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Random Notes From the South Side

Back from another SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo, as are a supposed 140,000-plus other people in Las Vegas for the automotive world’s biggest week. Word was that the combined SEMA-AAPEX world was up considerably from the year prior, good news coming on the back-end of a seemingly endless recession. Colleagues over at AAPEX report that it

To Put This in Your Hands

While scanning a recent TIA email about its government affairs, I was dumbstruck by one statement that smacked me hard: “Currently, about 17% of tires sold are registered.” One-seven-percent, as in 17 out of 100 tires sold are actually registered so that the owners can be quickly and easily notified should there be a safety-related

Finally…A Colorful Picture

Thirty years ago when I joined this industry, it was quite enough to know that there were “dozens of tire companies” (when BFGoodrich and Firestone and many others were stand-alone companies) and “25,000 independent tire dealers” in the U.S. That was that and no one questioned what then passed for “market intelligence.” We had little

Talking to Myself About Those Missing Labels

Speaking of unfinished business, didn’t TIA say it was high time that NHTSA finally issue that Congressionally mandated tire fuel efficiency testing, labeling and consumer education program? Didn’t they scream that it was taking too long? A: Well, “scream” is probably the wrong word here, but yes, they did suggest that point. Back in 2011.

Arming You for the Future

It’s a different business world that we inhabit, to be sure. And for independent tire dealers, the future is a scarier place than at any time in history. Tire dealers today have concerns beyond the basics of sales and profits. Their ability to compete is challenged by changing consumer attitudes, a still-strained economy, seem­ingly untethered

Tires? Cars? Or NHTSA?

Where is the burning in eff­igy? Where are the “must-see” daytime Congress­ional hearings on TV? Where is the loud-n-long public outcry and local news stations bleating endlessly about how a corporation could so callously produce dangerous products and stand by while people were being killed? Sounds a lot like the great Ford-Firestone recall of 2000,

Building a New Experience

Three dealer meetings in three cities. Two words. One focus. “Purchasing experience” or “brand experience” – whatever phrase you prefer – were oft-cited and oft-repeated as the best pathway to today’s “consumer.” Whether that “consumer” is a mom with three kids or a tough-as-nails fleet manager or a penny-mining mine operator, their “purchasing experience” with

Starting to See Some Light

A new Springsteen album is always cause for celebration, and his latest is a mix of new, re-polished older songs and covers. In total, “High Hopes” is a cautionary counter to the foreboding “Wrecking Ball.” Just enough optimism to make you feel like everything will be OK. Just enough warning to keep you alert. The

Whenever and Wherever

Back in the mid-1960s, the three TV networks all made much of their conversion from black-and-white to “Now in living color!” broadcasts. It was like that transition in “The Wizard of Oz,” when Dorothy awoke after being carried away in the tornado. The screen of my parents’ old box black-and-white set had the faint image

For a Few Dollars More

Even as we were congratulating ourselves for dodging the sweeps month hidden camera run NBC’s Today Show took at tire and repair shops, a more compelling story ran on Nov. 21 on WTVD-TV in Raleigh/Durham, N.C. Investigative reporter Steve Daniels bought a few used tires from local shops, products promoted as “safe” by the stores,

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It’s Off to…

So it’s off to Vegas I go. * * * * * * * It’s Nov. 12 now, it’s snowing and I’m back from the dry desert and not-as-crowded-as-thought Las Vegas Convention Center. While the SEMAfolks were decreeing “record-breaking” attendance – up 7% YoY – the walls and displays at the South Hall must have

Thinking Local First

Millions in incentives go to the big boxers, so what are you going to do about it? Here’s a start