A ribbon cutting for the grand opening of AutoValue

Grand opening for Auto Value parts store

By Dan Bechtold

Editor

AutoMate of Winner celebrated the grand opening of being an Auto Value parts store on July 21.

A ribbon cutting was held followed by a free lunch and a chance to register for lots of door prizes.

The Winner business is owned by Keith and Jane Moser and they will celebrate their 20^th anniversary next year.

In January 2020, the Mosers signed with Auto Value which is the warehouse supplier where they get their auto parts.  The warehouse is located in St. Cloud, Minn.

Jane Moser said Auto Value has more items that are accessible to them. She added they have more items for the retail customer, for that customer who wants to fix a car or truck on his own.

The auto parts they have available range from cash customer to semi truck and heavy duty truck supplies.

“We have access to a broader spectrum of parts and that is really nice for us,” said Moser.

Representatives from Auto Value came to Winner and did all new  shelving and redesigned the store.

Moser said they were invited to attend a trade show and met the third generation owner. Also they had a tour of the large warehouse.

Moser noted other items that are offered are all types of oil, windshield wiper blades, headlights plus standard parts for vehicles.

Moser said what is nice is if the warehouse is out of an item they can pull from another corporate store.

The Mosers purchased AutoMate in 2002. They purchased the business from Store Services Inc. (SSI).

Prior to SSI owning the business, it was owned by Tom Collins who called the business Motor Equip.

The store hours for AutoMate are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6  p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The business is closed on Sundays.

Many of the Auto Value parts stores located in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa, Montana, Michigan and Wyoming are affiliated with and supported by Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. (APH).

APH is a third generation family-owned aftermarket auto parts distributor and store based in St. Cloud.

APH and Auto Value are part of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, one of the largest auto parts distribution networks in the world.

Auto Value offers an aggressive marketing program that gives independent organizations the opportunity to identify with local and national program.