As annual dealer meetings go, last week's Hankook Tire America Corp. event in the Dominican Republic wasn't all "love fest" and it wasn't all "business." And it certainly wasn't all about "new products."
What it was was just about right for a company that broke its billion-dollar-sales goal in 2011 despite fill-rate headaches and rising (as with the rest of the industry) raw material costs.
And for those dealers attending the three-day event in Punta Cana, it was all just right. Especially when the tire company announced plans to launch its own associate dealer program this year.
The still unnamed program will be formally unveiled April 1, company officials said, and while details are still being hashed out, it will feature a tiered volume- and product-based bonus reward system. Participating dealers will receive start-up and POS kits.
Under the program, Hankook said, distributors will be eligible for cash rewards based on sales volume and sales of key premium tires.
Concurrent with the program launch, Hankook will also launch a program website so retailers and wholesalers both can track their order and sales history and progress to reward goals. The website will also include an area for dealers to order sales aids, POS materials and signage, and gather images and information to create their own advertising.
Hankook is also upgrading its three-year-old Empowerment website by adding online training, updated product information and other features.
Hankook did not launch any “new” tires during its Partner’s Day event, but did tell dealers that run-flat versions of some of its tires will soon appear in its catalog. Adding run-flat sizes will be the Ventus S1 evo (17- and 18-inch sizes, V- and W-rated), the Ventus Prime2 (two 16-inch sizes), and the Icebear W300 winter tire (16- and 17- inch sizes, V-rated).
See Tire Review’s March issue for more details from the Hankook dealer meeting.