Tony Troilo's Secrets to Success

Nov. 1, 1995

TROILO’S SECRETS TO SUCCESS

Tire dealer Tony Troilo would be the first to tell you there is no secret to his success. He simply follows these basic rules.

  • Study your market.
  • Diversify.
  • Know what you want to and go after it.
  • Hire good people.
  • Make a profit.

Rosson & Troilo Motor Co.’s five retail/commercial stores cover central Virginia. Much of the territory is rural, so Troilo has to make sure he’s a “one-stop shop.”

“We’re so diversified that one market could never break us,” he says.

“If farmers have a drought, or the passenger tire market goes through a recession, or truckers go on strike, we’re still okay.”

That was never more evident than last year, when Troilo lost a bid to supply tires to the state of Virginia—worth some $3 million. He has been the successful bidder on more than one occasion.

Seven years ago he saw a need for towing and recovery service because there were no heavy-duty wreckers in his area. He performs that service as well, with the help of eight wreckers and an all-purpose vehicle. The business paid for itself in less than five years, he says.

“Don’t be afraid to go backward and change if you find you’ve made a mistake. I’ve made plenty of mistakes. You have to regroup and go back at it in a different direction.”

About the Author

Bob Ulrich

Bob Ulrich was named Modern Tire Dealer editor in August 2000 and retired in January 2020. He joined the magazine in 1985 as assistant editor, and had been responsible for gathering statistical information for MTD's "Facts Issue" since 1993. He won numerous awards for editorial and feature writing, including five gold medals from the International Automotive Media Association. Bob earned a B.A. in English literature from Ohio Northern University and has a law degree from the University of Akron.