Robust car and truck sales driving purchasing trends: average dealership analyzed sold accessories to over 50% of customers and generated 52.4% average gross profit margin

New Orleans, LA – January 25, 2014 - AddOnAuto (AOA) today released its annual Auto Accessories Trend Report that analyzes 2013 accessories sales data from dealerships across the country. The report highlights the accessories that were most popular with dealership customers in 2013, including the categories that had the most traction across different U.S. regions and the vehicle models that attracted the highest volume of accessories sales.

“Red hot truck sales, looser consumer wallets in a still fragile economy, and an increased vehicle ownership cycle impacted accessories trends in a year that saw a significant uptick in vehicle Protection Products,” said AddOnAuto President Sidney Haider.  “Meanwhile, the humble Floor Mat achieved the number one spot in sales volume for the second year in a row, generating enough profits for dealers to put it well ahead of other high priced and more glamorous competitors on the accessories shelf.”

According to the report, convenience, utility and protecting vehicle investment were overriding trends for 2013, all of which is reflected in the top 10 ranked accessories categories by volume, revenue and dealership profit: 

“While other accessories, including electronics, scored well - from Remote Starters to Body Side Moldings - the ascendance of the Floor Mat offers a valuable lesson to those dealers who shy away from accessories sales for fear of complex next-generation gadgets,” continued Haider. “It is not electronics, but the tried and true and practical aftermarket products that are winning the accessories game at dealerships – and dealerships who are embracing an accessories strategy are dramatically increasing their profits, generating, on average, about $475 a vehicle in accessories revenue.”

Trend Report Highlights:

• Volume:  Floor Mats were the most popular accessories for consumers in 2013 -- and they were not alone.  Protection Products (protection films, sprays and coatings for interior cloth and leather, etc.) continued their five-year rise almost to the top, taking the second spot in overall volume of products sold, up from the 6^th place a year ago. Alarm and Remote Starts gained in popularity, climbing from 4^th place to 3^rd place in 2013.

• Revenue: Protection Products overtook 2012’s leader, Paint Protection, to top the list. The increase in truck sales helped propel Tonneau Covers and Bed Caps from 9^th place in 2012 to 7^th place in 2013.And, as an indication of just how powerful the humble Floor Mat is:  in spite of their relatively low price point, Floor Mats volume was so high that they ranked 5^th in total dollars.

• Dealership Profits: Step Bars and Upholstery performed extremely well ranking 3^rd and 4^th for overall profits.  Body side moldings were also sold in such high numbers that they produced enough profits for the dealers to grab a position in the top 5 in profits for dealers. And the humble floor mat again did well, ranking as the 7^th most profit-making accessory category for dealers. Hitches, Dealer Packages and Window Tint retained their popularity from 2012 as they rounded out the top 10.

• Electronics: Alarms, Remote Starters & Recovery Devices outsold all other electronic products at the dealerships in 2013, with Back-up Cameras and Sensors coming in second. While Video products were less popular, compared to Backup Cameras and Sensors, they generated much higher revenue and profits for the dealerships. 

• Most Accessorized Models: Increased truck sales in 2013 had a major impact on the models that were most accessorized by consumers, the majority of which were in the light truck classification,  including the Chevrolet Equinox, Buick LaCrosse, Kia Sorrento, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler.

The 2014 AOA Auto Accessories Trend Report is based on sales data from a diverse sampling of 150 dealership who utilized AddOnAuto. They represent 24 brands and 5 regions across 30 states. Sales by these dealerships, in aggregate, are up over 10% year over year, with more than $63 million in accessories sold during the year 2013.

To view the full report, click here: http://www.addonautos.com/homepopup/aoa-trend-report-2014.html

Visit AddOnAuto at Booth #5315 at the 2014 NADA Convention and Expo

Attend Sidney Haider’s NADA Workshop,  “Market Beyond the Ordinary with Accessories,” presented at the New Orleans, LA Convention Center. The workshop will be presented on the following dates and times:

First Session                Friday, January 24 at 2:00 pm (Room 224)

Second Session           Saturday, January 25 at 10:30 am (Room 281-282)

Third Session              Sunday, January 26 at 3:30 pm (Room 281-282)

Sponsored by NADA University, the workshop is part of the NADA Parts track. Attendees will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis, and requires no additional registration.

About AddOnAuto
AddOnAuto (AOA) is an in-store accessories sales technology that helps dealerships effortlessly sell accessories within their dealership, and streamlines what was once a cumbersome, arduous (and unprofitable) task for dealers, producing significant results for hundreds of dealers across the country over the past 3 years. AOA has demonstrated that accessories sales are an excellent source of added – and diversified – dealer income: dealers using the AOA product average $475 in accessories sales per new vehicle sold, and closed over 50% of the customers who were presented with accessories, reaping an average gross profit of 52.4%.

CONTACT: mWEBB Communications for AddOnAuto, Melanie Webber, +1-949-307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com