Small Town Inc.: Down-Home Business Dealings Got You Whipped? Find Your Chi With a Little Balance.
If the thought of dealing with City Hall gives you acid reflux, take a deep breath, relax, and think about boning up on jujitsu. These cleansing breaths are a quick fix if the board of zoning appeals is sitting on your request for a zoning variance or the architectural review board wants you to plant
13 Hidden Sales Boosters: Sales Sagging? Pick Them Up With These Not-So-Secret Opportunities
“Dang it! This is the fourth month we haven’t made our sales target. What’s going on? I’ll bet it was that last price increase. Those tire companies just keep hitting us for more and more, and we can barely get any tires! And, betcha that new discounter in the next town is getting all my
Mutual Rewards: The Case for Outsourcing Has Never Been Stronger
“We hang on to our tire dealership relationships for dear life,” says Gary F. Petty, president and CEO of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC). Petty presumably speaks for most private fleets when he says, ®a lot of them rely on tire dealerships for servicing the tire function. They need that special expertise.® Without question,
Staying Out of the Courtroom: Is Being Sued Inevitable? Maybe. Here’s What You Should Know If the Gavel Drops
“See You in Court.” Today, that’s just a fancy way of saying, “Goodbye.” Unfortunately, that’s often the harsh truth when your employees, your customers or government agencies utter that short but terrifying sentence. So, how can you stay out of court? And, how do you keep from panicking if and when someone says those ominous
Just the Facts: A No-Frills Web Site Can Still Draw New Business, Enhance Your Image
Just the Facts A No-Frills Web Site Can Still Draw New Business, Enhance Your Image "People buy lots of things online ®“ but not tires," I’ve heard some independent tire dealers say. But that doesn’t mean a Web site is of no use to a tire dealership. On the contrary, a well maintained, informative Web
Biz Smarts Have No Gender
Women the weaker sex? Bite your tongue. Whether you’re male or female, to be successful in the retail or wholesale tire industry, you need business smarts, the ability to overcome challenges, and, above all, brass knuckles. An interesting combination of softness, intelligence and fiery spunk, women tire dealers are roaring. Once an oddity in a
Your Dealership is Doomed: The Diversity of Customers
Remember the days when the only woman in your shop was the one half-naked on the calendar? Well, it’s time to forget them. The female portion of your customer base is not a "niche." In fact, women are regular – if not primary – customers of automotive service providers. Consider these statistics, courtesy of the
Five Ways to Slash Insurance Costs
Take control of rising premiums. Learn from those who’ve done it. These days, Bob Malerba, owner of Malerba’s Silver City Tire Co., is feeling a lot better about the cost of his business insurance. Just 18 months ago, Malerba was at his wits end as he helplessly watched his insurance rates skyrocket. Malerba knew he
People Can Make or Break You: Building and Keeping a Winning Tire Team
Surrounding yourself with good people is the dream of every manager. From the President of the United States to the store manager at your local Subway, having good people is not a new idea. But here’s the rub. How do you keep them happy? Nearly 70% of tire dealers questioned by Tire Review say they’re
Industry Report
With a new three-year labor contract in hand, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. turned its attention to other restructuring issues as it works to right its financial ship. The tiremaker formally announced the closing of its Huntsville, Ala., plant, then laid off about 200 employees from its Tyler, Texas, facility.