Summit Tires of Mass recently held its annual open dealer meeting in Waltham, Mass., which was attended by 150 dealers from all over New England, reports Ben Kravitz, president.
The meeting featured presentations from Michelin North America, Continental Tire North America Inc., Falken Tire and Yokohama Tire Corp. Each manufacturer gave the dealers an early look at the new products and promotions they have planned for 2008, Kravitz reports.
Former Boston Celtics player JoJo White was a featured speaker. "He noted the success of this year’s Celtics was based on their performing as a team instead of as a bunch of independent stars," says Kravitz. "The message was clear that any organization -- whether it’s a team or a business -- has to work together with the same goals to be effective." White also helped kick off the new alliance between the Boston Celtics and Yokohama.
Other discussions involved the need to diligently watch expenses this time of year. The importance of regularly shopping for professional services -- including accounting, banking legal and insurance -- also was discussed.
The meeting was capped off by a car giveaway, the top prize in a yearlong promotion co-sponsored by Michelin. Rob Davies from Davies Tire in Portsmouth, N.H., won the 2008 Pontiac Solstice convertible. Al Berardi from Berardi’s Automotive in Milford, Mass., won a 50-inch LCD TV.
"The meeting proved to be a great escape from the February doldrums," says Kravitz. "Everyone left with new ideas that will either help save them money, help make them money or just make their lives easier and more productive."
