PORTLAND, Ore. — Family is an important motivator for Eric Gill and his Gills Point S dealership.
That is why when the longtime tire dealer looks to expand his business, he eyes family-owned dealerships.
Family was the common denominator over the 12 months as the Portland-based dealership took over ownership of 11 dealerships, accounting for 20 retail locations.
"They were all family-run and -owned businesses that wanted to continue to be run like a family-owned business," Gill told Tire Business.
"They wanted to make sure that the culture of a family atmosphere continued, and many of the former owners have continued on with the company in various capacities."
At last count, Gills Point S operates 67 locations in nine states: Oregon, Idaho and Montana in the West and Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont in the East. That scale of operation makes the business one of the 20 largest independent retail dealerships in the U.S., according to Tire Business calculations.
Around 150 employees joined the organization through the acquisitions, bringing to around 600 the number of workers that Gills Point S employs.
"It's been busy but exciting," Gill said. "It's great to see the team growing and our current employees coming together to help welcome the new acquisitions to the Gills family."
After taking over 15 points of sale in 2023 in seven separate transactions, Gills Point S carried out three more acquisitions in January: Rolling Rubber Point S Tire (three locations in Montana — Miles City, Baker and Glendive); Goodyear Auto Center, in Bend, Ore.; and Berg Tire, Glendive, Mont.
Gill said one of his most favorite highlights is experiencing "the relief that former owners feel once the acquisitions have been completed, knowing that their employees and legacies are taken care of."
Merging cultures of two family-run businesses can be challenging, Gill said, particularly convincing employees to make minor changes in their daily routines and systems.
When Gills first interacts with new locations coming onboard, "we want to continue to support the family-run culture they have while giving them access to more resources and support that a larger company can bring."
Gill said that the stability that the tire industry brings makes it an attractive business, compared to others in industries that experience economic turbulence. The higher interest rates, he believes, have not had a major impact.
And Gills Point S likely has not stopped growing.
"We are always looking for deals and stores that would be a good fit for the company culture," he said.
Gill said he doesn't have a specific number of locations in mind; instead he said Gills Point S wants "to continue to grow and give opportunities to our employees to continue to grow as well."
Gill has spent nearly a quarter of a century in the business. The first big step in the growth of his dealership occurred in 2020 with the acquisition of 10 Vianor-branded retail stores in New England from Finnish tire maker Nokian Tyres P.L.C.
Suddenly, Gill's West Coast-based, family-owned dealership, with 17 stores, had grown nearly 60%, with a presence on each coast.
Today, he travels most weeks, with a goal to visit each location at least once a year.
Gill calls the expansion of the dealership surreal.
"I don't think I ever thought we'd be this big," he said, "but it's a testament to my team and my family who continue to support and adapt to the growth of the organization."