Sprint Auto Parts joins Autopro
Sprint Auto Parts started in Adelaide in 1984 and since then it has been a prominent brand in the local automotive spare parts scene.
Sprint Auto Parts is now taking the next step in its evolution by joining Australia’s largest independent automotive retail and spare parts brand Autopro.
Sprint and Autopro are both part of the Bapcor group of automotive companies that include Autobarn and Burson amongst others.
A decision was made to re-brand the Sprint stores into Autopro in line with the timing of the brand update being completed across all Autopro stores.
The rebrand of the Sprint Auto Parts stores to Autopro increases Autopro’s store numbers to 89 stores nationally, represented in most Australian states.
Autopro has a long history servicing automotive customers for more than 40 years and is a major automotive spare parts and accessories retailer with the largest number of franchised stores in the automotive aftermarket sector.
Sprint Auto Parts began as a single auto parts store in 1984 and subsequently grew into a state-based network of stores around South Australia.
In May 2016, the independently owned business was sold to Bapcor Limited, Asia Pacific’s leading provider of vehicle parts, accessories, equipment, service, and solutions.
The transition of the Sprint brand to Autopro was planned well in advance, and care was taken to keep the Sprint customers informed of the process, and ease into it over a 12-month period.
This transition included a combination of dual branded exterior livery with both Autopro and Sprint Auto Parts being used, as well as dual branded marketing including catalogues, TV and radio, while the full Autopro livery is rolled out across the Sprint network.
General Manager for Autopro David Barnden says, “the co-branding approach helped our Sprint customers get used to the idea that Sprint Auto Parts stores were becoming Autopro stores and were able to see that the great people and service that Sprint always offered were still a part of the offer under the Autopro banner.”
The Autopro brand is now very strongly represented in the South Australian market, and the new Autopro logo, livery, and marketing, together with access to exclusive Autopro ranges such as Chicane and Garage Tough tools and Rough Country 4X4 and touring accessories increases the product offer to our customers.
Coupled with the dual branding and new livery, several of the stores have undergone a total make-over including new fixtures, internal signage, and an ERP update.
This has made the Autopro offer in South Australia ground-zero for the roll-out of the new Autopro livery across the entire group with many existing Autopro franchisees embarking on re-fit and livery upgrade projects across the country.
Autopro is currently in a growth-phase and plans to open 50 new sites in regional locations across the country over the next five years.
“We currently have about 10 new store projects on the go at the moment that is keeping out network development crew very busy, and our Network Property Manager Paul Deylen is constantly looking for more regional sites,” Mr Barnden stated.
