According to a recent report by automotive research company IMR Inc., as of August 2022, more parts purchasers at independent repair shops reported knowing what brand was in the private label box (20.8 percent) compared to 2021 (19.6 percent), with purchasers at smaller shops (one to three bays) more likely to know what was in the private label box (22.6 percent) compared to larger shops with eight or more bays, where purchasers were less likely to know what was in the private label box (16.4 percent).
This year’s survey results showed that 40.8 percent of shops said that their first call supplier carried mostly private label parts with only a few national branded parts options, which is a decrease from the 2021 survey results, at 42.6 percent. Of that 40.8 percent, 19.1 percent said that they go to another supplier to purchase nationally branded parts, 10.3 percent said that they always or frequently do and 66.7 percent said that they occasionally do.
When shops were asked about the likelihood of switching their first call supplier if it changed to offer a majority of private label brands with limited national brands, only 6% of shops said that they definitely or very likely would switch, compared to 2021 survey results, where 15.2 percent of shops said that they definitely or very likely would make the switch. However, of the 59.2 percent of shops that said their first call supplier doesn’t have heavy private label branded categories, the number of those who would definitely/very likely switch rises to 8.8 percent, and another 13.5 percent say they would be likely to make a switch.
- 20.8 percent of parts purchasers at independent repair shops report knowing what brand is in the private label box, up from 19.6 percent in 2021
- 40.8 percent of shops said their first call supplier offers private label parts for most categories, with few nationally branded options
- 6 percent of shops said they would definitely/very likely change their first call supplier if they switched to offering mostly private label brands with limited national brand availability
Overall, more than half of shops surveyed reported that they occasionally go to another supplier for nationally branded parts (66.7 percent), while 17.9 percent rarely go to another supplier. 10.3 percent reported going to another supplier frequently and 0 percent reported always going to a different supplier for nationally branded parts.
The most recent Insights from IMR Inc. can be found here.
