At 85 years of age, Les Schwab still has a big impact on the tire industry.
Schwab and his Les Schwab Tire Centers empire are featured in a recent Associated Press story by Gillian Flaccus. The "tire baron" is celebrating the start of his second 50 years as an independent tire dealer.
In the article, Modern Tire Dealer Editor Bob Ulrich praised Schwab for exceptional service: "Dealers from around the United States will travel to Les' stores to see how he does business. Superb customer service is the key, and Les just happens to be better at it than anyone else."
Ross Kogel, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association, says Schwab's attention to service is extraordinary. "His business is used as a model for businesses in other service-based industries.
"He also has fundamentally improved the image of the tire industry in the eyes of consumers. That's a key goal of the Tire Industry Association's strategic long-term plan."
Schwab was MTD's 2000 Tire Dealer of the Year.
Les Schwab Tire Centers is the second largest independent tire dealer in the U.S. with 261 stores.
