIY parts and accessories sales have a much greater impact from digital, but lower total sales volume.

DIY sales got a boost during the pandemic as more people practiced social distancing in their garages or driveways. In 2020, many consumers returned to DIY activities or took up DIY for the first time. DIY remains strong today.

DIY sales influenced by digital jumped 10% in 2020 and 2021. It dropped to an 8% increase in 2022 and we project it growing between 3% and 5% each year through 2028.

Digital influence on DIY sales impacted $56.4 billion in parts and accessories in 2019. It will reach $75.8 billion in 2023, growing to $94 billion by 2028.

The influence of the internet on replacement tire sales

CLICK TO ENLARGE: We have digital influence affecting $30 billion in replacement tire sales in 2019, growing to $41 billion by 2028.

We separately looked at digital influence and replacement tire sales for passenger cars and light trucks. This isn’t included in the graphs above.

Influenced replacement tire sales dropped 9% in 2020. This was from a big drop in vehicle miles traveled (VMT)⁷ thanks to people staying at and working from home.

That rebounded in 2021 with a 37% increase.

Replacement tire sales are soft in 2022 per the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA). For 2022, they predict a 3.4% drop in passenger car replacement tires and a 2.4% drop in light truck replacement tires.⁸ Fewer tires sold means lower sales volume due to the influence of the internet.

Buying replacement tires is mostly a DIFM sales channel. Due to the high awareness of tire brands, there is a high level of influence on replacement tire sales through this channel.

Takeaways for brands and retailers

The influence of the internet is either passive (ads displayed to shoppers, seeing social postings, receiving a marketing email) or active (consumers intentionally looking for reviews or a website, receiving an abandoned shopping cart email). Passive involves high purchase-intent consumers (actively shopping and seeing ads) as well as low purchase-intent consumers (not actively shopping but still seeing ads or social postings). Active activities include looking for a brand’s website, looking at reviews, or doing product research on marketplaces or websites.

Activity on the internet is a daily habit for most consumers. Auto parts and accessories consumers are bombarded with information just about every minute spent online.

The lesson is this. To succeed in growing sales, either online or through brick-and-mortar stores, a brand or a retailer depends on the internet.

Download a PDF of this report

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Quoting this analysis

This article is copyrighted, but hey, it’s polite to share! This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. You may distribute or quote this article, with attribution to Hedges & Company and a link back to this article.

Note to the content folks at Statista. No, you may not copy this data and post it on your site behind a paywall.

Footnotes on sources:

¹ Brian Solis, The Rise of Digital Influence; https://www.slideshare.net/Altimeter/the-rise-of-digital-influence
² Simon Kemp, Digital 2022: October Global Statshot Report; https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-october-global-statshot
³ Study: 81% research online before making big purchases; https://chainstoreage.com/news/study-81-research-online-making-big-purchases
⁴ Brand Rated: “Nine out of ten customers read reviews before buying a product; https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/01/13/2366090/0/en/Brand-Rated-Nine-out-of-ten-customers-read-reviews-before-buying-a-product.html
⁵ Hedges & Company, Manufacturer-to-Consumer, Direct to Consumer (DTC) eCommerce On The Rise in Automotive Industry; https://hedgescompany.com/blog/2017/02/manufacturers-retool-marketing-for-todays-digital-consumer/
⁶ Hedges & Company, research based on industry sales data through all aftermarket sales channels
⁷ Roadway Vehicle-Miles Traveled (VMT) and VMT per Lane-Mile by Functional Class; https://www.bts.gov/content/roadway-vehicle-miles-traveled-vmt-and-vmt-lane-mile-functional-class
⁸ USTMA Predicts 400,000 Fewer Tires Shipped in 2022; https://www.moderntiredealer.com/articles/34105-ustma-predicts-400-000-fewer-tires-shipped-in-2022

The post Digital Influence on Auto Parts, Accessories and Replacement Tires appeared first on Hedges & Company..

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