O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (ORLY) Presents at 50th Annual Automotive Symposium Transcript
Brian Sponheimer
Gabelli Funds, LLC
All right, so moving on to a company I’m super honored to introduce. Probably doesn’t need an introduction, not only because it probably has the most catchy tune in the world, but also because of their almost 7,000 stores within North America. They’re one of the leading automotive aftermarket retailers with a dual market strategy serving both DIY and professional customers. So happy to introduce Brad Beckham, the CEO; and Jeremy Fletcher, CFO, here to present with us.
And I guess I’ll walk back, just — maybe just start with a quick introduction of O’Reilly and how you’re positioned in the industry.
Brad Beckham
Chief Executive Officer
Yes. Thanks, everybody. Great to be here. So yes, I think everybody knows our story pretty well, but started out in 1957, a small family business, and started out in the DIFM business through the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, on into the ’80s. Our company was literally founded on the professional service dealer, also sold to independent parts stores back in the day. But really, the O’Reilly family had this vision for this dual market strategy back in the ’70s.
And so in 1978 specifically is when our dual market strategy was really defined. And the thought was we have this amazing culture. We promote people from within. We have great parts people. We have great inventory availability, great distribution. Why are we not selling to the retail public? And so that was the thought. And back then, AutoShack, who’s now
