Companies in the independent automotive aftermarket should seriously consider becoming a member of the ADF.
Former ADF President and director of FPS Distribution (part of Lookers plc) Terry Wainwright gave these forthright views on industry support for the Federation at one of the ADF's Conferences.
He tackled the question, "Why have an ADF and what does it do?" He quoted from the ADF objective statement:
In an extensive list he showed the breadth and depth of the ADF's contacts, the topics that had been tackled and other ADF activities which supported members' businesses.
He commented, "When people try to financially justify membership subscription with tangible benefits, the measure is most often "member" or "business services" which medium or large businesses will always do better for themselves, or don't really need. Often forgotten is this wider role, our prime purpose, the one I have tried to describe."
"No small, medium, or even large business or business organisation can fulfil this role successfully for themselves and that is the real value in the ADF. The ADF Board and Council recognise the need to continually improve upon what the federation does, particularly communications as considerable hard and relevant work goes on unsung and unreported."
He continued. "Come the day our Industry faces a real threat, every professional small, medium and large business or business organisation will want the "insurance" of being effectively represented. The ADF is the only body, dedicated to our sector that can achieve this. That cause deserves the support of the majority of professional businesses and business organisations operating in this sector. Yes it may be difficult to financially justify, yet for comparatively little outlay it's good business sense."
He concluded with an appeal to members. "If you are members please continue to be so, if not please think seriously of joining. If you know professional businesses who aren't, I would ask you to encourage them to join. Government and statutory bodies listen to respected, broad based opinion, the ADF provides that very platform and voice." Terry's clear and concise presentation of the need for the ADF won immediate and full support from delegates.
