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Why ASBN Exists

For Our Industry

Our industry is in trouble.

Not because the work is harder — we’ve always adapted.
Not because the technology is changing — we’ve handled that too.

The real problem is this:

We lost our connection to the manufacturers.

And when that connection broke, everything downstream began to collapse.

When the Factory Field Reps Disappeared, We Lost More Than People

For decades, factory field reps were the lifeline between manufacturers and the repair industry.

They weren’t just “sales reps.”

They were the link to:

  • product knowledge

  • training

  • warranty support

  • technical updates

  • brand identity

  • shop relationships

  • loyalty built on trust

When that system disappeared, the industry didn’t just lose support…

We lost the glue that held the aftermarket together.

Internet Marketing Was Not a Replacement

Manufacturers tried to save money by shifting to internet marketing.

That might work in the consumer world.

But the automotive service industry is not a consumer world.

This is a commercial world built on:

  • relationships

  • confidence

  • trust

  • technical credibility

  • product support

  • availability of training

  • and real-world feedback

Instead of strengthening those relationships, we watched them fade.

And the result was predictable:

  • brand loyalty weakened

  • training disappeared

  • product knowledge dried up

  • support channels got thinner

  • the front line was left to fend for itself

The industry became vulnerable.

That Opened the Door to Foreign Infiltration

When brand loyalty collapses, the market doesn’t stay empty.

Something fills it.

Low-cost imports filled the gap.

And without factory reps, training, or strong manufacturer presence, it became easier than ever for offshore products to enter the supply chain and compete on one thing: Price — not quality, not trust, not long-term performance.

That isn’t competition.

That’s erosion.

Then Came the Tariff War

When the Trump tariff war hit, it changed everything.

For Canadian manufacturers, access to the U.S. market was no longer reliable.

The industry shifted from growth mode to survival mode.

And that impact didn’t just affect manufacturers.

It rippled through:

  • distributors

  • suppliers

  • repair shops

  • training systems

  • product availability

  • and long-term investment

COVID was bad.

But tariffs and instability created something worse:

A future that cannot be counted on.

So, Where Does That Leave Canada?

It leaves us with one urgent question:

Do we rebuild our industry relationships… or do we lose them permanently?

Because if the Canadian service and supply network weakens far enough, the damage won’t be temporary.

It will become the new normal.

And once market loyalty is gone, it doesn’t come back easily.

ASBN Is Not a Website. It’s a Recovery Strategy

ASBN exists because our industry needs something it no longer has:

A communication system that connects the entire aftermarket again.

  • Not marketing.

  • Not advertising.

  • Not “campaigns.”

  • Real communication.

  • Real collaboration.

A way to restore:

  • manufacturer connection

  • training delivery

  • product knowledge

  • trust-based supplier relationships

  • and loyalty built on proven support

What ASBN Brings to the Table

ASBN is designed to rebuild the missing links by creating a shared communication hub where:

Knowledge Can Be Shared

Good information doesn’t vanish in private conversations.

It becomes accessible to the industry.

Training Can Be Restored

Training doesn’t have to depend on field reps traveling across the country.

It can be delivered through the network — consistently and efficiently.

Suppliers and Shops Can Reconnect

Instead of disconnected marketing messages, suppliers can regain a direct relationship with the people who actually install and recommend products.

Manufacturers Can Rebuild Brand Presence

Not through consumer-style marketing, but through professional credibility:

  • education

  • technical support

  • product insight

  • field feedback

  • and visibility where it matters

But There’s One Question That Matters Most

Will we be in time?

Because the longer we wait, the more our industry weakens.

And once trust is lost, once support systems vanish, once offshore products become the default….we don’t get the old industry back.

We get something else.

Your Move

If you are part of the Canadian automotive aftermarket — manufacturer, supplier, distributor, shop owner, technician, trainer, or industry leader — ASBN is built for you.

This is not a side project.

This is the rebuild.

Membership is free.

Join ASBN and help restore the connections our industry depends on.

As Canadians, we don’t follow...... We Lead!

And when something critical is missing, we build it.

That’s why ASBN exists.