Pollak Towing is Making Strides in RV Aftermarket Sector – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
Pollak Towing is a name most parts specialists are probably familiar with.
After all, the company has been around for more than 100 years conducting research and development and manufacturing different trailer connection components.
But Pollak, based in Long Island City, N.Y., might not be so well known as an aftermarket supplier.
Pollak made its name as a provider of OEM parts for most American pickup manufacturers and for large construction vehicles and off-road heavy equipment like bulldozers.
All the while, though, Pollak products have been available in bulk for RV back shops as replacement parts for vehicles coming in that are used for towing the RVs.
Now Pollak is making more of an effort to reach the aftermarket customer with its products and is working through distributors to increase its market presence with new point-of-purchase displays and deals to move the products from the back shop into the front-and-center of the parts and accessories store.
A newly developed plan-o-gram is designed to help dealers draw attention to the products, but Pollak Aftermarket Sales Manager Stephen Tacchi said it is important for dealers and customers to know there is nothing new or second-rate about the products.
“It’s not a new product. It’s a new product in the aftermarket, but it has been introduced and it is an OEM product on really literally millions of vehicles,” he said.
The aftermarket products are produced on the same lines as the OEM products and undergo the same rigorous testing to ensure quality.
The only difference is in the way the products are presented to the consumer.
“The average consumer goes under a vehicle that needs to replace the part and pulls off the connector and he looks at it on the back – it says Pollak,” Tacchi said. “So, he walks into the shop and says, ‘I need one of these.’ That’s the best of both worlds when you have someone come in and asking for a specific product.”
So far, Pollak’s visibility in stores is limited, but with the new marketing efforts, Tacchi said the Pollak intends for the plan-o-gram to help drive the retail business.
Aaron Shaffer, director of marketing services for Standard Motor Products – Pollak’s parent company – and his team developed the plan-o-gram to display 19 products and help consumers understand the use for each.
“We’re not the first people to build a program like this; other folks have done it for sure,” Shaffer said. “I think maybe an advantage of being not the first is that we were able to start from scratch and re=imagine the product offering.”
“What we’re trying to provide for the RV market is a package that is easy to read, easy to understand so you can find the part you need fast and the best on the market,” Tacchi said.
Included on that plan-o-gram offering are three of the most-popular items Pollak sells in its Pollak Pro series.
The Pollak Pro RV Trailer End Harness (10-117V) features a seven-blade, trailer-end RV plug with an 8-foot harness. The harness features a single-swipe design with an over-molded trailer end. A heavy-duty jacket protects wires from harsh environments, and non-rusting vinyl construction offers long-lasting durability. Each harness is wired to RV industry standards and designed for all RV and vocational electric brake trailer-tow applications. (Crosses to Pollak Aftermarket 14-227)
The Pollak ProFlex 7-Way Blade and 4-Way Flat Connector (7WB-182PF) features a 7- and 4-way molded design and non-rusting vinyl construction. ProFlex Connectors are designed to plug directly into the OEM wiring system or the Pollak 11-998 (4-foot U.S. car harness), and feature a flexible design that allows users to easily switch between trailers with different connectors. Each connector is wired to RV industry standards and includes a mounting bracket for easy installation.
The Pollak Pro 7-Way Blade RV-Style Socket (7WB-110V) is an OE replacement or for new applications, and plugs into the OE U.S. car harnesses or the Pollak 11-998 (4-foot U.S. car harness). It features a self-cleaning design, duel stainless steel spring, a seal in the lid, and heavy-duty four-hole mounting. Non-rusting vinyl construction offers long-lasting durability. Each Socket is wired to RV industry standards with a schematic on the lid. (Crosses to Pollak Aftermarket 11-893)
Anyone seeking more information about Pollak products can contact their distributor representative or visit http://PollakTowing.com.
