| How to Build Your Business | Why It Works |
| Quality & Private Labels Products | Warehouse Showroom |
| A Phone Call Away | Letter from our President |
| Jim Parker, the President of FCI, was born
in Missoula, Montana and raised on a farm in central Missouri. He moved
to St. Joseph, Mo., in 1971 where he owned and operated a service station
for seven years. In 1976, Jim and his wife Beverley founded FCI. For over 20 years, Jim Parker, D/B/A FCI has been supplying wholesale auto parts to the professional repair center. FCI has built a reputation and customer base second-to-none in the automotive industry. The FCI efficient, service-oriented approach takes all of the effort and aggravation from the repair shop manager by maintaining an organized inventory. By using the "Inventory Management System," our national network of FCI Distributors keeps thousands of repair shops well-organized and stocked with the fast-moving auto parts that they use most often. Our products are produced by major manufacturers and privately labeled under our FCI brands and trademarks. Initially, the FCI Distributors install a beginning inventory of one or all of the following products-belts, brakes, ignition, filters or chemicals. The FCI Distributor then calls regularly on the various repair facilities and replaces the items they have used. Unlike most traditional wholesale companies who use the three-step distribution approach, FCI uses a two-step distribution program that reduces. The product does not have to go through numerous middlemen, each of whom collects a profit. Ours is a very simple system. Integral to FCI's way of doing business is our stocking procedures, marketing aids, custom-inventory short-lining and Inventory Management System. |
| Using the "FREE" FCI Inventory Management System, you or your employees can service your accounts regularly and accurately. You can create invoices for the products you sell and normally collect for these products at the same time. You should have very little account receivable, so this will help your cash flow. At the same time that you restock the inventory, you should also use this time to show your customers new products and specials you have to offer. |
| FCI offers a unique distribution system. Our way of doing business is like no other. Our Inventory Management System is very much in demand by the garage, which makes your job easy and fun. Normally when parts stores deliver automotive parts, they simply place them on the counter, the garage signs for the inventory and the delivery person leaves. It is then left up to the owner of the garage to put the inventory away, taking time that he usually does not have to give. The FCI short-lining helps you minimize your inventory and maximizes your inventory turns. Short-lining means when parts are similar, many times they can be used to cover more than one specific application. |
| There are numerous factors that cause our unique system to work for us when it won't work for the traditional market. According to the APAA (Auto Parts and Accessories Association), the average vehicle in the United States has steadily grown older; the average age is now 8.6 years old. Because of this fact, auto parts sales continued to increase to over $158 billion in 1998. Two-thirds of this amount, or over $103 billion, is attributed to the service repair segment of the industry. Most of the automotive aftermarket is handled in the traditional three-step distribution method through traditional warehouses and traditional parts stores. |
| Our unique system works better for the professional installer because they do not have to wait for the parts to be delivered. Other features that make our system unique are the quality and private label products. When we put an Inventory Management System together in a professional repair shop, it is critical that we have an exclusive brand so that our competition is not able to fill the repair shop's shelves between the times we are there to service them. This system protects your accounts and allows only you to service them. |
|
FCI Distributors' overhead is much less than in traditional marketing. While the FCI Distributor operates out of an inexpensive warehouse, the parts stores operate out of a very expensive retail location. |
| When parts stores purchase their product, they normally purchase their product from warehouses so their Gross Profit Margin will be less. Our prices are typically less than the parts stores and, at the same time, allow our FCI Distributor a good profitable margin. We are very price-competitive because of our factory-direct shipments. Only a small part of the parts store's business is designed for the professional repair center. Up to 95% of the parts store's business is designed for the walk-in retail customer. |
| Our "marks" are on all our packaging. We are committed to the quality and integrity of those brand names as products worthy enough to lead the market. Each product line is designed to benefit the professional installer with features that impress technicians and their customers alike. |
|
Thermal Gold
|
| The unique heat-shrink properties of Thermal Gold belts, along with their top-cord, bottom-cog construction and seamless manufacturing technology, assure both the repair shop and their customer of the finest quality belts. Our simple demonstration will prove our product's quality to the repair shop. |
|
CopperTop Brakes
|
| Copper transfers from the brake pad to the rotor surface and helps eliminate rotor surface roughness. Copper transfers heat into the mass of the rotor, brake pad and caliper. |
| The smoothing and lubricating effect of the copper reduces premature wear, flash heating, hot-spotting, and the slip-stick vibration which causes brake noise. Copper reduces oxidation on the rotor surface. Copper reduces brake dust, especially on the front wheels, caused by galling, rust and by abrasion of the rotor roughness. |
| CopperTop™ brakes are designed for the professional installer. This FCI patent pending product gives you a quality product, which solves many brake problems, and allows you to supply your customers with a product that is not available to the DIY market. |
|
Performance Max
|
| The FCI ignition line features an inventory of the most-used products. Our customers know Performance Max as a quality product. The Performance Max ignition is known for quality such as brass terminals on the distributor caps and mag wire for the spark plug wire sets. |
|
|
|
Micro Block
|
| Quality and one of the best manufacturers also mark FCI's filters. MicroBlock transmission filters are made by a major original equipment manufacturer. We also supply oil, air and fuel filters. |
|
Professional Chemicals
|
| Our line of professional chemicals has proven to be one of the most economical and effective automotive lines in the industry. We have simple demonstrations that show the differences in our chemicals. FCI chemicals were developed for the professional user. We have a program that will allow you to start with just some chemicals and add other products as you grow. |
|
The Warehouse
|
| FCI Distributors operate out of an inexpensive warehouse. FCI has suggestions for a complete line of racks and shelving for your inventory |
|
Adding More Product |
| You can use the "FREE" Inventory Management System to add other products such as hose clamps, wiper blades, bulbs, tire repair and additional numbers of belts, brake parts, filters and ignition parts. |
| FCI Distributors, use service vehicle of their choice. You can use a cargo van, step van or our specially designed Warehouse Showroom. The Showroom is outfitted to serve as both a service vehicle to carry inventory to restock your customers as well as a salesroom where you can make product demonstrations, view FCI videos and have private conversations with your customers. It is climate-controlled and equipped with lights and a computer so it can also serve as your office. The inside of this Showroom makes it easy to ask a few minutes of your customer's time to show him the educational tools and demonstrations, while outside it makes an impression of professionalism. |
| You are invited to receive training in St. Joseph, Mo., in order to learn about our products and service. We are willing to help you with bookkeeping and business management skills, product knowledge, and how to continue to expand and improve your business. |
| In St. Joseph, you will meet the folks that will be answering your questions and who will continue to support you. These folks will keep you informed, educated and motivated. Our unique Inventory Management System along with your sales ability will help your business grow. |
|
Dear Entrepreneur: Thank you for your interest in FCI and our Inventory Management System. We hope that this information has been helpful in selecting a supplier that can help you to grow your business and one that can be both enjoyable and profitable. |
| Unlike franchising, where you are required to conform to the business process dictated by the company, being an FCI Distributor means you are in charge of your own business in your own area. Your success is your own. |
| You're sales ability and the FCI Factory Direct shipping, the FCI Private Label, and the FCI Inventory Management System, will help you become more successful. We will help you learn new skills and refine present skills because when you are successful we are successful. |
| We thank you for expressing an interest in FCI and we sincerely want to help you to develop a way to improve your business. |
|
Sincerely, Jim Parker President, FCI Marketing, Inc. Home |