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Specialized Selling: Smart Dealers Can Stack Up Profits in Skid-Steer Market
January 14, 2010
In work sites across the country, one can find the versatile skid-steer loader. Because of its convenient size and capacity for special attachments, the machine can be used by consumers and pros in a multitude of applications, including construction, farming, excavation, recycling, landscaping, mining and snow removal. The skid-steer tire niche has changed quite a bit in the last 20 years, growing... read more
 
Staying Strong: Despite Downturn, Farm Outlook 'Looks Quite Positive'
December 15, 2009
By most measures, 2008 was a banner, record-setting year for the North American agricultural community, even considering the sudden, sharp economic decline that started in October 2008. 2009, though, is much different. After posting an all-time record of $87 billion in 2008, net farm income is projected to fall 34.5% to $57 billion for the year, according to an August report by the U.S. Agricultural... read more
 
Moving Business: Container Handling Niche Offers Dealers Unique Opportunities
November 23, 2009
In a global economy where products are imported and exported worldwide, it takes a multitude of resources to keep things moving and on track. From load docks to loading bays, container handling equipment is everywhere products are being shipped, moved and inventoried. And vital to that equipment’s operation is – you guessed it – tires. Tire dealers who find themselves in the right... read more
 
Industrial Tires Bring Rewards for Dealers who Work Hard
August 16, 2009
It’s no secret that tire dealers need to stay on their toes and adapt their business in order to be successful in today’s ever-changing market. This includes exploring new options as far as the kinds of tires to stock and the types of customers to service. If you’re in an area with any amount of industry, it may be worthwhile to consider providing tires for local businesses... read more
 
On The Job: Demanding Police/Pursuit Segment Requires Dealer Focus
June 15, 2009
But just as police officers do more than flag down speeders, their high-powered cars “protect and serve” in many other ways. And that means specialized police/pursuit tires. Being a servicing tire supplier to local or state police doesn’t really take special equipment – regular tire changers, balancers and tire tools will do the job just fine – but it does take... read more
 
Pulling Ahead: Trailer Tire Market Offers Stability, Profitability
May 14, 2009
In these uncertain times, a tire segment that offers low inventory, high profit margins, limited competition and steady growth may seem too good to be true. Fortunately, this scenario isn’t fiction, as dealers who take the time to look into the specialty/trailer tire segment will soon discover. Because the majority of dealerships don’t carry these tires, being one of a few dealers... read more
 
Course Work: Golf Course Tire Dealers Must Aim High to Score Points
April 14, 2009
Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. We’ve all sung that song at least once, hoping our chants would part the clouds and allow for fun outdoor activities. Like golf. Persistent rain dampened the golf course business last year, which saw total rounds played fall by 1.8% vs. 2007, the biggest decline in play since the 2002 recession, according to Golf Inc./Datatech. While... read more
 
Switching Gears; Motorcycle, Scooter Market Requires Entirely Different Focus
March 13, 2009
With the sudden surge in fuel prices last summer, one would think sales of motorcycles and scooters would have drastically increased as well, as consumers looked for fuel-sipping transportation rather than their gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. While there is some truth to that assumption, a deeper look shows otherwise. Yes, sales of scooters and dual sport bikes rose roughly 42% and 23%, respectively... read more
 
Downward Turn: Small OTR Market Sees Sales Slump, Overcapacity
February 12, 2009
Not that many months ago, the OTR market – small and giant tires – was flying high, burdened with lengthy backorders that kept prices up and production humming. Tires were hard to come by, a happy problem the industry enjoyed for half a decade. The global financial crash and burn – complete with sharp downturns in housing, building and infrastructure construction and fast-falling... read more
 
Continued Growth: Ag Tire Market Still Strong Despite Economic Downturn
December 15, 2008
In 2007, U.S. farmers saw record crop prices and hefty profits. The nation’s growing demand for ethanol boosted the price of corn, while the reduced supply of other crops, like wheat and soybeans, fetched higher than average prices, as well. That strong income resulted in farmers putting their money back into their business through land, seed, fertilizer and equipment purchases. And despite... read more
 
Steering Sales: Stable Skid-Steer Market Offers Opportunity for Profit
July 14, 2008
With their convenient size and ability for specialty attachments, skid-steer loaders are as necessary as ever in work sites nationwide. Perhaps more versatile than any other piece of equipment, the machines have a place in excavation, construction, demolition, recycling, mining, landscaping, snow removal and more. Even though the mini-loaders – and the tires that make their use possible –... read more
 
Growing Steady: Commercial Landscaping Tire Market Offers Opportunities
March 26, 2008
Commercial Landscaping Tire Market Offers OpportunitiesBack in the 1980s, when North Gateway Tire in Medina, Ohio, first entered the commercial landscaping tire market, the dealership listed all its offerings in that segment on a double-sided flyer. Today, the company puts out a nearly 30-page catalog of the products it offers in this small yet promising niche. It just goes to show that with... read more
 
Looking Up: End in Sight For OTR Tire Shortage, Capacity Improving
February 19, 2008
For the past few years, the OTR tire market has presented many challenges for manufacturers and dealers alike. Rapid growth in developing countries, large amounts of military orders and the soaring mining industries in North and South America have caused a shortage that affects everyone in the pipeline, from tiremakers down to end users. The good news for dealers is many manufacturers... read more
 
Pulling for Results: Entering Trailer Tire Market May Bring in Tidy Profits, Connections
November 26, 2007
Entering Trailer Tire Market May Bring in Tidy Profits, Connections With steady growth and little competition, entering the trailer tire market is something worth considering. While the demand isn’t nearly as great as it is for passenger or light truck tires – or even some other specialty tires – being one of a few dealers in a particular area to offer replacement trailer tires... read more
 
Perfect Fit: Matching Tire to Application Even More Critical in Broad Industrial Tire Market
September 05, 2007
Matching Tire to Application Even More Critical in Broad Industrial Tire Market Sometimes, when a person widens his or her view of something, that something tends to expand and take on a life of its own. After all, perception is reality; it’s all in the eye of the beholder. So it goes with industrial tires. When tire dealers widen their expectations about this market, its profit... read more
 
Maximum Uptime: The Skid-Steer Tire Market is Changing, But Up-to-Date Dealers Can Profit
July 30, 2007
The Skid-Steer Tire Market is Changing, But Up-to-Date Dealers Can Profit It’s been called the Swiss army knife of construction – the most versatile of all mobile machines. It’s the ubiquitous skid-steer loader, and thanks to its compact size and suitability for specialty attachments, it can handle just about any task. Does that guarantee an easy stream of sales for... read more
 
No Boundaries?: Blurred Lines a Challenge, But Dealers Can Still Make Hay With Lawn & Garden Tires
April 12, 2007
It used to be a no-brainer: Specialized tires have specialized buyers. While that mantra still holds true in some tire segments, for lawn and garden tires, lines that were clearly observable in the past are starting to blur. Boundaries are fading, and the market is fast becoming more complex. And, we’re not just talking about the SKU proliferation that complicates inventory planning. On... read more
 
Sweating It Out: Continuing Tire Shortage Opens Supplier Doors, Puts Strain on Servicing Dealers
March 06, 2007
It’s been the best of times and the worst of times for OTR tire dealers. Over the past three years, mining, quarry and construction customers have been crying out for new tires. But all the orders in the world mean nothing without tires. As dealers know all too well, the real result of all that unfulfilled demand has been frustrated customers, missed opportunities and lost profits. And... read more
 
Partner in Growth: Focus on Cost Reduction, Service to Squeeze Profits Out of Ag Tire Market
August 24, 2006
The last two years set records in the agricultural history book. Unprecedented farm income growth, high commodity prices and unrelenting production demands in 2004 and 2005 resulted in strong equipment sales. And, those strong farm implement sales boosted the ag tire replacement market. But, the pendulum, now, is swinging the other way. According to the Economic Research Service (ERS) arm... read more
 
Two of a Kind: Mixing Sizes, Construction Leads to Trailer, Dually Disasters
June 30, 2006
Why do people seem to lose their ability to reason when selecting tires for trailers and dually trucks? Since tire manufacturers build a specific tire designated as ST – Special Trailer – it is reasonable to assume that they did so for a purpose. Maybe to keep the scene depicted below from happening? Take a good look. This is a rural, two-lane highway with little shoulder area and... read more
 
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