The tenuous relationship with dealerships can at times be either a blessing or a curse, according to our sources. On one hand, restylers often benefit from creating a solid relationship with their local dealer, and partnering to upgrade vehicles to resell, thus becoming a dealer expeditor. Short of that, they also can benefit from those dealerships who don’t offer such upgraded vehicles by marketing to the dealerships’ customers directly.

For Check Corp.’s Nathan Mades, “the relationship between restylers and dealerships is important to the sale of vehicles.”

The restylers focus on this segment and offer services to expand their customer base, Mades adds. Restylers, then, must adapt to changing trends and create trends of their own through this relationship.

While “new- and used-vehicle dealers continue to be the best avenue to market and sell seat heaters,” according to Pecca Leather’s Scott Wolin, vehicle auctions, rental car fleets, and work truck and van fleets are also areas of notable potential growth for restylers.

Pacific Restyling Products’ Steven Koyama agrees. “The majority of the supply of new vehicles still funnels into the marketplace through automotive dealerships, so it’s logical for restylers to continue to nurture this relationship,” he says, noting that other similar partnerships could include vehicle exporters and upfitters, or “a type of second-stage manufacturer who offers uniquely packaged vehicles to dealerships and corporate fleets may be an another avenue to pursue.”