July 26, 2010
Expand and deliver
'More stores!' say the top dealers in the U.S.
By: Bob Ulrich
Plans for 2010
Hennelly Tire & Auto Inc. first made the MTD 100 in 2006, when its 12 The Tire Choice & Total Car Care stores tied for 91st place. Four years later, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based independent tire store chain is one of the fastest-growing in the country, with 28 stores and plans for further growth. It is tied for 41st place on the list.
The 28th Tire Choice & Total Car Care opened in South Tampa last month. It was “an acquired Goodyear location in a very high income market,” according to Chairman and CEO Dan Hennelly. He says three more stores will be opening by the end of the year. “We are back to opening up a new store every six to eight weeks.”
Some of the other top dealers also have growth plans:
• Jack Williams Tire Co. Inc., Scranton, Pa. (26 stores, 45th on the MTD 100), is eyeing additional retail and wholesale locations.
• Grismer Tire Co., Dayton, Ohio (24 stores, 49th), is constructing its fifth store in the Columbus, Ohio, area, according to Vice President John Marshall.
• Ziegler Tire & Supply Co., Massillon, Ohio (18 stores, 64th), will look at expanding “as the economy improves.”
• Evans Tire & Service Center Inc., Carlsbad, Calif. (17 stores, 67th), wants to add outlets and increase its market share in metropolitan San Diego.
• Morpheus Investments dba Tire Works Total Car Care, Las Vegas, Nev. (13 stores, 83rd), will open its 14th outlet, in Warm Springs, Nev., within the next month.
When asked, “Do you plan to add or drop a tire brand in 2010?” two thirds of the respondents to the MTD 100 survey answered “yes.” Of those, 50% said they were planning to add a brand; more than 40% answered “both.” ■
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