TCi Tire Centers will open eight new full-service distribution centers in the first quarter of 2012. The eight new locations will bring TCi’s distribution center total to 86.
“With this expansion we are going to grow from seven to eight regions,” said Jim Borkey, senior vice president of distribution for TCi Tire Centers. “We’re going to bring a new regional director on. Within each region, the regional directors will have 10 or 11 centers that they will be responsible for.”
The expansion will focus on key growth markets for TCi. The eight new locations will be added in: Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Houston, Texas; Long Island, N.Y.; Lubbock, Texas; Richmond, Va.; San Jose, Calif.; and Toledo, Ohio. The Atlanta, Chicago and Houston locations will be the second TCi centers in those markets.
“We need second locations in those markets to become effective at providing the service our customers really require,” Borkey explained. “Toledo, Ohio, is key market for us with Detroit nearby. We can service Detroit as well as northeast Indiana.”
Borkey said the expansion is the result of an increased demand from TCi’s passenger and light truck retail customers throughout the U.S. The company is currently working through lease agreements for the eight new locations, and expects to have leases signed in the next 30 days.
“The idea of these eight locations is to open within the first quarter of 2012, to be fully operational by the end of March,” said Borkey.
The company is no stranger to expansions. In April TCi expanded its commercial side of the business (see “TCi ups its commercial center count to 64”).
“Over the last four years we have expanded,” said Borkey. “The good news is, everybody who has been part of that expansion is here to do it again, both internally and externally.”
Headquartered in Duncan, S.C., TCi is a wholly owned subsidiary of Michelin North America Inc. The company’s two divisions are distribution and commercial. The distribution division serves passenger and light truck tire retailers across the country. TCi supports its truck and earthmover customers from its 68 commercial centers located throughout the United States.
The company also operates 10 Michelin Retread Technologies plants throughout the country. For more information on TCi Tire Centers, visit www.tirecenters.com.
