Referral Programs Give Customers a Reason to Return
The worst number in marketing is one, and that’s because there’s no one single advertising magic bullet that will flood your showroom with red-hot leads ready to buy day after day.
Give Your Shop’s Website a Tune-Up
It’s time to turn on the virtual "open" sign, dust off the cyber "welcome" mat and get those customers through the door – the web-based door, that is – to your Internet storefront. All things "e," after all, are the alternate entryways to today’s businesses. And while most tire dealers who want pixel portals already
Illinois Dealer Joins AskPatty-Certified Ranks
Ron’s Tire Inc. in Quincy, Ill., is the latest independent tire dealer to join the growing network of AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly Tire Centers in North America. Employees at Ron’s Tire have completed a training and certification process to provide a Certified Female Friendly experience that exceeds women’s expectations. "We recognized the growing influence of
The Price Crisis: A Special Report
As with any consumer good industry, tire prices have seen near consistent twice-annual increases for as long as anyone can remember. In tougher times, perhaps only one price hike; don’t want to chase away the consumer, after all! January would bring one increase, and June the second. In both cases, those increases were erased within
N.C. Shop is Newest AskPatty.com Certified Dealer
Burlington Tire Service in Burlington, N.C., is the latest shop to join AskPatty.com’s network of Certified Female Friendly Tire and Service Centers. The program was developed jointly by AskPatty.com and Tire Review magazine, and is available to tire retailers across North America. “When I first started this business, my late mother in-law, whose husband died
If It Smells Six Years Old or Older, Just Leave It on the Shelf
Like many Americans, I am fully convinced that our so-called "neighbors to the North" have designs on our country. They have been ‘attacking’ America and the American way of life for so long, most people don’t even notice when those overly polite toque wearers launch another foray onto these shores. First they started speaking regular
Business Myths: Why They’re Wrong and What to do About Them
What if we are wrong? What if our most deeply held beliefs about managing tire dealerships are at best misguided and at worst a complete waste of time and money?What if: • More door swings didn’t lead to more sales? • Commissions didn’t really drive sales performance? • Following up with customers made them like
How Health Care Reform Affects Small Businesses
There’s plenty of debate about whether the new health care reform bill is good for America. Whatever your views, it looks like the Affordable Care Act – a massive piece of legislation passed by Congress in March – is here to stay. The majority of Americans without health insurance are the owners or employees of
The Sugar Plum Fairy Holiday Edition
Marta Jurcic is paying it forward, and she will be for some time. When thieves helped themselves to her newly bought winter tires – stolen right off the car parked under her parents’ carport – the single mom was left wondering how she was going to get around. They took the tires and wheels clean
How Top Dealers Create and Protect Their Brands
There are scores of books and university courses on brands and branding. There is even a publication named Brandweek that covers the latest in branding and branding programs. But when most people think about “brand,” they envision a mega-company, like Coca-Cola or GM. Brands and branding, though, are equally important for small businesses, like tire