The NPD Group, Inc. and Information Resources, Inc. Plan Alliance to Enhance Retail Sales Tracking Service for the U.S. Automotive Aftermarket
1 November 2000
The NPD Group, Inc. and Information Resources, Inc. Plan Alliance to Enhance Retail Sales Tracking Service for the U.S. Automotive Aftermarket
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. & CHICAGO--Nov. 1, 2000--The $250 billion automotive aftermarket industry, which maintains, repairs and accessorizes vehicles after they are sold to consumers, will soon have a new, comprehensive and leading edge point-of-sale (POS) tracking service thanks to a strategic alliance being formed by The NPD Group, Inc. and Information Resources, Inc. .
Under a proposed agreement, NPD and IRI will combine their resources and expertise to provide an enhanced Retail Sales Tracking Service designed to provide actionable information to retailers and manufacturers in the industry. This new alliance will focus on the participation of leading auto parts retailers and the integration of fresh data into their current POS services. NPD will take the lead in developing retailer relationships with auto parts retailers and creating the necessary systems to provide the much needed marketplace information. IRI will participate as a contributor in the design phases along with making available their vast array of analytical tools to retailers and manufacturers when the system is established.
"The future services developed through this alliance will provide the marketing information needed for both retailers and manufacturers to make better business decisions and boost overall industry performance," says Larry Moore, president of the Automotive Products Division of The NPD Group, Inc. "We believe this alliance and the services it will provide will play an important role in the continued growth of this industry."
"By combining NPD's industry expertise and focus with IRI's well known and well respected InfoScan tracking methodology, we will be able to provide the highest quality information the automotive aftermarket industry has ever seen," says Kim Feil, president of Worldwide Innovations at Information Resouces, Inc. "What's more, is that the information we will provide will be specifically targeted to the industry's requirements, filling a need that for too long has gone unmet."
About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is an international marketing information company headquartered in Port Washington, NY. Founded in 1953, the firm specializes in providing insight into consumer purchasing and behavior via both Internet-based and traditional research methodologies, including online and offline consumer panels and point-of-sale tracking.
NPD offers proprietary databases and research expertise in more than 20 industries, including apparel, automotive products, consumer electronics, cosmetics and fragrances, financial services, food, foodservice, footwear, housewares, information technology, interactive entertainment, new media, pharmaceuticals, toys, and more. The firm also offers a full range of analytical tools for ad hoc research. NPD is the developer of the revolutionary Web audience measurement technology now marketed by its successful spin-off Media Metrix, Inc. NPD has offices and affiliations in 36 countries, covering North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information on The NPD Group, visit http://www.npd.com.
About Information Resources, Inc.
Information Resources, Inc. is a leading provider of UPC scanned-based business solutions to the consumer packaged goods industry, offering services in the U.S., Europe and other international markets. The company supplies CPG manufacturers, retailers and brokers with information and analysis critical to their sales, marketing and supply chain operations. IRI provides services designed to deliver value through an enhanced understanding of the consumer to a majority of the Fortune 500 companies in the CPG industry.