Successful Debut For IQPC Intelligent Tire Technology Conference
(Clacton, U.K./Tyres & Accessories) At the end of last year the International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC) organised its first conference dedicated to tyre related topics.
Devil’s in the Details: Selling and Installing Aftermarket Wheels Can Be Tricky Business
As many of you know, I’ve been involved with aftermarket wheels and hardcore fitment problems for most of my career. This has exposed me to a lifetime of diagnosing drivability complaints and fitment issues that most people rarely, if ever, experience. Still, there’s always that one time when something unique and out of the ordinary
Hispanic America: Appreciating the Cultural Uniqueness of Your Hispanic Employees and Customers Just Makes Good Business Sense
Today, 48 million Hispanic people reside in the U.S. – about 17% of the population – and they’re not going anywhere. In fact, experts say that number will grow dramatically. By 2050, 100 million people will trace their ancestry to the Spanish-speaking Latin American and Caribbean worlds. We’re in for some big changes. Unfortunately, history
On the Front Lines: Service Managers Are Critical Weapons in Battle With Car Dealers
Car dealers are getting better at serving your clients. How? By delivering what your clients want: information and service. They succeed through fear tactics, implying to new purchasers that warranty problems may arise if factory scheduled maintenance is performed by an independent service shop. And, they speak with forked tongue. They promote OE-quality parts yet
Strange But True Tire Tales
Too often, we’re consumed by the Ordinary. We get into our daily routines and never waver. No matter how much you love what you do every day, it’s still refreshing to take a break once in a while from the Everyday. To help you do that, we’ve tracked down some of the most unusual tire
Waste Not, Worry Not: Fleets That Partner Up with Tire Dealers Can Take the Worry Factor Out of Tires
“He saves us tens of thousands in potential workers’ compensation claims. His labor costs are $18 an hour, while mine are $22. My overall insurance costs are lower, and I’m saving 10% per tire in labor alone.” That’s Scott Francis, fleet maintenance manager for Whiteline Xpress Ltd. in Champaign, Ill. He’s in charge of watching
Looming Mandate: Without Help, Dealers Face Dark Future. How Will You Cope?
To many in the tire industry, TPMS is a four-letter acronym that is quickly becoming a four-letter word. That goes for retail dealers and, soon, consumers alike. But these people are only considering the hassles involved with servicing tire/wheel assemblies featuring these gizmos. Look a little deeper, and you’ll see the potential for independent tire
Revealing Your Potential: The Complete Business Makeover
When was the last time you looked at your tire dealership – not as a business manager but as an objective observer? If it’s been a while, take a step back and really study your business. What do you see? Sagging sales? Unbalanced balance sheets? Peeling paint? If you’re suffering from any of those, it
What Really Matters: Tire Dealers Can Uncover Profits by Redirecting Their Focus
Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of serving some of the best tire dealerships in the U.S. and Canada. Last year alone, we coached more than 1,000 tire dealerships. The majority of the owners wanted something to change. They could identify exactly what it was but could not move it by
10 Easy Ways to Boost Sales
Here’s something you may not know: American consumers spent $46.2 billion on tires and other auto accessories in 2002, the last year in which the U.S. Bureau of Economics has accurate numbers. That figure may sound impressive, but the Bureau also reported that Americans spent even more than that on shoes. The point: Don’t take