SRNA Will Hold COVID-19 Falken Dealer Resource Forums

April 10, 2020

In a proactive move to keep its dealer network current on all activities related to the COVID-19 impact on the tire industry, Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc. (SRNA) will launch a bi-monthly, 45- to 60- minute, Internet-based SRNA COVID-19 Dealer Resource Forum.

The first forum session will take place on April 14.

“SRNA brand Falken Tires will be central to the discussion, as SRNA executives intend on reaching out to direct and associate dealers to cover trending issues and provide market data to help dealers gain a better understanding of the true market conditions today,” according to SRNA officials. 

Consumer, commercial truck and Dunlop-brand motorcycle tires will be covered in the discussion.

“Based on the fact that large quantities of the U.S. population are under shelter-in-place orders, we felt now was the best time to have a dedicated conversation with our dealers about modifications to their operations, as well as discuss adapting marketing and sales efforts to accommodate a severely modified marketplace,” says Darren Thomas, Falken’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.

“Our goal is to provide a resource to collect and distribute information we’ve developed internally, as well as gathered from our external sources, to help our tire dealers cope in this challenging and dynamic business environment,” he adds.

SRNA direct and associate dealers will be receiving invitations to the forum.