What's really happening in the automotive aftermarket right now? Mike Chung, senior director, market intelligence at the Auto Care Association. He digs into the data to reveal the trends that matter most to shop owners and auto parts distributors.

In this episode, held at AAPEX, we explore tariff impacts on parts supply, inflationary pressures on consumer purchasing, and a surprising shift in tire buying habits: why consumers are trading down to lower-tier brands and what that means for premium manufacturers' long-term customer loyalty. We also discuss delayed maintenance patterns, substitutionary product purchases, and what the data is forecasting for 2026.

If you're trying to understand your customers' behavior and make smarter business decisions, this conversation cuts through the noise and gets to what the numbers actually reveal about the health and direction of the industry.

In this episode, Aftermarket All-Access host Chris Jones speaks with Courtney Pedler, founder and CEO of Autology Data Management Group and Chair of the Automotive Content Professionals Network, about the unsung work that keeps the aftermarket running smoothly. Starting her career in Salt Lake City as a parts delivery driver, Pedler spent 25 years working in data and content management before launching her own business—discovering that the true backbone of the industry isn't flashy or glamorous, it's precise.

Pedler discusses the professionalization of the automotive aftermarket, the critical need to attract young people to the industry (not just as technicians, but across all career paths), and why "right to repair" legislation is essential for technician opportunity.

She also addresses the paradox of an increasingly skilled repair industry that needs to balance professional development with the gritty authenticity that defines blue-collar work. Whether you're a business owner, counter professional, or curious about the hidden infrastructure of modern automotive retail, this conversation reveals where the real work gets done.

In Episode 5 of our Endeavor 2 Discover series, Chris Messer, Executive Vice President of Endeavor Business Media's Transportation Group, is joined by Mike Jones, President and CEO of Discover Leadership, along with special guest Randy O'Connor, Principal President of D2D Development (and self-proclaimed Chief Outcome Officer).

Today's focus is on the power of focusing on the outcome—a foundational principle that transforms how leaders manage teams, relationships, and personal goals. When everyone is aligned on the same outcome, you're no longer wandering down any road; you're taking the one direct path to success.