2009 Market Profile
The last few years have not been good ones for the tire and automotive service industries, and the sudden, sharp economic falloff late last year had a huge impact on tire shipments and retail tire and service sales. Still-high fuel prices kept consumer and business mileage down for a second straight year, even as consumer
2009 Dealer Profile
The impact of the current economic downturn can certainly be seen in the results of Tire Review’s annual Tire Dealer Profile Study. While the size and structure of today’s independent dealer did not change, how dealers are doing business has, particularly in expense, promotion and hiring areas. Tire Review’s Tire Dealer Profile Study is the
2009 Brand Study
Tire brands and tire dealers go hand-in-hand. Dealers depend on the brands they sell, and the tire companies depend on dealers to reach the consuming public. In order for that relationship to thrive, tire brands must deliver the product quality, technical innovation, fill rate, marketability and profitability tire dealers need to be successful, reach customers,
Second Class Citizens? Not Any More!
There was a time when retreaded tires were pretty good but they didn’t last as long as new tires and their adjustment rate was somewhat higher than comparable new tires. However, they were safe and saved truckers and other motorists considerable amounts of money when compared to higher priced new tires, even if they didn’t
Avoid the Million Dollar Brake Job
“A customer brought their car into our service department for a brake job. This customer was a ‘waiter,’ so we pushed the job through pretty quick. The technician finished the job; the customer paid the cashier and drove off. That car was going over 60 mph when the wheel fell off, the vehicle went out
Looking Forward Tire Company Execs Talk About the Future
“The problem with the future is that it keeps turning into the present.” – Calvin & Hobbes creator Bill Watterson And the present has an odd way of getting in the way. Forinstance, when we first planned for this story, we thought it would beneat to peer into the future and see what the tire
Industrial Tires Bring Rewards for Dealers who Work Hard
It’s no secret that tire dealers need to stay on their toes and adapttheir business in order to be successful in today’s ever-changingmarket. This includes exploring new options as far as the kinds oftires to stock and the types of customers to service. If you’rein an area with any amount of industry, it may be
Change in Plans: Despite Recession-Driven Cuts, Toyo Chief Sees Opportunities
When Kenji Nakakura took over aspresident and CEO of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. on Jan. 1, 2008, henever imagined just how hard that job would become. Just months intothe job, the world financial markets melted down and tire sales wentfrom slow to abysmal. Instead of steering the company toward its 70thanniversary in 2015 on
50 State Solution? Add It All Up and the Writing is On the Wall
Three years ago, the RMA was busy crafting and politicking a federalbill on tire fuel efficiency that eventually became part of the 2007Energy Bill. Back in 2005, you’ll recall, gas prices were goingthrough the roof. $2.20, then $2.45, then $2.60. Tires, as always,became the focal point, with consumers looking for ways to save moneywith “better”
Maximize Web Presence to Improve Your Bottom Line
By now even the most low-tech tire dealer knows that having a presenceon the Web is a necessary part of improving his or her business. Thenext generation of consumers has come to rely on the Internet as ameans of gathering tire information – from brands and features tosizing and prices. And you’ve likely seen a
Holding Steady: Dealers See Three Consecutive Months of Level Sales
Do three months count as a trend? If so, then perhaps we’re seeing thestart of a rebound as our Dealer Panel has now reported three straightmonths – May, June and July – of level tire and service sales. Click here for August 2009 charts Whilethose months have traditionally been strong ones for automotive sales,coming off
August 2009 Sales Intelligence
Covering Albany, N.Y.; Boise, Idaho; Charleston, W.V.; Houston, Texas; Madison, Wis.; and Orlando, Fla, retail tire marketsduring period of July 9-13. For this monthly feature, InteliChek directly contacts a selection ofindependent tire dealers, mass merchants and car dealers to obtaincurrent pricing on replacement tires and vehicle services. InteliChekrequests and verifies retail prices via phone calls,