Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
February 04, 2002 01:00 AM

Wholesaler's annual meeting on target

Todd Stumpf
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Race car drivers and race tracks dominated the landscape at Target Tire & Automotive Inc.'s annual dealer meeting, Jan. 18-20 in Greenville.

    Guest speakers included racing great Mario Andretti, who appeared courtesy of Bridgestone/Firestone (BFS), along with a sports psychologist who talked about the importance of peak performance and its components.

    Mr. Andretti's appearance was fitting in that Bridgestone/Firestone announced it will roll out the Firehawk Indy 500 tire this May. Mr. Andretti-whose son, Michael, is also an oval track champ-is a former Indianapolis 500 champion.

    ``Everyone was excited to hear what (Mr. Andretti) had to say,'' said Howard Stein, president of Target Tire, which is primarily a Southeast-based wholesale company serving Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

    The new BFS Indy tire and several others were introduced at the meeting by BFS's John Gamauf, vice president of consumer dealer sales (see story on page 3).

    Meanwhile, Mr. Stein reaffirmed his company's loyalty to the American Car Care Centers Inc. dealer marketing group, noting the format for the opening night of Target Tire's yearly get-together will be changed: The Friday night dinner will now be dedicated to ACCC, a practice that Target actually began last year.

    ``Despite the fact we have 230 Michelin Alliance accounts, we still are hanging our hat on American Car Care Centers,'' Mr. Stein said.

    The rest of the weekend featured meetings on Saturday afternoon, a banquet that evening, and a Sunday roundtable discussion that afforded dealers a chance to ask questions about Target Tire. They also had the opportunity to query fellow dealers about their businesses and how they handle different situations that arise, Mr. Stein said.

    The meeting also included give-aways-two participants left with $10,000 cash prizes from a reverse drawing-along with a trade show where tire suppliers and various equipment manufacturers could show off their wares.

    >From Target's point of view, the highlight of the meeting may have been the sale of more than 100,000 tires. Special deals were available for dealers in attendance, according to Mr. Stein, with incentive-laden packages available such as a trip for two to Las Vegas.

    He estimated attendance at about 600, including Target employees, suppliers, dealers and spouses. The executive was happy with the turnout and the meeting in general.

    ``My perspective might be different from those in attendance,'' he said. ``From mine, it's the best meeting we ever had. From a planning perspective, it went very smoothly.''

    Jacksonville, N.C.-based Target has 10 distribution centers and annual sales of more than $100 million.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Tire Discounters grows again, adds Skip Cottrell's
    2
    Icahn-owned Auto Plus files for Chapter 11 protection
    3
    Truck sector leads U.S. tire market; consumer down
    4
    K&M welcomes dealers to annual conference in Vegas
    5
    Black's Tire Service holds leadership conference
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION