Dorman Products, Inc. (formerly R&B, Inc.) was incorporated in Pennsylvania in October 1978. We are a supplier of automotive replacement parts and fasteners and service line products primarily for the automotive aftermarket. We market over 103,000 different automotive replacement parts (including brake parts), fasteners and service line products. Approximately 21% of our parts and 69% of our net sales consists of parts and fasteners that were original equipment dealer "exclusive" items at the time of their introduction. Original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts are those which were traditionally available to consumers only from original equipment manufacturers or salvage yards and include, among other parts, intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, oil cooler lines, window regulators, radiator fan assemblies, power steering pulleys and harmonic balancers. Fasteners include such items as oil drain plugs and wheel lug nuts. Approximately 90% of our products are sold under our brand names and the remainder is sold for resale under customers' private labels, other brands or in bulk. Our products are sold primarily in the United States through automotive aftermarket retailers (such as AutoZone, Advance Auto, and O'Reilly), national, regional and local warehouse distributors (such as Carquest and NAPA) and specialty markets and salvage yards. Through our Scan-Tech subsidiary, we are increasing our international distribution of automotive replacement parts, with sales into Europe, the Middle East and Asia. We are increasing distribution of automotive replacement parts in Canada through our Dorman Canada Business Unit.
The Automotive Aftermarket
The automotive replacement parts market is made up of two components: parts for passenger cars and light trucks, which accounted for sales of approximately $207.6 billion in 2009, and parts for medium and heavy duty trucks, which accounted for sales of approximately $69.5 billion in 2009. We currently market products primarily for passenger cars and light trucks.
Two distinct groups of end-users buy replacement automotive parts: (i) individual consumers, who purchase parts to perform "do-it-yourself" repairs on their own vehicles; and (ii) professional installers, which include automotive repair shops and the service departments of automobile dealers. The individual consumer market is typically supplied through retailers and through the retail arms of warehouse distributors. Automotive repair shops generally purchase parts through local independent parts wholesalers and through national warehouse distributors. Automobile dealer service departments generally obtain parts through the distribution systems of automobile manufacturers and specialized national and regional warehouse distributors.
The increasing complexity of automobiles and the number of different makes and models of automobiles have resulted in a significant increase in the number of products required to service the domestic and foreign automotive fleet. Accordingly, the number of parts required to be carried by retailers and wholesale distributors has increased substantially. The requirement to include more products in inventory and the significant consolidation among distributors of automotive replacement parts have in turn resulted in larger distributors.
Retailers and others who purchase aftermarket automotive repair and replacement parts for resale are constrained to a finite amount of space in which to display and stock products. Thus, the reputation for quality, customer service, and line profitability which a supplier enjoys is a significant factor in a purchaser's decision as to which product lines to carry in the limited space available. Further, because of the efficiencies achieved through the ability to order all or part of a complete line of products from one supplier (with possible volume discounts), as opposed to satisfying the same requirements through a variety of different sources, retailers and other purchasers of automotive parts seek to purchase products from fewer but stronger suppliers.
Brands and Products
We sell over 103,000 different automotive replacement parts, fasteners and service line products to meet a variety of needs. Our DORMAN® NEW SINCE 1918™ marketing campaign launched in 2005 repositioned our brands under a single corporate umbrella - DORMAN®. Our products are now sold under one of the seven DORMAN® sub-brands as follows:
DORMAN® OE Solutions ™ - Automotive replacement parts, such as intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, oil cooler lines, window regulators, harmonic balancers and radiator fan assemblies.
DORMAN® HELP! ® - Automotive replacement parts, including window handles, and switches, door hardware, interior trim parts, headlamp aiming screws and retainer rings, radiator parts, battery hold-down bolts and repair kits, valve train parts and power steering filler caps
DORMAN® AutoGrade™ - A line of application specific and general automotive hardware that is a necessary element to a complete repair. Product categories include body hardware, general automotive fasteners, oil drain plugs, and wheel hardware.
DORMAN® Conduct-Tite!® - A selection of electrical connectors, wire, tools, testers, and accessories.
DORMAN® FirstStop™ - Value priced technician quality brake and clutch program containing more than 8,500 SKU's.
DORMAN®
Pik-A-Nut® - A line of home hardware and home organization products specifically designed for retail merchandisers.
DORMAN® Scan-Tech® - Based in Stockholm, Sweden, DORMAN Scan-Tech sells a complete line of Volvo and Saab replacement parts throughout the world.
Product Development
Product development is central to our business. The development of a broad range of products, many of which are not conveniently or economically available elsewhere, has in part, enabled us to grow to our present size and is important to our future growth. In developing our products, our strategy has been to design and package parts so as to make them better and easier to install and/or use than the original parts they replace and to sell automotive parts for the broadest possible range of uses. Through careful evaluation, exacting design and precise tooling, we are frequently able to offer products which fit a broader range of makes and models than the original equipment parts they replace, such as an innovative neoprene replacement oil drain plug which fits not only a variety of Chevrolet models, but also Fords, Chryslers and a range of foreign makes and models. This assists retailers and other purchasers in maximizing the productivity of the limited space available for each class of part sold. Further, where possible, we improve our parts so they are better than the parts they replace. Thus, many of the our products are simpler to install or use, such as a replacement "split boot" for a constant velocity joint that can be installed without disassembling the joint itself and a replacement spare tire hold-down bolt that is longer and easier to thread than the original equipment bolt it replaced. In addition, we often package different items in complete kits to ease installation.
Ideas for expansion of our product lines arise through a variety of sources. We maintain an in-house product management staff that routinely generates ideas for new parts and expansion of existing lines. Further, we maintain an "800" telephone number and an Internet site for "New Product Suggestions" and receive, either directly or through our sales force, many ideas from our customers as to which types of presently unavailable parts the ultimate consumers are seeking.
Each new product idea is reviewed by our product management staff, as well as by members of the production, sales, finance, marketing, and administrative staffs. In determining whether to produce an individual part or a line of related parts, we consider the number of vehicles of a particular model to which the part may be applied, the potential for modifications which will allow the product to be used over a broad range of makes and models, the average age of the vehicles in which the part would be used and the failure rate of the part in question. In addition, we review patents and other intellectual property rights, if any, that may apply. This review process narrows the many new product suggestions down to those most likely to enhance our existing product lines or to support new product lines.