SOURCE: 1-800 RADIATOR

June 20, 2006 12:35 ET

Former Repair Shop Owner Opens Massachusetts' Fourth 1-800 Radiator Outlet

Local Businessman Puts His Experience Towards Running a Parts Distribution Franchise

LAWRENCE, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- June 20, 2006 --Local entrepreneur Gordon Simpson opens the fourth 1-800 Radiator franchise in the state. His outlet is one of four franchise locations opening Monday across the country. Mr. Simpson's franchise will serve Lawrence and its surrounding communities.

1-800 Radiator is the nation's largest independent distributor of automotive cooling components. The company delivers cooling parts to the doorsteps of the businesses and individuals that replace them. 1-800 Radiator began to franchise two years ago, and has since opened 56 franchise locations. Each of these locations consists of a warehouse and a territory. These territories are the exclusive property of each franchisee, as a result, only a finite number of franchises are available in the United States. 1-800 Radiator projects that each of these territories will be sold within three years.

Gordon Simpson decided to open his franchise after spending years operating auto garages in the Lawrence area. Because of his history as a shop owner he knows exactly what his customers need and expect from a supplier. With the opening of his franchise on Monday, Simpson hopes to provide his customers with service that is "personalized and fast." Simpson wants his customers to know that he is ready to help them.

Since the franchises are owned by the people who operate them, the level of service is high. The owners of these locations have a vested interest in the happiness of their customers and in the welfare of the community. 1-800 Radiator provides these service-oriented businessmen with a support system that lets them buy parts at low prices and pass those savings on to the customer. The franchisees have access to the largest radiator inventory in the United States. In addition, each part has a lifetime warranty on both the part and the labor involved in its replacement. At Gordon Simpson's warehouse and the other franchise sites across the country 1-800 Radiator hopes to combine these big business buying incentives with old-fashioned customer service. The company believes that this combination will be the best for the customers, the franchisees and the company as an entity.

Gordon Simpson's 1-800 Radiator location opened just outside of Lawrence on Monday, June 19.

About 1-800 Radiator:

1-800 Radiator is an auto parts distribution franchise and the largest independent parts distributor in the nation. The 1-800 Radiator business model provides retail and wholesale customers with radiators delivered to their doorstep in a matter of hours at competitive pricing. They offer their services to retail customers through their online outlet, www.radiator.com, and through franchise locations across the country. To their franchisees, 1-800 Radiator provides unprecedented technological and practical support.

If you'd like to know more about 1-800 Radiator, or to schedule an interview with Ted Rippey, Director of Franchising call Ted Rippey at (707) 580-4548 or email him at Ted@1800radiator.com.