MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Jan. 25, 2002) — Tire Barn Warehouse has joined the American Car Care Centers (ACCC) marketing group as a member distributor in the state of Indiana.
Tire Barn was founded in Anderson, Ind., in 1930 as a distributor and retailer of petroleum products and tires, batteries and accessories. The business grew substantially in central Indiana and, in the early 1970's, Tire Barn outlets installed milk and pop coolers in place of hydraulic lifts, becoming some of the first convenience stores in the country. The hope that tires could be sold profitably in a location that also sold gasoline was always a passion, and in 1977, Chris Jones —a third-generation family member involved in the business — was given the project to develop the Tire Barn Warehouse concept, according to a statement from ACCC.
The family owned company's corporate name is Everybody's Oil Corp., but does business as Tire Barn Warehouse. It has 21 company owned stores in Indiana and two in Illinois. Everybody´s Oil is ranked the 27th-largest independent dealership in the nation by Tire Business, with a total of 40 outlets.
The dealership carries a variety of brands, including the Michelin Americas Small Tires (MAST) line-up, Goodyear, Peerless, Toyo and various wheels, with a strictly retail focus on tires and custom wheels.
Chris Jones, president of Tire Barn, said “the timing is right for a 2002 kickoff with American Car Care Centers. We are highly motivated to market ACCC and it's benefits. The programs that are offered will significantly enhance our current offerings. We've always had a road hazard warranty, but will now have the response to the customer question of 'What happens if I'm traveling out of state?'”
Tire Barn Warehouse said it attributes a great deal of its success to satisfying customers and doing “whatever it takes.”
Among other benefits of joining the American Car Care group, Mr. Jones said, are ACCC's credit card program, as well as its American Radial private label. “We fly a 20-foot by 30-foot American flag in front of our stores,” he added, “and this should be a natural line for us.”
Len Lewin, ACCC's president and COO, noted that Tire Barn “will be a solid addition to the group. Chris has strong relationships with many of our members and will fill a void that has existed in Indiana since the inception of American Car Care Centers.”
He called Tire Barn a “quality organization” that has earned “a great reputation not only in their market but also throughout the industry. Their marketing expertise will certainly be a plus to our group, and we are very excited to have them as a part of the organization.”
With the addition of Tire Barn, ACCC currently has 19 member distributors and more than 1,050 retail locations.