Pick-Ups Plus, Inc. operates as franchisor, wholesaler, retailer and installer of accessories for trucks and sports utility vehicles.
The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Auto Preservation, Inc., has operating centers in the Cincinnati market providing automotive dealerships in this market a single source solution for their new vehicle prep, environmental protection packages, pickup truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) accessories and detail and reconditioning sales and services. Additionall...
Pick-Ups Plus, Inc. operates as franchisor, wholesaler, retailer and installer of accessories for trucks and sports utility vehicles.
The company's wholly owned subsidiary, Auto Preservation, Inc., has operating centers in the Cincinnati market providing automotive dealerships in this market a single source solution for their new vehicle prep, environmental protection packages, pickup truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) accessories and detail and reconditioning sales and services. Additionally, the company began to offer licenses for individual territories for the ValuGard name and product outside greater Cincinnati. With two locations operating in the Cincinnati market, Auto Preservation processed approximately 15,000 vehicles for automotive dealerships in 2005.
The company has been operating under a franchising system and on the other hand, Auto Preservation has been signing-up ‘ValuGard’ centers under a licensing agreement. The typical Center features approximately 7,500 square feet of space, with 2,500 feet devoted to the retail showroom, 4,000 feet to the installations facility, and 1,000 feet for storage, common area, and office use. The Centers cater two market segments: the aftermarket consumer segment, and new and used vehicle purchasers segment through the automotive dealerships. In addition, by utilizing the ValuGard line of products, every Center has original equipment manufacturing (OEM) approval from nine car manufacturers.
The company operates franchise stores that are located in Texas, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois. Additionally, it has company-owned stores located in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.
Product Segments
The company's three primary product segments include restoration, personalization, and protection.
Restoration: The Centers offers local dealers customized drop ship programs, vehicle check-in services, new vehicle preparation, used car detailing and a line of reconditioning products. In addition, the Centers would provide various vehicle restoration products and services, including car detailing, glass repair and replacement, and micro paint repair.
Personalization (Accessories): The typical Center offers various merchandise to accessorize vehicle. Product categories include: grille accessories, custom tires/rims, window treatments, exhaust systems, fiberglass fender flares, floor mats, visors, headlight covers, pickup truck bed liners, caps and step bars.
Protection: The Centers has the distribution right to utilize the ValuGard warranty protection product line to offer local automotive dealerships and consumers both turnkey solutions or the product for their rust proofing, undercoating, paint sealant, and fabric/leather interior protection needs. In addition, the Centers offer clear film protection for headlights and fenders, vehicle alarms, global positioning system (GPS) tracking and mapping systems and in-vehicle wireless communication systems.
Suppliers
The company purchases its inventory from two major suppliers, Automotive International and Meyers Distributing.
Competition
Merchandise Competition: The company's franchisees compete against local auto parts stores, specialized truck accessory stores and national auto parts chains such as AutoZone, Pep Boys and Discount Auto Parts. It also identifies competition from retailers, such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Sears.
History
The company was founded in 1993 as Mr. Pickup Co. and changed its name to Pick-Ups Plus, Inc. in 1994.