The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

AUTOMOTIVE Industrial Distributors (AID) yesterday said it had regained the momentum lost when fire destroyed its Wulff Road headquarters, as it comes off a record December performance where sales were up year-over-year by 8.6 per cent.

AID’s operations manager, Jason Watson, told Tribune Business the company was looking to add at least six employees, and possibly more, if business continues to improve throughout 2013.

Its Wulff Road site was completely destroyed by fire in June 2011, and Mr Watson said the company’s new $7 million headquarters was on schedule for an April 2013 opening.

“That store is around 45,000 square feet. We will have around 25,000 square feet of retail space,” he said.

“Everything is on target for opening in April. Business has been going pretty well. December 2011 was the best December we had, but December 2012 surpassed that previous mark by 8.6 per cent, a new record.

“If January numbers hold up, this will be the best January we ever had. There were a few months that were not so good, but basically we gained the momentum we lost from the fire.”

Following the fire, AID split its operations between a store at the Mall at Marathon and Mackey Street. “The Mackey Street location will be closed, but we will keep the Mall location open,” said Mr Watson.

“We are hiring right now. We are looking to hire at least six additional staff, but it really depends on how well business is going. The capacity of that store on Wulff Road will be much greater than what we had before, so it will depend on how quickly the customers change their habits and come to that store rather than the other locations.”

Mr Watson added: “Right now we have about 72 persons on staff. We are in the process of hiring, and as long as February continues the way January has been we would be looking to hire more staff at all of our locations.

“If that continues when we move into our new building, then we will continue to hire at that point as well. It all depends on how well business is going; that will determine how many more staff we add. If we do well in February as well, it’s possible we can match the highest sales total for a complete year this year. It’s very possible.”