Daniel Perez
Purchasing analyst | Tire Group International | Miami, Fl. | Age: 33
What was your first job in the industry?
My first job in the tire industry was as a warehouse worker. I began in August 2016 working in the warehouse at Tire Group International loading, unloading, and picking tires.
What attracted you to the industry?
The fact that tires are used everyday, everywhere, and by almost everyone. It seemed like an economy-proof industry but also an industry of large opportunity for a company like Tire Group International.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
The pandemic was probably the toughest. We experienced freight increases from $3,500 to $21,000. Then after taking about 18 months to increase and hit the top it dropped back down to the bottom in about four to six months. The quick drop-off has left many wholesalers upside down on cost for product that had been received with high freight.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
The guys closest to me that I’ve seen make it happen. Randy Mayers has been in the industry for over 40 years and has taught me a lot about tires. Other people who have taught me the ropes include Luis Escoto on the buying side and Joaquin Gonzalez Jr for giving me the opportunity to continuously grow and achieve new milestones.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?
Being promoted from within the company. I started from the bottom and now I’m the purchasing analyst. Other accomplishments would be having been responsible for negotiating large deals that we’ve scored which resulted in large profits for the company.
Tell us about your current job and responsibilities. How do you spend your workday?
On a typical workday, I begin by reviewing market prices for newly listed inventory and making necessary adjustments. I usually start the day tackling early morning emails and analyzing incoming offers. Around midday, I take a stroll through our warehouse to assess inventory being loaded onto trucks for recently sold items and to check the container unloading progress. Wrapping up my day, I focus on reviewing work orders, monitoring stock movement, making pricing adjustments based on supply and demand, and procuring additional tires as needed.
What's been the biggest surprise of your current job?
The biggest surprise has been having to adapt to the quick changes that have occurred during the last 12 months which include the normalizing of freight rates and its adverse effect on cost of goods and market pricing of SKU’s.
Tell us about your family.
My family is rooted in ambition and dedication. My parents have been steady pillars of strength in their careers, with my father excelling as a finance director for the city, and my mother demonstrating her expertise as an oncology nurse, both accumulating over 35 years of experience.
My fiancé is a nurse like my mother, and together, we cherish the joys of raising our almost 2-year-old son.
If you could wake up tomorrow with one new skill, what would you choose?
If I could acquire a new skill overnight, I would choose machine learning. This would enable me to automate daily tasks and decisions in an ideal scenario. With proficiency in machine learning, I could also engage in forecasting and prediction, ultimately streamlining the activities of a regular workday.
In a single word, how would your friends describe you?
Hustler. I’ve always been the go-getter that strives to grow and succeed through my entrepreneurial skills.
If you could switch jobs for a day, what job/who would you choose to swap with, and why?
If I were to change roles for a day, I believe I'd opt for a position in sales. The insights gained from a purchasing background would provide a solid base for effectively engaging in selling and generating new business opportunities.
What's the biggest issue facing the tire industry?
The tire industry faces significant challenges, including the underutilization and insufficient analysis of data for accurate future forecasting. In the truck tire sector, several factors, such as the shortage of drivers and reduced demand for trucking, greatly impact supply and demand dynamics. Even industry giants like Yellow Corp.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing contribute to these issues.
In the passenger and light truck segment, the proliferation of various tire sizes and tread designs presents a challenge for purchasing teams to stock a wide array of SKUs, catering to the diverse needs of markets like South Florida. The constant emergence of new sizes, like 21s, 23s, and R/Ts, and the current focus on EV tires further compounds the complexity.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a kid I wanted to grow up and be an entrepreneur.
What goal did you set for yourself this year? Are you on track to reach it?
Earn more, save more, and spend less. I have achieved that both at home and in the office. Focusing on strategic buying at the grocery store and even from factory floor inventories! I practice what I preach, and it has paid off.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now?
I hope to be running a business with my son in the tire industry!
