In a private event in Nashville aboard the General Jackson showboat, Tire Review Editor Patti Hoying revealed its October cover announcing Tate Boys Tire & Service as its 2018 Top Shop Winner.

The seven-location independent tire dealership, based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is owned by partners Craig Tate and Marty Schoenthaler and was a Top Shop Finalist in 2011 before securing the honor as the winner this year.

The winner of the Tire Review Top Shop award determined by an independent panel of judges and the only industry award that recognizes the operational excellence and community commitment of tire dealerships.

According to Hoying, it’s not about being the biggest – it’s about being the best.

“Tate Boys is a prime example of what happens when you bring together people with a positive mindset and set higher expectations from the bottom up, that each and every individual across the organization is the most important member of a team focused on the customer experience while having fun with what they do,” Hoying said.

The exclusive Top Shop event brings together the “Final Four” – the four finalist shops – of the Top Shop competition for three days of interaction and high-value content to further improve both their business and approach to the industry. On the opening night dinner of the event each year, the winner is revealed out of the businesses that made it into the Final Four for a shared celebration. Past Top Shop Winners and Finalists also attend, adding to the value of the event.

Also recognized as 2018 Top Shop Finalists are:

• Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma, Washington, owned by Scott and Susan Welsh; a Top Shop Finalist in 2015
• Eagle Tire Pros of Jacksonboro, Tennessee, owned by Tony Johnson.
• Tire Source Neighborhood Car Care of Akron, Ohio, owned by Tom White and Drew Dawson.

As part of the continued generous support by competition sponsor Coats, part of Hennessy Industries, each shop recognized at the event will win a piece of Coats equipment of their choice along with a cash award, trophy and bragging rights. The Winner will also be recognized at the Tire Industry Honors event at SEMA at in Las Vegas later in October.

Full details on each Top Shop, along with highlights and insights from the event, to come in the October and November issues of Tire Review.