The wholesale division of Black’s Tire Service Inc. regularly plans events for its customers, bringing in vendors, trainers and speakers to talk about how they can improve their businesses. In 2020, that’s proven to be more important than ever. And so with safety precautions in place, the show will go on.
BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors will host its own SEMA event Nov. 12-14 at the company’s warehouse and training center in Cayce, S.C. But in this case SEMA stands for:
- Sales partnerships
- Equipment and supplies
- Manufacturers support
- Action plan for future together
Rick Benton says safety protocols for the event will be in place and “are our top priority.” That’s why the company is hosting dealers at one of its warehouses just outside of Columbia, S.C. They can utilize space inside and outside and open up doors of the warehouse to keep fresh air flowing. Dealers can come for a single day or more, as training sessions and the trade show will be open multiple days.
The important thing, Benton said, is that even though every BTS customer has found a way to conduct business in the challenging circumstances presented by COVID-19, there’s value in getting people together.
“You can’t take the people out of it,” he said. “We can safely do business and take all precautions to keep our BTS family dealers safe.”
Masks and hand sanitizer will be available, and during sit-down training sessions capacity will be limited. In the classroom people will be spread apart more than the standard six feet.
Frankie Underwood, wholesale director of sales for BTS Tire & Wheel, says the idea is “to literally give our dealers the opportunity to get some fresh air (and) a day or so away where they can clear their mind and gain insight.”
By meeting with other tire dealers and automotive repair store owners, Underwood says the BTS customers can talk with their peers about operational strategies that have worked in 2020. They also can discuss how their businesses have been affected and gain insights on the larger industry. Suppliers and manufacturers will share how they’re preparing for the new year.
Benton says “we’re always putting our customers first” and searching for ways to help them and make their businesses better.
Underwood says BTS will stress what it “is doing as their partner to help them succeed in these uncertain times.” He says BTS distributes “tires, equipment, supplies and hope.”
Dealers can find more information and RSVP at www.BTStire.net.
