Businessweek

AutoZone, Inc. operates as a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. As of August 25, 2012, the company operated 4,685 stores in the United States, including Puerto Rico, and 321 in Mexico. Each of its stores carries a product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products and sells through www.autozone.com. The company also has a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. As a part of the program, the company offers direct commercial sales through www.autozonepro.com. Through its hub stores, it offers a range of parts and products desired by professional technicians. The company has sales teams focused on national, regional, and public sector commercial accounts. The company sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through www.alldata.com and www.alldatadiy.com. It also provides specialty tools through its Loan-A-Tool program. Customers could borrow a specialty tool, such as a steering wheel puller, for which a do-it-yourself customer or a repair shop would have little or no use other than for a single job. AutoZoners also provide other free services, including check engine light readings where allowed by law, battery charging, the collection of used oil for recycling, and the testing of starters, alternators, batteries, sensors, and actuators. Merchandising The company sells its products by major category of items: Failure: The company's products in this category include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. Maintenance: The company's products in this category include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, and shoes and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluid; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Discretionary: The company's products in this category include air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax. Strategy The primary elements of the company’s business strategy include customer service; merchandising; pricing; brand marketing, such as advertising and promotions; and store design and visual merchandising. Trademarks and Patents The company has registered various service marks and trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark office, as well as in certain other countries. Its service marks include AutoZone and Get in the Zone; and trademarks include AutoZone, Duralast, Duralast Gold, Duralast Platinum, Valucraft, Econocraft, ALLDATA, Loan-A-Tool, and Z-net. History AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979.