The Ask Patty Web site, at www.askpatty.com, that launched June 8, 2006, provides a safe place for women to get advice on car purchases, maintenance and other automotive-related topics online.
Aichlmayr is managing editor of Tire Review, a business publication read by more than 30,000 independent tire dealers in North America. Tire Review is dedicated to the success of tire dealers serving the passenger, commercial, agricultural, specialty and off-the-road tire markets.
She writes several feature articles for the monthly magazine as well as a regular column that focuses on business operations and management strategy. She also manages the Tire Review Web site.
During her eight-year career as a trade journalist, Aichlmayr has written for several publications in the manufacturing, supply chain, trucking, warehousing, distribution and real estate arenas. She graduated summa cum laude from Baldwin-Wallace College with a degree in English.
In her automotive advisory role, Aichlmayr will respond to questions from consumer women on automotive-related topics via the Web site. The Ask Patty interactive advice blog launched May 22, 2006.
“Knowing how to serve women customers is absolutely essential to the success of today’s tire dealer,” stated Aichlmayr. “Women represent a powerful force in the automotive industry, and their influence will only get stronger. Fully 65% of a typical tire dealer’s customer base is made up of women, yet most still report negative experiences when shopping for tires. That has to change for tire dealers to be successful in the long run.”
“Mary Aichlmayr has an understanding of the needs of women when it comes to a great buying experience in the automotive industry,” says Jody DeVere, president of Ask Patty. DeVere continues, “Her experience with Tire Review will be invaluable to women consumers who come to Ask Patty for answers about their vehicles and dealership interactions.” According to DeVere, Ask Patty provides the safe environment for women to get advice and information needed to feel empowered and confident when they go to their local dealership for car service, repairs, maintenance and to negotiate and purchase a new or used vehicle.
Peter Martin, CEO of AskPatty.com adds, “Adding Mary to our Automotive Expert Panel is a great step for Ask Patty. It will allow us to expand our knowledge base to cover even more information about tires and the aftermarket world of the automotive industry.”
Ask Patty provides women consumers an opportunity to send questions about car buying, selling, repair and maintenance to a panel of expert automotive women and is a safe online place to share and discuss their car buying experiences. Women can submit posts directly to the Ask Patty Web site by going to www.askpatty.com. The Ask Patty advisory panel of automotive expert women is headed up by Deborah Renshaw, professional NASCAR driver, and is comprised of women who hold various leadership positions in the automotive industry.
Women purchase more than 50% of all vehicles sold in the U.S. each year and influence 85% of the buying decisions, spending more than $80 billion. Yet, shopping for and buying a car can be a challenge for women who are first-time car buyers or for women who had a bad experience in the past with a car salesman or dealership.
Being properly armed with the right tools and training your dealerships can increase your share of the largest and fastest-growing demographic of new vehicle buyers in the U.S. – women consumers. The Ask Patty Certified Dealer program was designed specifically for car dealerships to attract, sell, retain and keep loyal women consumers.
AskPatty.com is a member and 2006 corporate sponsor of the Women’s Automotive Association International based in Detroit (www.waai.com), on the Women’s Board of the Car Care Council (www.carcare.org), a SEMA member (www.SEMA.org) and a member of the SEMA Business Women’s Networking Group.
