Nestled in the White Mountains of Arizona - hundreds of miles from any big city - Future Tire & Automotive has found a recipe for success.  

And it includes something that isn’t tangible. 

“As cheesy as it sounds, I think what sets Future Tire apart is love,” says Dave Schonaerts, the dealership’s owner. “I’ve formed bonds with my staff and management team that I feel are really rewarding.  

“I never feel more on track than when a conversation with an employee ends with, ‘Love you, boss.’ We really care about each other here. I think that’s important in any job.” 

‘Self-sufficient’ 

Making sure employees know they’re valued has been one of Schonaerts’ priorities since he bought Future Tire & Automotive, which is headquartered in Show Low, Ariz., six years ago. 

Before taking the reins at the dealership - which is celebrating its 50th year in business and has four retail stores, a commercial tire center and a warehouse - Schonaerts got his start working for Phoenix Tire, a commercial tire dealership owned by his father, Phil Schonaerts.

“The owners of Future Tire were looking for an exit strategy and asked if my dad would be interested, but he was exiting the business, too. He said, ‘You ought to talk to my boy.’ That led to a conversation with the owners and then the bank and here we are!” 

Phil sold Phoenix Tire to Southern Tire Mart LLC. “It was a great move for him and gave me the freedom to see what I could carve out on my own.” 

Coming from a commercial tire background, the younger Schonaerts says he “spent the first 24 months as a new owner wrapping my head around” Future Tire & Automotive’s retail operation.  

Because of Future Tire & Automotive’s remote location, he quickly learned that “we have to be self-sufficient.”  

The company’s distribution center in Show Low supplies tires to the rest of its locations, creating a closed-loop system. “We sell everything from wheelbarrow tires to scraper tires and do everything from oil changes to engine overhauls. 

“The communities we serve are pretty small. We don’t have the volume of customers you’ll find in bigger markets. Our strategy has been to focus on buying right.” 

He says membership in the Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC has helped.

‘Present and involved’ 

“We’re not close to any major metropolitan area,” says Schonaerts.   

Phoenix is 180 miles away. Albuquerque, N.M., is 245 miles away. Flagstaff, Ariz., a smaller city, is a 140-mile drive from Future Tire & Automotive's home base.  

“We’re isolated here. It changes a couple of things. We have to be independent with our inventory. We don’t have just-in-time delivery. I’ve learned to sit on tires.” 

All of Future Tire & Automotive’s 32 employees also pitch in when needed, regardless of the job. “Nobody is too big to be a delivery guy - myself included. My truck has tires in the bed every day. But I don’t mind.” 

Due to a small surrounding population, staffing has been another challenge, says Schonaerts, who recently lost a manager at one of his stores, “I’m currently commuting an hour-and-a-half, door-to-door, every day to manage one of our facilities.” 

Schonaerts’ solution to the staffing shortage “is to take care of those who are on our team, so we don’t lose the talent we have.  

“Several of our store managers have been promoted from being techs. I have two guys who have been with the company for 20-plus years. I have four guys who are pushing 40 years in the industry. They bring an amazing wealth of knowledge to the table.” 

For the time being, Schonaerts says Future Tire & Automotive “is focused on the ‘right now.’ Opportunities for expansion always pop up and I always investigate them, but we’re focused on ourselves.” 

That includes continuing to treat both employees and customers with respect and affection, he adds. “We’re present and involved. It matters.”