AutoZone: Exemplary Capital Allocation

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[00:02:58] - [First question] - The general state of the auto part industry and its key players

[00:06:14] - Similar and differing characteristics of AutoZone, O'Reilly, and Advanced Autoparts  

[00:08:04] - The history of AutoZone and how they got to where they are today

[00:12:11] - ESLs involvement with AutoZone and notable moments from that partnership

[00:13:29] - Unit economics, sales per store, how much a store costs, and general features

[00:16:32] - Other retail businesses that rank close to the unit economics of AutoZone

[00:17:43] - How a customer interacts with their business

[00:19:40] - What is being sold that allows them to earn such high gross profits

[00:20:57] - Ways AutoZone has kept their competitors at bay

[00:23:05] - Additional opportunities in their systems that offer competitive advantages

[00:24:18] - Low inventory turnover working in specialty retail merchandise

[00:26:14] - How they manage their stock locally and regionally to ensure a reliable supply

[00:27:36] - Supplier finance mechanics overview for retailers

[00:29:12] - Some of the private label programs they’ve had success with

[00:31:40] - Failure oriented parts and what products inhabit this category

[00:32:58] - How management and integrated culture find opportunities in DIFM

[00:36:08] - Moving up and down the call list and gaining favor as a retailer

[00:38:45] - The threat electric vehicles might pose to Autozone

[00:37:48] - Whether or not an eCommerce giant may penetrate and disrupt this sector

[00:44:58] - Paths AutoZone has taken to return capital to its shareholders

[00:49:21] - COVID’s impacts and detriments to the business

[00:53:04] - What we can learn as builders and investors from studying AutoZone’s story