“The industry looks considerably different than it did 15 years ago, both in the retail marketplace and the manufacturing and distribution arenas,” says Dave Marks, president and CEO of the Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC. “It’s impacting all sides of the market.” 

Program and dealer groups have been around for decades. But due to continued consolidation, changing consumer preferences and other factors, it could be argued that the need for these organizations is greater than ever. 

It’s now the second quarter of the new year. As you take your first real deep breath from the grip of COVID-19 and how it has affected your business, I would like to remind you that you are not alone.

Let’s be honest - a few of you read the headline of this article and thought I was referring to one of the many tire brands that you sell. This is certainly not unexpected, considering our industry and the various tire brands that are out there. However, there is one brand that means more to your business than any other. It is built and tested everyday, but not inside a manufacturing plant. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration has increased the top amount that small businesses can borrow through its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

What do you think of when you hear the word “sustainability?” For many years, the term, in my mind, evoked thoughts of recycling and other ordinary, everyday practices that fall under the general umbrella of “environmental friendliness.” But there’s so much more to how sustainability is now defined within our industry.

Anyone who has worked in the tire and automotive repair business for even a week will be familiar with metrics -  important financial and operational milestones or ratios used to evaluate how efficiently and profitably a store is run.  

This is the time of year when your dealership is ramping upward and into the spring selling season. As such, if you were not already looking to add staffing, you may be now. Here's how to attract and land those "big fish" who will help move your business forward.

The heavy-duty truck market is off to a "hot" start in 2021, "with numbers that build on 2020's strong close," according to ACT Research.

The Tire Industry Association recently joined other trade associations in signing a letter in support of the Death Tax Repeal Act, which was reintroduced in 2019.

"Cooper gives Goodyear a stronger brand in the middle of the market," says John Healy, managing director and research analyst with Northcoast Research Holdings LLC., which specifically follows both Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. The two companies have announced that Goodyear plans to acquire Cooper during the second half of 2021.

In the small town of Garrison, N.D., Farmers Union Oil, a tire dealership and farm cooperative based about 75 miles north of Bismarck, has been helping both customers and the community in which it operates for nearly 100 years. Paul Schlichting, Farmers Union Oil's general manager, discusses the co-op's tire operations in this MTD exclusive.

"If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected," says Jeff Morgan. "Having plans in place for every possible calamity prepares you and your business to 'weather the storm.'" In this MTD exclusive, Morgan tells you how to get ahead of potential crisis situations - and how to manage those that do occur.

The Tire Industry Association is keeping an eye on COVID-19 relief, Paycheck Protection Plan benefits and other front-and-center issues that directly impact independent tire dealers. Association officials provide more information - including why you should take maximum advantage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit - here.

It is safe to say that 2020 was a stressful year. Nearly every facet of your business was pushed to the limit, and while 2021 seems to be shaping up as an improvement over last year, the first half is not without its challenges. In this MTD exclusive, Dennis McCarron explains why finding a stress relief valve for your employees is critical.

With 2020 drawing to a close, it’s time for you to work "on" your business, not "in" your business, according to tire industry expert Jeff Morgan, who shares practical, profit-generating action items that will set your dealership up for a successful 2021.

A bipartisan group of senators has announced a national $908 billion COVID-19 relief "framework" that earmarks $288 billion for Paycheck Protection Program loans and other supports for small businesses.