2009 Top Shop Finalist: Griffin Brothers
You would expect tire dealers in the heart of NASCAR country to know something about automobiles. Griffin Brothers Tires, Wheels, and Auto Repair in the Charlotte, N.C., area not only knows tires, but the company also has mastered the art of building relationships with people. Over the past 48 years, this family-run company has built
2009 Top Shop Finalist: Curry’s Automotive
When Matt and Judy Curry opened Curry’s Auto Service in 1998, the couple knew they were taking a risk. With one child at home and another on the way, the Currys opened their shop in Chantilly, Va., with 13 credit cards and $103,000 worth of debt. “Every last penny to our name was in this
2009 Top Shop Winner: Enger Tire & Auto
Jim Enger is no control freak. When you have 20 retail stores, three warehouses, two parts outlets and associated business interests spread over 10 of the largest and busiest counties in Northeast Ohio, you can’t micro-manage every little thing. He doesn’t even try. But he does want to control his own destiny, and his approach
Getting ‘Green:’ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Reignite Your Business
By now it’s clear that the whole "green" movement is more than just a fad. In fact, successful businesses everywhere have adapted their operations to cater to consumers who are looking for more environmentally friendly products and services. While consumers may not base their purchasing decisions solely on this aspect, it does come into consideration
Getting Closer: Tire, Service Sales Almost Level with Last Year’s Marks
After showing a continued improvement in sales of both tires and service in May and June, our nationwide panel of tire dealers says that July-September vehicle service sales remained just 2% off last year’s mark, and tire sales were down just 1% year-over-year. July’s final tire sales results, according to the Tire Review Dealer Panel,
Looking Long Term: Kanwar Has Apollo Tyre Focused…and on the Move
When Onkar Kanwar took over Apollo Tyres Ltd. In 1980, the company was a huge mess. Bad tires and worse management had driven the company – founded by his father in 1976 – into bankruptcy, its net worth wiped out five times over. But nearly 30 years later, the 66-year-old chairman sits atop India’s largest
October 2009 Sales Intelligence
Covering Bangor, Maine.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Cleveland, Ohio; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles, Calif.; and Macon, Ga., retail tire marketsduring period of Sept. 23-25. 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
Lack of Support? Dealer Says ‘We Don’t Know How to Make Our Voices Heard’
I’m usually the type of dealer that sits back and watches as events happen in our industry. That doesn’t mean I don’t care, it’s just that as an independent dealer I don’t really know how or what I can do to change things. That was until today, when I read the New York Times article
Fixing a Hole: Total Tariff Fallout Still TBD, But Wrong Parties Were Wronged
The dust still isn’t settled on the president’s ill-advised smackdown of China-made consumer tires. There have been plenty of claims, counterclaims, predictions, wringing of hands and well-moistened crying towels, but few tangibles to date. Despite all of the Chicken Little-ing, the sky has yet to fall and we are no closer to having a handle