Things to Think About
The argument is settled. American Tire Distributors is clearly now the biggest bear in the woods.
Maybe They Should Call ‘Cash for Gold’
Dire news up north where commodity experts suggest that one half of Canada’s mining companies could go kaput before summer.
Keeping Up Appearances
Wheels need proper maintenance to look and perform their best – and new wheel-end technology provides a finished package. Bright, shiny wheels make a great impression. A good wheel needs to be behind that shine. Finding the best wheels and properly maintaining them offers paybacks in reliability and performance. Step one in the process is
Where Will All the Street Tires Go?
Having the ability to interchange used and retreaded tires of the same size on different axles is a luxury most tire managers have enjoyed for decades. Although new tires are almost always selected to be axle-specific, the differences relate to tread pattern design and tread depth. Long wear and resistance to irregular wear are properties
Choosing the Right Retread Partner
Tires consistently rank as the greatest expense for a fleet after labor and fuel costs, so it is important for fleets to get the most out of these assets. One way to extend tire life is to use retreads and many fleets work with retreaders to achieve the longest tire life. What does a fleet
Buy or Lease Equipment?
Need a new balancer, aircompressor or nitrogen generator? Where will the funds come from? Severalbusiness advisors recommend that independent businesses such as tiredealerships consider leasing instead of buying. Leasing equipment can haveseveral advantages, they say, including: • Leases can often beobtained with little or no money down. • Leases usually requireless financial documentation than bank
Bigger Not Always Better
Being small can actuallyprovide a competitive edge over big retail. The secret for an independent tiredealership lies in flaunting – not hiding – your smallness. Corporate giantsjust can’t achieve the personal relationships that small business owners havewith their clients. They aren’t as close to their customers and can’t respondas quickly to changing demands. It’s easier
Getting the Most Out of Reviews
A well-conducted performancereview benefits both employer and employee. First, performance reviewsprovide an opportunity to assess the employee’s contribution to theorganization and identify his or her strengths and weaknesses. It’s a greattime to discuss poor performance as well as congratulate strong performance. Remember the following tipswhen conducting reviews: • Set a date. Sticking to aset date
Easy Business Boost
Don’t have the funds for acomprehensive ad program? There are alternatives. Word-of-mouth marketing, forexample, is a simple and inexpensive way to promote your tire dealership andattract new customers. Simply encourage your happiest customers to spread theword about your quality service and expertise. Here are three steps forgenerating word of mouth: 1. Select a few of
How to Retain Customers
If you treat your customers better than the giant retailer down the street, you can bet you’re going to get their tire business first. It all boils down to common courtesy. Offer the reality of great customer service and consideration. Treat your customers this way every time, all the time. Here are some things you