Advance Auto Parts 2001 Annual Report Download - page 8

10 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS ANNUAL REPORT 2001
Customer service is at the heart of our
corporate culture. Our headquarters staff
listens to the real-world concerns that our
store personnel have, and make changes
that improve our service and operations.
For example, this year we opened our
Customer Contact Center, so that stores get
prompt attention to their questions. No
longer would they have to leave a message
and wait for a return call; now they speak
to a real person committed to giving them
an answer right now. So they can serve our
customers better right now.
Serving customers is what Discount
Auto Parts is all about. Discount Auto
Parts, which was acquired by us in
November 2001, has a similar people-first
philosophy (“First build the team, then the
team will build the business”).
Discount Auto Parts was founded in
1971 by Herman Fontaine and his sons
Denis and Peter, with a single 800-square-
foot store in Eloise, Florida. Since its
inception, Discount Auto Parts grew
under the Fontaine family leadership.
Today it’s the leader in the Florida market,
with 437 stores and approximately 6,000
team members.
Members of the Discount Auto Parts
team are excited about the joining the
Advance Auto Parts team, particularly
because of the added personal growth
opportunities. Also, the team members will
be able to say “Yes” to their customers
more often as Discount Auto Parts’ in-store
product selection will increase to as many
as 21,000 SKUs, with an additional
105,000 SKUs available through our PDQ®
distribution system.
Discount Auto Parts has always focused
on “Developing Customers for a Lifetime”
by providing those things that keep customers
coming back: superior customer service,
convenient and accessible locations, broad
product selection, and competitive pricing.
Since Florida is one of the fastest-
growing states in the country, and is third
in the nation in total number of cars and
light trucks registered, it is a strategic
market for future growth. We are proud to
be affiliated with Discount Auto Parts and
its dedicated employees. We’re confident
that they will prove to customers through-
out Florida that “The best part is our
people.”
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Anthony Weatherly,
Senior Vice President,
Store Operations - South
Don Lockard Jr.,
Senior Vice President,
Store Operations - West
Ken Wirth,
Senior Vice President,
Store Operations - Northeast
Conley Kyle,
Senior Vice President,
Store Operations - Midwest
Kurt Schumacher,
Senior Vice President, Store
Operations – Florida