Briggs & Sons wins award for commercials
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.-Briggs & Sons Tire won a ``Best of Broadcast'' award at the 2004-2005 Addy competition in Greenville, N.C., for a series of television spots.
The 11-outlet tire dealership's spots feature ``alternate scenarios'' to demonstrate the benefits of Briggs & Sons. In one, the dealership said, a nurse says, ``There are no guarantees,'' while she hands presumably a wrapped baby to a smiling couple. But when the couple pulls back the blanket, the ``bundle'' turns out to be a Boston terrier. The ad goes on to say that Briggs & Sons' service is guaranteed and backed by a nationwide warranty.
The tire dealership also won a Gold Addy award for its commercials.
The commercials were produced by Hodges Associates, a marketing firm based in Fayetteville. The Addy competitions are held annually by local, regional and national chapters of the American Advertising Federation. The awards recognize creativity, originality and creative strategy.
A Goodyear Gemini dealer, Briggs & Sons was founded by Bob and Barbara Briggs in 1972.
ATD focuses on HP biz during dealer meeting
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-American Tire Distributors Inc. recently held its Alliance Dealer Business Conference, which focused on helping dealers grow their high performance tire and wheel business.
The conference, held Feb. 10-13 in San Diego, was dubbed ``Taking it to the Streets.'' Chairman and CEO Richard Johnson said the high-performance market gives ATD customers a chance to compete against big box retailers and major chains, according to a company statement.
``The high-performance consumer will reward a tire retailer with strong loyalty if they inspire confidence and deliver truly personal service,'' Mr. Johnson told attendees.
Other activities included a ride-and-drive event on Michelin and BFGoodrich tires, a speech by football analyst Terry Bradshaw and a reception on the U.S.S. Midway.
Inc. magazine names 2 dealers `fascinating'
NEW YORK-Inc. magazine recently named tire dealers Barry Steinberg and Craig Sumerel among its ``26 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs.''
Mr. Steinberg, president and CEO of Direct Tire & Auto Service in Watertown, Mass., and Mr. Sumerel, vice president of Bob Sumerel Tire in Cincinnati, were honored for founding the National Retail Tire Network, a 12-member peer group. According to the magazine, Mr. Steinberg said members of the group total 275 locations selling 3 million tires a year, with revenues of $500 million annually. The group enjoys a bulk discount and shares information, including financials.
``I can call up a competitor down the street, but we're guarded with one another,'' Mr. Steinberg told the magazine, describing the need for the network.
Inc.'s list was topped by Martha Stewart ``because she took one for the team,'' and included other notable executives such as: Richard Branson of Virgin Group Ltd., majority owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways; Michael Dell of Dell Computer Corp.; Jim Sinegal of Costco Wholesale Corp.; and Craig Newmark of Craigslist.
Sullivan taps CarParts software for ordering
NORWELL, Mass.-Sullivan Tire Co. has converted its online customer services to CarParts Technologies Inc.'s OpenWebs technology in order to streamline the ordering process and cut costs.
Norwell, Mass.-based Sullivan Tire said it selected OpenWebs to allow its customers to check real-time inventory and quote tires and enable wholesale and commercial customers to access account information, according to Auto Data Network, which owns CarParts.
OpenWebs is part of CarParts' suite of integrated applications that automate electronic ordering, point of sale, warehouse management, inventory management and accounting, Auto Data said, to help reduce operational costs, increase revenues and improve customer service.
Sullivan Tire is using the OpenWebs browser-based ordering module to allow commercial fleets, as well as tire and service centers, to purchase tires over the Internet.
``This system brings added value to our customers by streamlining the online ordering process,'' said Paul Sullivan, director of marketing, in a prepared statement. ``OpenWebs offers capabilities that will help us reduce costs, convert paper orders to more accurate online orders and provide better service to our growing base of wholesale and commercial accounts across New England.''
Founded in 1955, Sullivan Tire operates 42 retail stores, 10 commercial locations, two Bandag retread shops and two distribution centers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine.
Dealers building four Ringtread retread plants
MADISON, Tenn.-Marangoni Tread North America Inc.'s network of Ringtread retread plants is growing by four as two new franchisees are joining the fold and two existing retreaders are adding plants.
Two of the dealers-Jewell Tire Center in South Paris, Maine, and Ray's Tire in Green Bay, Wis.-are new to the Marangoni Ringtread process while Hill Tire Co. of Forest Park, Ga., and Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. of Prineville, Ore., are already using Marangoni's process.
Jewell Tire plans to distribute the retreads in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, upstate New York and part of Massachusetts from its existing plant. Ray's Tire serves parts of northeastern Wisconsin. Jewell Tire formerly used Goodyear's process while Ray's Tire had been a Bandag Inc. retreader.
Hill Tire and Les Schwab are working on their second Ringtread plant each, in Valdosta, Ga., and Spokane, Wash., respectively.
With these plants, Marangoni's network of Ringtread plants will grow to 20 in the U.S. and Canada.
O.K. Tire adds 2 stores in Newfoundland
LANGLEY, British Columbia-O.K. Tire Stores Inc. added to its franchise stable with two stores in Newfoundland-its first in the province.
The dealer cooperative said the stores in Mount Pearl and St. John's are owned by Frank Crotty. The stores helped push O.K. Tire past its 250-location threshold.
Langley-based O.K. Tire's dealer-owned retail stores are in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.
TCI opens fourth Tenn. facility in Kingsport
DUNCAN, S.C.-Tire Centers L.L.C. (TCI) has opened a commercial tire center in Kingsport, Tenn., its fourth in Tennessee.
A grand opening was held March 18 at the 26,000-sq.-ft. facility, TCI said. According to the company's Web site, TCI has three other commercial tire centers in Tennessee: in Chattanooga, Nashville and Antioch.
TCI said the Kingsport facility performs the following services: tire services such as flat repairs and fleet inspections; truck fleet services such as tire wear analysis, rim refurbishment and tire performance data; light mechanical services such as computerized alignment, front end and suspension repairs, air conditioning and brake service and DOT inspections; and road services.
``Our goal is to provide fleets the services they need, when they need them and in a way that reduces the fleet's overall costs and improves their ability to serve their customers,'' said Joe Broyles, manager of the Kingsport center.
Duncan-based TCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Michelin North America Inc., operates more than 128 commercial locations plus 14 Michelin Retread Technologies Inc. plants in 11 states.