About Auto SKUS

Built by retail operators,
for the shelf.

The Auto SKUS Group represents brand manufacturers into the aisles of the major auto specialty outlets — and helps those retailers build category programs that actually sell through. Two audiences. One discipline.

Our Story

We started where the decisions get made — in the buyer's office.

The Auto SKUS Group was born from a frustration every automotive category buyer knows: too many vendors show up with catalogs. Not enough show up with category programs.

We set out to build a different kind of firm — one that represents brand manufacturers into retail the way a category-captain-grade supplier would. Planogram logic. Margin discipline. The sub-segment data the buyer was going to ask for, already assembled. And one that brings retailers category programs built around their line-review calendar, their GMROI targets, and their planogram constraints — not our catalog.

Today we serve two audiences through the same operator discipline: brands who need to sell into the auto specialty aisle, and retailers who want category partners they can trust.

Who We Serve

The shelf has two sides. We work both.

// For Brands

We represent brand manufacturers, private-label suppliers, and inventors with patented SKUs into every major auto specialty outlet. Commission-aligned. Small roster. Thirty years of direct buyer relationships. See how we rep →

// For Retailers

We partner with the largest retailers in North America to build automotive assortments that hit line-review targets, protect margin, and sell through on the shelf. See the retail channel →

How We Operate

Principles that show up in every buyer conversation.

// Buyer-First Thinking

Every conversation starts with your targets — category goals, margin floors, and planogram constraints — not our product list.

// Margin Discipline

If we can't hit the retailer's GMROI target at a shelf price the consumer will pay, we go back to engineering — not back to the buyer with a higher cost.

// Speed to Shelf

From concept to DC-ready in weeks, not quarters. Our sourcing and compliance teams run in parallel, not in series.

// No Surprises

EDI compliance, labeling requirements, testing certifications — all locked before the first PO, not scrambled after.

Leadership

Operators who've sat on both sides of the buyer table.

Two partners. Decades of combined experience in automotive retail, category management, and manufacturer-side go-to-market. We keep the team lean and the standards high.

Rick Stempien, Partner

Rick Stempien

Partner
LinkedIn

Rick has spent nearly 30 years on the supplier side of automotive retail. His career has been built entirely within the automotive parts and accessories industry, holding Vice President and SVP-level sales roles at marquee manufacturers including First Brands Group, Hopkins Manufacturing, Trico Products, and Holley Performance Products. Rick has deep expertise managing national retail accounts, developing channel strategies, and driving revenue growth across both OEM and aftermarket distribution networks. He is a recognized leader in translating manufacturer capabilities into retail shelf performance.

Chris Angell, Partner

Chris Angell

Partner
LinkedIn

Chris is a marketing and brand executive with extensive experience connecting manufacturers to retail buyers and consumers. His background includes hands-on retail channel work at Best Buy and Nokia/HERE, managing major accounts including Amazon, Costco, and Garmin. At ShopperTrak, a retail technology manufacturer, he led a global rebrand and top-of-funnel pipeline growth. He later spent 8+ years at Wiser Solutions, a retail intelligence platform serving consumer goods manufacturers, driving consistent pipeline and demand growth. Chris brings a rare blend of retail buyer knowledge, brand building, and manufacturer-side go-to-market expertise.

Get in Touch →
Frequently Asked

Questions about the firm and the partners.

Who founded The Auto SKUS Group?

The Auto SKUS Group was founded by Rick Stempien and Chris Angell — two automotive consumer-goods operators with complementary backgrounds. Rick has spent his career on the manufacturer-to-retail sales side; Chris has spent his career on the brand, marketing, and retail-intelligence side.

What is Rick Stempien's background?

Rick has spent nearly 30 years on the supplier side of automotive retail, holding Vice President and SVP-level sales roles at First Brands Group, Hopkins Manufacturing, Trico Products, and Holley Performance Products. He has deep expertise managing national retail accounts, developing channel strategies, and driving revenue across OEM and aftermarket networks.

What is Chris Angell's background?

Chris is a marketing and brand executive who has spent his career connecting manufacturers to retail buyers and consumers. His background includes retail-channel work at Best Buy and Nokia/HERE, managing major accounts including Amazon, Costco, and Garmin. At ShopperTrak, a retail technology manufacturer, he led a global rebrand and top-of-funnel pipeline growth. He spent 8+ years at Wiser Solutions, a retail intelligence platform serving consumer goods manufacturers.

What makes The Auto SKUS Group different from other automotive rep firms?

Three things. First, nearly 30 years of direct buyer relationships at every major auto specialty retailer — built through Rick Stempien's career on the supplier side of the aisle. Second, a small-roster rep model — we take on a limited number of brands per year so every SKU we represent gets attention. Third, category-captain-grade prep: we don't pitch, we bring the data the buyer was going to ask for, already assembled. See Brands for the full service.

Where is The Auto SKUS Group based?

The Auto SKUS Group is a U.S.-based automotive consumer-goods firm serving national and regional retail across the United States. Contact us at autoskus.com/contact or info@autoskus.com.

Work With Us

Ready to bring category thinking to your corner of the aisle?

Whether you're a brand trying to get onto the shelf or a retailer building a category program — the fit call is 30 minutes. Same standards for both sides.

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