Keegan Speaks! Finally!
Throughout his Goodyear career – October 2000 to his retirement in April2010 – Bob Keegan did few (if any) sit-down interviews. With any media.Ever. In fact, I believe I am still on the waiting list. Usually when media ask to do an interview, tire company execs (well, most of them) jump at the chance, as
The State of New Car Dealers
Ever wonder what’s really going on behind those phony smiles and promises that "We’ll get this deal to work for you!"? So did I, as it was nice to have a friend pass along a copy of the 2010 National Automobile Dealers Association "State of the Industry Report." According to the 21-page report, new car,
Firestone, Smithers Vet Moving On; Abe Reappears
Long-time tire industry PR pro Mike Fay is hanging up his typewriter ribbon at the close of this month. Known Mike for a long time, and he is one of the finest men I have met in this industry. Got to know him back in the day when he was a PR manager for Firestone;
What I Did on My Field Trip to Jersey
When I was a kid, there was nothing more exciting than school field trips. Getting out of that musty old school building was liberating. It almost felt illegal, like a jailbreak. And when you go to a Catholic grade school, those field trips – regardless the destination or boredom factor attached – gave you that
Getting Pink: 25 Years Later, Breast Cancer Awareness Month Still Needs Support
Please don’t turn away because you see pink. Please don’t think reading something with pink on it makes you less of a tire person. In fact, not paying attention could make you less of a person.The ribbon on our front cover and the logo on this page are in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness
Nitto-Sponsored Documentary Seeks to Honor, Remind of Historic Events
"If you harm them, you must harm me. I was brought up in a small town where I knew the shame and dishonor of race hatred. I grew to despise it because it threatened the happiness of you and you and you."With those words, then-Gov. Ralph Carr urged Colorado residents to do what many millions
Anniversary Gives Glimpse of Tire’s Past
Blair’s Car Care is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Located in Jackson, Mich., the business had has a long and much varied history – quite varied. But this makes it a great example of the evolution of tire retail businesses over time. The Jackson Citizen Patriot recently ran this profile: [Jackson Citizen Patriot] Jackson,
China Leveraging Outside Regulations to Build Stronger Industry
If you want to build an international market for your products, you need products that meet or exceed prevailing standards in all of the markets you wish to serve. Pretty basic rule, and one the Chinese government – and, by extension, its tire industry – have quickly learned. The weakest players in the PRC are
How to Land Very Big Fish in a Very Small Pond
So just how long does it take to reel two humongous fish, and make it look like just another day on the pond? Ask South Carolina secretary of commerce Bobby Hitt and economic development teams in both Aiken and Sumter Counties. They’ve pulled it off twice in the last 14 days. And in the case
Sir Jimmy and the 10-Week War
It’s an anniversary no one on East Market Street in Akron – let alone anyone in Akron - wants to celebrate. Nov. 20 marks 25 years since the face and make-up of Goodyear was changed for all time after it had fended off a hostile takeover attempt by British mogul Sir James Goldsmith. The 10-week
Most Deserving but Apparently Most Unwilling
I have it on pretty good authority that Bruce Halle, the multi-billionaire founder of Discount Tire Co., isn’t interested in being inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame.I know this because I am on the Hall of Fame Committee, and its members agreed earlier this year that few people are so obviously worthy as
Tire Company Intrigue Leads to Intriguing Contest
If you don’t think there is a level of "intrigue" in this boring old tire industry, well you just haven’t been paying attention. Down in the southeast, the rumor mills are rife with cloak-n-dagger code names like "Project Soccer" and "Project Hercules." These are names supposedly assigned to major new investment projects that a handful