The Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG) and Friend Tire Co., which operates the Nationwide Tire Dealers Program, have announced the initial formation of a combined marketing group. "We will initially market the group as a combination ITDG/NTD Marketing Group," says ITDG CEO and President Mike Cox. "This basically takes the ITDG national."
The ITDG has 103 members representing 307 retail tire and service centers. The Nationwide Tire Dealers Program has more than 300 affiliate members. (These members use Friend Tire as a distributor.)
Through the new group, both ITDG and Nationwide's offerings will be available to members of each organization.
"Not only do the programs complement each other," says Cox, "geographically, the fit could not be any better. The ITDG is concentrated in 11 western states, while the Nationwide Tire Dealers Program is concentrated in the (midwestern) south through Texas.
"Combined, the (new program) would encompass more than 400 dealers representing more than 800 retail locations."
Administrative and accounting functions will be handled at ITDG's office. "ITDG will be working with and training the (Nationwide) managers and sales associates on the ITDG program," says Cox.
Friend Tire President Don Isbell calls ITDG "a perfect fit" with his company's program, which started one year ago. "We will begin immediately to explore the opportunities presented by this new configuration," he says.
Nationwide members also will have access to the ITDG's captive insurance program, The Independent Innovative Captive Insurance Co.
