Tornado Air Management Systems announced June 24 Balkamp, Inc. as their newest automotive aftermarket distributor. The agreement makes Tornado available through any of the 6,000 NAPA stores across the U.S. According to the company, NAPA/Balkamp tested the Tornado in several markets in the southeast in late 2001. After successful introductions in those markets, Balkamp has introduced the product to all NAPA Auto Parts stores nationwide. Balkamp implemented a marketing campaign to help educate the 37,000 employees in 6,000 NAPA stores about the product's sales potential. The promotional effort was intended to show NAPA store personnel that the product is an attractive accessory in this day of large vehicles and rising and falling fuel prices, according to the company. "We liked the product so much that we gave one to all our district sales managers to use in their company cars," Sherer says. The Balkamp merchandising program for Tornado products includes an in-store assortment with merchandising aids such as shelf talkers and product brochures. The Tornado air device is stocked in the Balkamp warehouse and according to the company, is proving to be an inexpensive, easy to install product that's popular with NAPA customers. The company says it works well with today's sophisticated computer-controlled vehicles to give drivers better options in energy efficiency, regardless of the size of the vehicle or its engine. With documented average gas mileage increases of 10 percent and, in some cases, as high as 24 percent, Tornado is also increasing vehicle horsepower by as much as 15 percent. Priced at an M.S.R.P. of $69, Tornado is environmentally friendly and has a 30-day money back guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty. In addition to NAPA, Tornado is available through JC Whitney, Camping World, Sears Auto Book, Cabela's, RV/Truck Performance Shops and more. For more information, contact Jay Kim, President, Tornado Air Management, 9728 Alburtis Avenue, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, phone 562-205-3000, fax 562-205-3001, or visit www.tornadoair.com.