Our network connections

Why ASBN Exists

(For Our Suppliers)

The Canadian aftermarket is changing fast.

Not because the industry is shrinking — but because the connections that once held it together are breaking down.

And for suppliers, that breakdown is dangerous.

Because in the end, suppliers don’t survive on good intentions.

Suppliers survive by moving product.

That is reality.

But in today’s market, moving product without maintaining relationships is no longer sustainable.

ASBN exists because the supplier network — including product manufacturers — needs a better way to reconnect with the front line before the market shifts permanently.

Manufacturers Are Part of the Supplier Network

When people hear “supplier,” they often think of warehouses and distribution.

But manufacturers are suppliers too.

The entire chain is connected:

  • manufacturers

  • distributors

  • jobbers

  • service providers

  • tool and equipment suppliers

  • software providers

  • training organizations

And every part of that chain depends on one thing:

The confidence of the repair shop and the technician.

If the front line loses confidence, the supplier network loses ground.

The Real Problem Has Always Been Marketing to the Trade

Marketing in a commercial environment has always been difficult.

Because the repair industry doesn’t behave like consumers.

  • Shops don’t buy based on slogans.
  • Technicians don’t choose products based on branding.
  • And commercial loyalty isn’t built by advertising — it’s built by support.

For decades, the solution was simple:

Field reps.

Field reps weren’t just selling product.

They were building:

  • trust

  • relationships

  • training

  • product confidence

  • technical support

  • loyalty

They were the bridge between the manufacturer and the shop floor.

Then the Doors Closed

First, manufacturers reduced field coverage and replaced it with internet marketing.

That might work in the consumer world.

But it does not work in a commercial one.

Then Covid hit — and physical access to shops nearly disappeared.

And now U.S. tariffs and trade instability have made market survival even more urgent for Canadian manufacturers and suppliers.

The result is predictable:

  • fewer relationships

  • less training

  • weaker product knowledge

  • declining brand loyalty

  • more market vulnerability

And the market doesn’t stay empty.

Something fills it.

Suppliers Must Move Product to Survive

Let’s be honest.

The supplier's priority is survival.

Move product.

That’s the daily reality.

But the industry is learning something the hard way:

When suppliers lose relationships with shops, they lose more than service.

They lose retention.

They lose influence.

And eventually, they lose market share.

Because when loyalty disappears, the market becomes a race to the bottom — and offshore product wins by default.

Relationships Are Not Optional

Relationships may feel secondary.

They may feel like “service.”

But service is what protects the product line.

Service is what protects the brand.

Service is what keeps the customer when competitors show up with a lower price.

Relationships are not secondary.

They are survival — just on a longer timeline.

ASBN Exists to Restore What the Industry Lost

ASBN is not another advertising channel.

It’s not a consumer marketing platform.

And it’s not a replacement for distribution.

ASBN exists to restore the missing connection between suppliers and the people who actually decide what gets installed.

What ASBN Offers Suppliers

A Direct Communication Path to the Front Line

A place where suppliers can communicate with:

  • shop owners

  • technicians

  • fleet managers

  • decision makers

Not through consumer marketing…
but through professional engagement.

A Better Way to Deliver Product Knowledge

If field reps are reduced, then the industry needs another way to deliver:

  • product updates

  • technical knowledge

  • training content

  • support documentation

  • real-world tips

ASBN makes that possible.

Real Feedback From Real Shops

The most valuable information suppliers can receive is field feedback.

ASBN creates a place where feedback can be shared early — before a product problem becomes a reputation problem.

Visibility Based on Credibility, Not Just Advertising

Suppliers don’t need more clicks.

They need more confidence.

ASBN is built to let suppliers earn visibility through:

  • knowledge

  • support

  • responsiveness

  • professionalism

That is how loyalty is rebuilt.

This Is a Critical Window

If suppliers and manufacturers do not rebuild their connections now, the long-term outcome is clear:

  • loyalty continues to erode

  • support systems weaken further

  • offshore competition becomes the default

  • price becomes the only differentiator

That isn’t competition.

That is a market collapse.

Your Move

If you are a supplier — manufacturer, distributor, jobber, service provider, or industry partner — ASBN is your network too.

This is where the supplier community can rebuild what has been lost:

  • communication

  • credibility

  • training

  • trust

  • long-term loyalty

Membership is free.

Join ASBN and reconnect with the industry that depends on you.

As Canadians, we don’t follow. We lead.

And when something critical is missing, we build it.

That’s why ASBN exists.