10 Surprisingly Common Examples of ‘Business Poison’ to Avoid
Every tire dealer talks about customer service, but how well do dealers design customer service programs that build their business? When you review all of the things that contribute to the success of a dealership – products, marketing, price and more – customer service is the only one that begins and ends with and can
The Debate: Is The Customer Always and All Ways Right?
[Editor’s Note: The following was an unintentional exchange between publisher and reader that occurred earlier this year in issues of Tire Review‘s sister magazine BodyShop Business. Editor Jason Stahl wrote his editorial "A Customer’s View" in the July 2011 issue of the magazine, which elicited the "The Customer Is NOT Always Right" Letter-to-the-Editor response in
Year-End Tax Planning for Businesses
There are a number of end-of-year tax strategies businesses can use to reduce their tax burden for 2011. Here’s the lowdown on some of the best options. Purchase New Business EquipmentSection 179 Expensing. Businesses should take advantage of Section 179 expensing this year for a couple of reasons. First, starting in tax year 2010 and
U.S. Distribution Channel Shares: Medium Trck
In 2010, 15.8 million medium truck tires were shipped, up from 2009’s 12.88 million units. Though the actual number distributed to independent tire dealers increased (12.01 million units in 2010 vs. 2009’s 10.04 million), the percentage of the distribution channel comprised of tire dealers dropped, from 78% to 76%. Tire company-owned locations increased 1% with
Product Spotlight: Tire Changers
One of the most important pieces of equipment in any tire shop, the tire changer can be a simple, welded steel-tube device to raise a tire and wheel to comfortable work height up to a nearly fully automated tire-changing robot. There are many features to consider: roller or shovel-type bead separators, integrated tire inflation systems,
October 2011 Sales Intelligence
Covering Bangor, Maine; Detroit, Mich.; Jackson, Miss.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Portland, Ore.; and Topeka, Kans., retail tire markets during the period of Sept. 23-27.Tire Review and InteliChek present up-to-date tire and service price information from U.S. metropolitan areas.For this monthly feature, InteliChek directly contacts a selection of independent tire dealers, mass merchants and car dealers to
Leverage Text Messaging to Strengthen Your Local Marketing Push
My 70-year-old mother started texting before I did. This probably sounds strange given that I’m the tech geek in the family and "Web" is my middle name. I just never got that hyped about texting. I think it was because I am always being pinged by someone or something (e-mail, phone, kids, doorbell, and so
2011 Top Shop Finalist: Tate Boys Tire & Service
One co-owner is a retired professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants. The other played college football for the University of Tulsa. And the chief financial officer was on Brigham Young University’s football team. It comes as no surprise, then, that Tate Boys Tire and Service runs like a winning sports franchise, from the
2011 Top Shop Finalist: Family Tire & Auto Service
Family Tire & Auto Service has been in business in eastern North Carolina scarcely more than six years, but more than deserves its new title of 2011 Tire Review Top Shop Award Finalist due to continued growth and profitability, coupled with its strong commitment to the communities it serves. David Bucher, 42, is president
2011 Top Shop Finalist: Hay Tire Co.
The day that Henry Hay was criticized for being “too damned honest to be in the retail tire business” was the day he made one of the best decisions of his life. “I was operating a tire store as a minority stockholder,” recalls the elder co-owner of the Charleston, S.C.-based father-and-son dealership, Hay Tire Pros.
2011 Top Shop Winner: Virginia Tire & Auto
“I never had a question in my mind about letting Mike into the business,” Boncarosky says of his son-in-law. “He wanted that and I knew he had some great ideas and skills. He and Julie have a lot of instincts, enthusiasm and abilities and they have done many impressive things.” While Virginia Tire & Auto
U.S. Distribution Channel Shares: LT-Metric Tires
In 2010, LT-Metric tire distribution to mass merchants decreased 2% from 2009’s 1.92 million units shipped. Tire company-owned outlet distribution grew from 3.3 million units (or 12% of the market) in 2009 to 4.07 million units in 2010, a number that represents 14% of the market. The percentages to independent tire dealers and "others" remained