Remembering Jim: A Mentor
The day Jim died I was driving home and noticed the flags were at half-mast. I’m not exactly sure why the flags were in that position, but for me it was a sign of mourning and memorial to Jim Smith. A cliché he would have hated, but so true. While I only knew Jim for less
Goodyear Unveils Several Tires at Conference
During its recent “Breakthrough” Dealer Conference in Washington, D.C., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced several new consumer and commercial tire lines. Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 has been added to the Eagle lineup as a new premium, ultra-high performance summer tire. Offering powerful traction and precise handling in both wet
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Don Barnes III
Third-generation business leader Don Barnes III always knew he wanted to go into the family trade. Barnes, president of Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire, saw his family’s passion for the business and was drawn in. “One thing that I really love was the passion and enthusiasm my grandfather had for the business and my dad
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: John Quirk
Third-generation tire dealer John Quirk has made several major changes to his family business since taking over as president and CEO. Under his care, Quirk Tire, a two-location full-service commercial dealer in Watertown, Mass., grew to become VIP Tires & Service, a retail dealership with 56 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 1975
A New Era Begins
Kumho Tire USA is embarking on a new era in 2016, Harry Choi, its president and CEO, told tire dealers during Kumho’s recent dealer meeting in St. Lucia on Dec. 3. The tiremaker underwent several major changes in 2015 including a headquarter relocation from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., to Atlanta, a major employee turnover, and working
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Tire Pros Dealer Council Members
For more than 25 years, Tire Pros, a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors (since 2009), has supported the independent tire dealer. Tire Pros helps dealers strengthen their business and enhance their bottom line through marketing programs, training, financial enhancements, profitability assessments and more. Another way Tire Pros is able to help its dealers is by
Kumho Rolling Out New Products
In 2015 Kumho launched six new products, and in 2016 the tiremaker shows no signs of slowing down. During its recent dealer meeting, Kumho announced four new lines for the North American market. “The new products that we’ve introduced in the last 18 months and in 2016 have been developed and targeted for the United
Ag Industry Experiencing Fallow
The agriculture industry in North America has hit some tough times. This has a trickle down effect to the ag tire industry. “Next year is going to be challenging,” says Tony Orlando, president of Bridgestone America’s farm tire unit. “As we move into 2017 and through 2020 we think the market will pick up again.
The Art of Purchasing: The Benefits of Financing
Even if a business chooses to purchase equipment, rarely do they purchase it with cash. In fact, whether leasing or buying, “seven out of 10 companies use some sort of financing when acquiring equipment,” says William Sutton, president and CEO of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. According to Sutton there are several benefits to
Preparing for Success: The Artistry of Formal Business Planning
When creating a piece of art – from a painting to a sculpture – an artist uses planning, skill and intuition. Michelangelo didn’t paint the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling without planning out each fresco carefully. Claude Monet spent time painting the same subjects under different conditions to prefect his skills. Jackson Pollock drew from within to
Software Solutions
Benjamin Franklin once advised tradesmen that “time is money.” While much has changed over the past two and a half centuries, this idea still holds true for small businesses. Most tire dealers are efficient with their time, but there is always room for improvement. If a tire dealership uses an antiquated computer program, or even
The Art of Purchasing: Buying vs. Leasing Equipment
Equipment costs are unavoidable. Whether it’s the front of a shop, back office or in the bay, tire dealers need a variety of tools to keep their dealership running. The debate for many tire dealers is if they should buy or lease this equipment. So when it comes time to make equipment acquisition decisions it’s important