Rousseau Communication is pleased to welcome Lisa Marchese as a key account manager, effective immediately.
Marchese brings 27 years of experience in the automotive industry to Rousseau and will be dealing mostly with corporate accounts.
Most recently, she was head of aftermarket sales at DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. “The Canadian automotive aftermarket is full of wonderful, knowledgeable people,” Marchese says. “I’m looking forward to maintaining business with this talented pool of individuals.”
Her extensive background in the industry and familiarity with issues will provide opportunities to develop growth within this market.
“Lisa brings a wealth of industry knowledge and relationships to Rousseau. Her contribution will be valuable to our expansion in several key areas.”
Isabelle Courteau, Publisher, Rousseau Communication
Market realities
According to Marchese, the market is hungry for Canadian-specific information.
It was one of the reasons why she is glad to be involved with Rousseau, whom she views as a strategic player in the industry.
“Rousseau has combined five segments of the industry into one portal and one publication, Autosphere Mag,” she says. “That’s not only innovative but reflective of market realities. Tire shops and collision facilities expanding to provide light service and repair is more and more popular.”
“The lines between a tire shop and mechanical and collision are blurring. It’s a sign of the times, and Rousseau is on top of it.”
Marchese also praises the quality of the work, which is timely, relevant, and reader-friendly. “Everyone can understand it, and the technical details are well presented.”
She observes that the aftermarket has done reasonably well during the pandemic. Having been considered an essential service was extremely important, as was the fact that consumers are relying on their cars more than ever.
“A key indicator for the aftermarket is kilometres driven,” says Marchese. “At first, the thought was that these numbers would be down by 30 to 40 percent year-over-year. But even though many consumers were not driving to work, they were travelling on day trips, to the cottage, and to avoid public transit. As a result, kilometres driven fell by less than 20 percent.”
Avoiding public transit Marchese believes is likely one of the main reasons why used car sales have increased significantly. Although consumer funds may be wanting during this difficult time, purchasing a second-hand vehicle is more of an affordable option.
Increased reliance on cars
“Work patterns are changing since employers are not expecting their staff to come into the office,” says Marchese.
“If people can work from home, employers can shed the big office and save on rent. That’s affecting suburban sprawl, with housing prices outside the GTA and further north going through the roof. But then you need a car. So there will be increased reliance on vehicle maintenance and repairs, which is good for the industry.”
It will be a time of change, but one that Marchese hopes will see mutual growth. “I’m honoured to be working with Rousseau, especially at this time,” she says.
“I’ve always had great respect for this organization, the platforms they provide, the support they offer with sponsorships, and other means. It’s a very promising opportunity.”