How well does the average consumer know the needs of his or her vehicle? Years ago, before many readers here can remember, when you brought your car into a gas station for a fill-up, someone came out to not only pump your gas, but also check your oil and your tires’ pressure levels. And you were kept informed on your vehicle’s condition.  

Are mergers and acquisitions still going on during this very strange time, you ask? The short answer is yes.

Tariffs are in the news again. This time around, consumer tires made in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam are now under the microscope. MTD Editor Mike Manges analyzes the first written broadside in the United Steelworkers' pro-tariff campaign.

Some days, it may seem like you were busier than all get-out, but you didn’t make any money. Other days seemed slow, but you were stunned at how much cash you generated. Sometimes the retail world doesn’t make any sense, does it?

There are many ways to measure your store’s performance, but at the end of the day, most of them hinge on customer satisfaction.

Your tire business is likely the most valuable asset that you and your family own. Let’s see what capital sources you can tap now to protect your business and your family during this challenging time.

Know your customer. This is important in any business, whether you are selling tires, or you are in my line of work, investment banking.

The repair wasn’t done right.” Ever hear this from a customer? About 75% of the time, this statement results in the dreaded service “comeback.” That leaves 25% of your customer base that doesn’t even give you a chance to even make things right. 

Modern Tire Dealer columnist Dennis McCarron has some practical tips for dealing with the vampires that rob us of time. One example is the “buddy system” for taking care of “drop-in vampires,” i.e., vendors who show up unannounced.  

Modern Tire Dealer columnist Michael McGregor explains why predictive vehicle maintenance solutions make the managed car care concept more relevant than ever.

Ever since the last recession, the national average net profit for tire dealers has hovered around 2.5% to 3%.

It was the strangest exit interview in my life. I was leaving for a start-up, so the CEO of my soon-to-be-former-employer knew he couldn’t talk me out of leaving.

Most independent tire dealers get into the tire and automotive service business because they enjoy fixing vehicles or selling things. Many probably started working for a larger chain or their father/mother/grandparents and got pretty good at fixing and selling, so they thought, “I’d like to be my own boss doing this.”  And they scraped together enough cash, took on enormous debt, and hung their shingle outside. 

A customer walks in with a part and wants you to install it. Should you do it? Dennis McCarron helps you answer the question.

Being human, we all can have preconceived notions about other people, and often will view them through the prism of our own experience.

I’m no economist, but there sure are a lot of them writing and talking about a possible recession. If a recession is indeed around the corner, I hope it happens later than sooner. But either way, we must prepare our businesses to ensure they weather the storm. I truly believe that those of us who take the right steps will come out on the other side in good shape.

Measuring payroll against gross profit is critical, but cutting payroll or reducing head count aren't the only ways to bolster the bottom line. The best practice is to involve the whole store in making improvements.

Do you really need more employees? Step through your store numbers with Dealer Strategic Planning's George Kingman. The results may be one of the most eye-opening things you can discover in 30 minutes with a calculator.

Politics. Religion. Alldata vs. Mitchell 1. Flat rate versus any other pay plan. Yes, I’m going there. I want to address pay plans, but not in a way you’re probably expecting.

People often ask me, “What is a 20 Group?” Every time I am asked, I truly have to think of the answer because a 20 Group is so many different things to different people.

I'm always looking for potential 'fires' in a client's business. The trouble is, a person can pour gasoline on a hot spot and no one recognizes a problem until it's out of control. The solution: training and no shortcuts.