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An increase in automotive do-it-yourself (DIY) activity is predicted, even as shifts are seen in the participation of different groups. While an upturn was noted in almost half of the activities perfomed by female DIYers, a 60% rise was also recorded among male DIYers. However, the 18 to 29-year-old age group were found to be doing more appearance and cosmetic tasks and less repair work than their elders. This generation is hoped to replace maturing DIYers who are scaling back on DIY activity and aftermarket purchases., DO-IT-YOURSELF activity represents an important part of a retailer's business. The shopping behaviors of DIYers, their buying patterns and the elements that go into their spending decisions affect retail operations. [...]

Insurance against getting stranded with a flat should make this a category that's easy to sell. Of course, there are spare tires, but how easy is it to change a [...]

With the popularity of trucks, vans and SUVs, it's hard to ignore running boards as prime products to sell. They're practical as anyone climbing into a van or SUV can [...]

As one might expect, this category appeals to enthusiasts who want to cool down the interiors of their vehicles with a touch of style. In recent years this segment has [...]

An engine's cooling system removes excess heat from the engine, to keep the engine operating at its most efficient temperature, and to get the engine up to the correct temperature [...]

With the cost of today's cars and the easy-to-use waxes and polishes available to help keep them looking new, one would think car owners wouldn't think twice about buying and [...]

There is evidence that do-it-yourselfers may be at a critical point in their approach to DIY automotive activity. The results of Home & Auto's 11th Annual DIY Survey indicate a [...]

With a passenger car population averaging a shade over 7 years of aged, do-it-opting to keep mechanical and electrical systems at optimum performance levels at the expense of keeping up [...]

U.S. do-it-yourself auto repair has picked up following 1982's decline. Japanese do-it-yourself activity is still difficult to document.

Home and Auto's annual survey gives painstaking automotive and related do-it-yourself retail-sales statistics in appearance-convenience and safety-security accessories, body-care accessories, body parts, brake systems, chemicals, climate-control and electrical equipment, engine parts, exhaust,fuel, ignition, and lighting-system parts, oil and lubricants, performance items, power-train and service-test equipment and supplies, sound, steering and suspension equipment, tires and wheels, tools, van, light truck parts and accessories, and non-automotive products (lawn-garden, motorcycles, -scooters, mopeds, RV's, snowmobiles, bicycles, and tricycles).

200,000 questionnaires went to 33 retail automotive chains in 4 countries. 23 of 29 activity-categories saw lessened do-it-yourself activity from a year ago; average decline, 2.2%. The 5 categories showing increased activity (cruise-control, batteries, CB & accessories, in-dash sound, and waxing & polishing) gained an average of 2.3%.

Most automotive jobbers enjoy the increased profits from do-it-yourself walk-in clientele; a minority, especially large concerns, prefer traditional customers and deplore DIYers, who still buy more and more hard parts despite recessionary falloff in walk-in sales.

The need to educate do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts in spark plug replacement is underscored by the results of the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine. According to the survey, DIY replacement of spark plugs fell to 68% within the past 12 months, compared to 73% in 1993. Among beginning DIYers, only 37% said they replaced spark plugs during the period., THE HEART OF ANY DIY work can usually be called the changing of the plugs. It is essential in any tune-up and is on the lips of any true-blue DIYer. [...]

DIY ACTIVITY UP, BUT MOST CATEGORIES FALL ONE YEAR AGO, the story of Aftermarket Business' annual DIY Survey was that 'automotive DIY work is making a comeback.' What a difference [...]

Overcoming A Difficult Year How difficult a year was 1990 for retail chains selling automotive aftermarket products and services? The results of Aftermarket Business' 17th annual Car Care Center Study [...]

More do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts installed transmission/engine oil coolers within the past 12 months, compared to the previous year's level, as gleaned from the results of the 20th DIY annual survey by Aftermarket Business magazine. Thirty-three percent of those polled installed transmission/engine oil coolers during the period, up from 28% in 1993. Expert DIYers showed a higher participation rate, posting a 22% increase., WE'VE SEEN an increase in participation for the installation of transmission/engine oil coolers as compared to last year. Thirty-three percent of the respondents indicated installation of transmission/engine oil coolers within [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) use of tire care products logged a 6% decrease within the past 12 months, according to the results of the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine. However, a 6% increase in participation level was noted among expert DIYers during the period. Retailers are urged to educate consumers about the difference between tire care and other products not only to augment sales but also to increase DIY participation., USE OF TIRE CARE products experienced a decrease in DIY participation according to this year's respondents. Although a six percent decrease was seen, this year's expert DIYers indicated a six [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) replacement of wiper blades dropped by 4% from 69% in 1993 to 65% within the past 12 months. This was gleaned from the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine. A five-year trend in DIY activity in this category shows a decreasing level of participation. From 83% in 1990, this dropped to 73% in 1991 and fell further to 71% in 1992. Participation among the three skill levels, beginners, experienced and expert DIYers, also declined., REPLACING WIPER BLADES experienced a four percent decline over last year's level. As we review previous years' findings, we see a definite downward trend. We feel this is due to [...]

Some 24% of do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts have installed window tint within the past 12 months, according to the results of the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine. The figure is 6% higher than the 18% average DIY window tint installation level in 1993. DIY activity in this category among expert DIYers was placed at 54%, among experienced DIYers 24% and among beginning DIYers, 14%. Majority of age groups showed an upturn in DIY activity, with the 18 to 25-year-old bracket registering the largest increase of 6%., THE AVERAGE participation for all DIYers who have installed window tint is 24 percent. With a six percent increase over last year's figures, we can view with optimism where DIY [...]

Waxing and polishing are do-it-yourself (DIY) activities considered easy by consumers, judging from the results of the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine. Seventy-six of the respondents have applied wax or polish to their vehicle within the last 12 months, with the participation rate among beginners the same as that among experts. However, DIY participation in this category has been steadily declining for the past five years., CONSUMERS FIND waxing and polishing an activity they can do by themselves. Seventy-six percent of all these who responded to the survey have applied wax or polish to their vehicle [...]

Customized seat covers are emerging as the latest trend in the seat cover sector. Since the market for customized seat covers remains largely untapped, automobile supplies retailers can focus on this niche. According to the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine, do-it-yourself installation of seat covers rose to 39% within the past 12 months, compared with 27% in 1993., Looking and feeling good are the end result of seat covers. They are not only functional, but ornamental as well. There is a wide variety of styles, fabrics and colors [...]

Battery charger do-it-yourself (DIY) activity is predicted to show a steady uptrend, as gleaned from a survey of DIY participation in the last 12 months. All age groups registered a rise in DIY activity, with the 46-55 year-old DIYers logging the biggest increase of 13%. While more male DIYers were found to use battery chargers than females, the participation percentage of women is uncommonly high., THE PERCENTAGE of DIYers using battery chargers is very high. Sixty-three percent of the total respondents said they have used a battery charger in the past twelve months. And that [...]

Automobile supplies retailers must emphasize the ease of replacing antifreezes/coolants to bring in more sales. The continued rise in DIY replacement of antifreeze/coolant is attributed to the ease of the task. A recent survey showed that 64% of 2,500 consumers polled had replaced antifree/coolant in a vehicle in the last 12 months. A large 49% indicated that they performed the task for a friend, relative or neighbor., DIY REPLACEMENT of antifreeze/coolant experienced another strong year. Out of the more than 2,500 consumers surveyed at automotive parts stores across the country, 64 percent indicated they had replaced antifreeze/coolant [...]

Time and environmental factors are behind the decline in do-it-yourself (DIY) replacement of motor oil. According to results of the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine, only 78% of respondents had replaced motor oil themselves within the past 12 months, as against 86% in 1993 and 87% in 1992. More DIYers are resorting to quick lubes for oil changes and facing the problem of used motor oil disposal., REPLACEMENT OF MOTOR oil appears to have experienced a drop when compared with previous years' studies. The decrease may be attributed to this year's sampling. Let us watch future studies [...]

Twenty-percent of respondents installed a mechanical security device in their vehicles within the past 12 months, according to the results of the 20th DIY annual survey undertaken by Aftermarket Business magazine. This is an increase from 18% in 1993 and 14% in 1992. The increase in DIY participation is attributed to ease of installation and the growing awareness of the need for more protection for vehicles., THE FEAR OF LOSING what we own is a primary motivator for purchasing vehicle security devices. Con-sumers purchase the products for two reasons: 1) to prevent theft of the vehicle [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) replacement of headlamps increased for the third straight year, according to results of the 20th DIY annual survey conducted by Aftermarket Business magazine. From a constant 58% in 1992 and 1993, the task was performed by 60% of DIYers within the past 12 months. Expert DIYers logged the highest participation rate of 85%, followed by experienced DIYers with 68%. Beginner DIYers recorded a 35% participation., MORE THAN HALF of the DIYers surveyed said they had no trouble replacing headlamps, historically one of the easier DIY tasks. It is one of the staples of the replacement [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) installation of floor mats in vehicles rose anew, as gleaned from the 1994 DIY survey conducted by Aftermarket Business magazine. From 38% in 1993, DIY installation of floor mats increased to 50% within the past 12 months. Thirty-three of those polled also indicated that they either installed or helped choose mats for friends, relatives or neighbors during the period., IN OUR SURVEY, 50 percent of the respondents had installed floor mats in the past 12 months. A breakdown shows that 41 percent of the beginning DIYers had installed floor [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) installation of electronic security products grew in 1994, according to the 20th DIY annual survey conducted by Aftermarket Business magazine. Twenty-percent of those polled said they had installed such a security system within the past 12 months, an increase from only 17% IN 1993. Among the three DIY skill levels, expert DIYers indicated the largest increase in installation activity, with 52%., DIY INSTALLATION of electronic security products has experienced a DIY growth trend. Twenty percent of the respondents indicated they had installed an electronic security system within the past twelve months. [...]

Use of hand cleaners among do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts recorded an upswing for the third consecutive year, as indicated by the results of the 20th DIY annual survey of Aftermarket Business magazine. From 57% in 1992 and 63% in 1993, use of hand cleaners by DIYers inched up anew to 65% within the past 12 months. All categories, whether by occupation, age or gender, posted increased levels of DIY hand use activity., USE OF HAND CLEANERS by our DIY respondents increased for the third straight year. Sixty-five percent of all those answering the survey indicated they had used hand cleaners during the [...]

A marked drop in do-it-yourself replacement of oil, fuel and air filters was noted in the results of the 20th DIY annual survey of the Aftermarket Business magazine. Only 74% of the respondents indicated that they had replaced a filter within the last 12 months, compared with 83% in 1993, 81% in 1992 and 84% in 1991. The downturn in filter replacement may be due to factors such as time and government regulation., THE DIY PARTICIPATION level for replacement of filters--oil, fuel and air--is lower among this year's respondents than in previous years' studies. Seventy-four percent of the respondents in this year's survey [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) engine treatment activity dropped slightly within the past 12 months, according to the 20th DIY annual survey undertaken by Aftermarket Business magazine. In terms of level of experience, the biggest increase was logged by expert DIYers as 61% had used engine treatment during the period. Among the experienced DIYers, 44% used engine treatment, while only 22% of beginner DIYers performed the task., THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT of the respondents used engine treatment in the past 12 months. When the category is broken down by levels of experience, 61 percent of the expert level has [...]

Do-it-yourself (DIY) usage of car wash products rose to 66% within the past 12 months, up from 63% in 1993. An increase was noted among all age categories, with the over-65 year-old DIYers logging the biggest growth of 20%. All three DIY skill levels, the beginners, the experienced DIYers and the experts, also posted an upturn, with the latter recording the largest increase of 10%. Car wash products include powder/liquid soaps, sponges, towel, wash gloves/mitts, buckets/pails, squeegees and chamois., USE OF CAR wash products has universal appeal among DIYers, and this year's respondents are no exception. The category can include a number of products related to the car wash [...]

Automobile supplies retailers can push the sales of do-it-yourself (DIY) books by establishing a learning center in their retail outlets. DIY books are the primary source of repair assistance of DIYers, according to the 20th DIY annual survey conducted by Aftermarket Business magazine. Of the three DIY experience levels, expert DIYers were found to turn to DIY books most, with 43% of them consulting repair manuals., THE NEED FOR DIY books or repair manuals remains constant as vehicle technology evolves. As new vehicle models with new components are introduced, the quest to find repair knowledge begins. [...]