November 4, 2019, 8:00 a.m. Auch wakes up to the first cool morning air typical of fall. The residents of Auscites go about their daily routines, but at the 116 Avenue de la Grande Armée, the excitement is palpable—the big day has arrived. For some time now, this former warehouse—well-known to many locals—has been gradually coming back to life. The older residents remember the days when a certain Mr. Roger BAT, then a parts machinist, spent his days breathing new life into everyday cars. Part parts dealer, part collector, he offered his customers his tireless work ethic and his boundless knowledge of automobiles. He was a man who passed on his passion for cars to his son, Christian BAT, who, upon his father’s passing, wanted to carry on the legacy. The many parts accumulated over the decades gave Christian a simple idea: to open a store so that enthusiasts could continue to pamper their cars. This day in November 2019 marks the launch of this new business, but given the times, it’s inconceivable to do just one brick-and-mortar store. The decision was made from the very beginning to offer these items to people around the world through a state-of-the-art e-commerce site Translated into English. The first order has been placed, theALEPOC Adventure has been launched, and it's just getting started.

ALEPOC: A Fascinating Family History

The little one Family team Composed of Christian BAT, the founder, his son Grégoire, and his brother-in-law Lilian, the company is dedicated to doing everything in its power to meet the expectations of both individuals and professionals who want to get their cars repaired as quickly as possible. This family business is growing rapidly in the local area, and the reputation of Roger BAT The controversy continues, and the regional newspapers are having a field day. La Dépêche, Presse Lib, and the community radio station DFM 930 They’re putting us in the spotlight, much to our delight, even though giving interviews isn’t exactly easy (it gives us plenty of stories to tell). Local coverage is great, but we also needed to make a name for ourselves on a national level. Our first forays into the automotive press were with Gazoline and La Vie de l’Auto. Magazines run by enthusiasts, aimed at enthusiasts—we liked that right away.

The seeds are starting to bear fruit. Our team is getting organized and streamlining processes—such as shipping—to ensure you receive your order quickly and securely. Our specialists, Grégoire and Lylian, are always available to answer your calls and provide guidance. A commitment to quality that is very important to us and this has been one of our top priorities from the start. We’re constantly improving, and we’re always open to your feedback. Is the website not user-friendly enough? We’ve redesigned it twice since 2019 to improve its accessibility. Any recurring questions? Frequently Asked Questions was launched to save you from having to call us.

The family-oriented, community-focused spirit must continue even with an e-commerce site, because this remains, above all, a human endeavor. For those who happen to be in the area, We're open 5 days a week to come pick up your items and chat over a cup of coffee.

ALEPOC: The Role of People in the Digital World

We strive to maintain this human touch in our daily communications. From the very beginning, we’ve believed in the benefits of modern digital communication because, at ALEPOC, tradition and the future go hand in hand. Before long, people were able to follow our adventures on our pages Facebook and Instagram. . LinkedIn was also chosen to connect with you, the classic car professionals. Without you, many cars would no longer be on our roads, so we decided to explore tools that make life easier for those who preserve our cars. Theprofessional space with a dedicated storage area It was therefore created with this in mind, but we are only at the beginning of a long journey.

Audrey has been leading our communications efforts since 2020. A native of Picardy, she is dedicated to the businesses in her new home region and supports us in our digital growth.

Under his leadership, we have continued to build our brand image and discuss classic cars in all their forms. Yes, we remain, above all, enthusiasts And that's why we've decided to feature on our website a blog section – hosted by yours truly—who tells you stories and takes you back to moments in automotive history.

Meeting Car Collectors

You may have already run into us at these events, since ALEPOC is out in the field regularly to stay as close to you as possible. It all started with the outings of the Tacot’s Club Gascon which Roger had co-founded. These local events quickly expanded beyond the “land of the duck.” In 2021, we made our first appearance at a major auto show: Epoqu’auto in Lyon. With our small booth (at least we stayed warm), we were able to introduce you to our world—a world we’re working hard to share in many parts of France and Europe through our active participation in several gatherings this year. The Bordeaux Crossing, Toulouse Classic Auto & Motorcycle Show, 35th Réquista Festival, the Samatan's Auto World, the annual gathering in Fenouillet (see: Exploring the Southwest's Historic Sites with ALEPOC) and even the Padua Auto e Moto d’Epoca Show in Italy are as many examples as they are moments of sharing a common passion. Since we loved Lyon and its bouchons (the restaurants, of course), we’re back in the game this year with a booth on a whole new level. For the 2022 edition, we invited several partners who share our desire to promote French classic cars. These carefully selected partners celebrated our third anniversary with us (read: The must-see event: the Epoqu'auto show).

So ALEPOC will continue to surprise you, and every day we come up with new ideas to make the world of auto parts more accessible to everyone. Our personalized search service for parts not listed in our catalog, as well as our financing options at competitive rates, are all part of our effort to make classic cars more accessible.

Roger's 100th Birthday

This year, ALEPOC isn't the only one celebrating an anniversary. Of course, the R5 is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but there's also Our historical figure, Roger, who is celebrating his 100th birthday. An iconic figure in our company—without whom ALEPOC surely wouldn’t exist—Roger is returning to the spotlight to celebrate his 100th birthday. Our mascot is popping up everywhere to guide you and share lots of stories. If you follow us on Facebook, you may have caught a glimpse of some comic strips created by FABOUN'E which features him in a humorous daily series. If Roger still has plenty of secrets for you, you can listen to him tell his story on his podcast, which is available here.

More broadly, the entire team and all those who have kept ALEPOC running on a daily basis for the past three years have participated in the podcast game thanks to "Coco's Echoes". It’s an opportunity to learn about each person’s story and to discover that behind the website are men and women who work every day. Their voices pave the way for exciting new adventures ahead as we continue to improve ALEPOC.

With that in mind, we would like to once again wish you a Happy Birthday to ALEPOC.

Stay tuned for our next adventures.

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