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Bob Ulrich's Editorial

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Policy control: Do you allow employees to bring guns to work?
April 23, 2013

Policy control: Do you allow employees to bring guns to work?  

Gun control may be the hottest topic on all government levels: federal, state and local. The Obama Administration wants to enact legislation that will not only make background checks more rigorous, but also ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Editorial, gun control

Comments(4)

Retailers on wholesalers
March 20, 2013

Retailers on wholesalers  

The tire wholesale distribution channel has changed a great deal in the last 10 years. The big got bigger. And the larger distributors stopped being just “tire wholesalers.”

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Editorial, Wholesale

Anchors aweigh or away?
February 13, 2013

Anchors aweigh or away?  

Our name for them is “anchor brands.” Almost all tire dealers have them. They are the brands to which you tie your name, often by posting a sign on or outside your store. Or both.

Tags: Anchor, Big 3, Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Bridgestone, Editorial, Goodyear, Michelin

Back to the basics
January 24, 2013

Back to the basics  

One side says increasing taxes is the answer. The other side says cutting spending is the answer. Neither side has shown any respect for the other.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Editorial, Sales basics, Tire sales

Is MSRP the new MVP?
December 18, 2012

Is MSRP the new MVP?  

Remember when Michelin North America Inc. implemented its Maximum Value Policy (MVP) program on BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO light truck tires some 12 years ago? The program was designed to protect the tire’s profit margins and beef-up sales.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Editorial, MSRP

Comments(1)

Tariff out, imports in
November 7, 2012

Tariff out, imports in  

OK, I admit it. I was wrong about President Barack Obama extending the 25% tariff on consumer tire imports from China.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Chinese tariffs, Editorial, Tariffs

A plug for the tire plug?
October 18, 2012

A plug for the tire plug?  

Many years ago, shortly after I joined Modern Tire Dealer, I had to get one of my tires repaired. It had a nail hole in the tread, so the dealer gave me a choice of repairs.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Tire repair

Milestones and memories
September 14, 2012

Milestones and memories  

What may be the longest-lasting handshake agreement in the publishing industry has come to a close. The “almost” 40-year run of the Ludwig Report is over.

Tags: Bob Sullivan, Greg Smith, Ludwig Report, MTD Tire Dealer of the Year, Publisher's Notes, Saul Ludwig, Tire Dealer of the Year

Going global in your backyard
August 21, 2012

Going global in your backyard  

Once a year, the tire industry gathers buyers and sellers together in Las Vegas, Nev., for one week of face-to-face business meetings and seminars. This year, the Global Tire Expo will be held Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, SEMA Show, TIA, Tire Industry Association

Obama vs. Romney on your business
July 27, 2012

Obama vs. Romney on your business  

The 2012 election for president of the United States is just around the corner, and I think it is important that you understand what each of the primary candidates thinks about small business.

Tags: Bob Ulrich editorial, Elections, Mitt Romney, President Obama, Presidential race

Comments(1)

Driving in our country is a gas, gas, gas
June 19, 2012

Driving in our country is a gas, gas, gas  

The price of a gallon of gasoline in Europe is more than $8. Could that one day be the price of gas here in the United States?

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Bob Ulrich editorial, Editorial, Gas prices

Brand awareness
May 31, 2012

Brand awareness  

The story you are about to read is true. The names have been eliminated to protect the innocent — and the guilty.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Brand Awareness, Editorial

Sticker shock
April 24, 2012

Sticker shock  

Sometimes the government tries to do too much. Tire labeling and tire aging are cases in point.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Sticker shock, Tire aging, Tire labeling

Bob Bissler, Senior Editor, MTD
March 14, 2012

Get put to the test  

Before anyone can perform tire service, they must be trained in a myriad of techniques and procedures from identifying lifting points and raising vehicles to evaluating and repairing damaged tires.

Tags: Automotive Tire Service, Bob Bissler, Certification, Editorial, TIA, Tire Industry Association, Training

Women really are from Venus
February 28, 2012

Women really are from Venus  

What percentage of your customers are women? Fifty percent? Eighty percent? More than 80%?

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Selling to Women

3 things to ignore in 2012
January 25, 2012

3 things to ignore in 2012  

Every year, industry experts try to predict what will become the hottest items on the market, or what the latest advancements will be. I think the proper word is “futurecasting.”

A time of heartfelt reflection
December 20, 2011

A time of heartfelt reflection  

As another year comes to an end, it seems only natural to reflect on the last 12 months. Reflection on past mistakes, like constructive criticism, is always good, in my opinion. At the very least, it allows past mistakes to become life lessons.

Tags: ARA, Bob Ulrich, Ed Wagner, Editorial, Jerry White

Are tire prices too high? I say yes
November 1, 2011

Are tire prices too high? I say yes  

With apologies to Bob Barker and Drew Carey, the Price is Wrong, not Right. I’m referring to consumer tire prices, which have been increasing rapidly, and regularly, for the last four years.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, Tire prices

Comments(12)

New fuel efficiency mandates will kill some of the tire competition
October 19, 2011

New fuel efficiency mandates will kill some of the tire competition  

Don’t expect any new players in the replacement truck and bus tire market anytime soon. The United States government doesn’t seem to want them.

Tags: Bob Ulrich, CAFE standards, Editorial, EPA, Going green

Getting down to business
September 28, 2011

Getting down to business  

Is there anything that separates a Tire Dealer of the Year from the average dealer? Just what is it that makes him or her so special?

Tags: Bob Ulrich, Editorial, MTD Tire Dealer of the Year, Tire Dealer of the Year

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