OEConnection adds online tool
RICHFIELD, Ohio-OEConnection L.L.C., an e-commerce automotive parts procurement service dedicated to new car dealers, has upgraded its service with an online tool that allows participating dealers to replenish their tire inventories automatically.
The new feature, called Tire Replenishment Tool (TRT), checks the inventory at a participating car dealership nightly against that dealership's desired level and can order tires automatically from the appropriate tire distributor, the company said.
Since its launch a few months ago, more than 600 dealers have created stocking guides to use the TRT to order tires from tire dealerships, OEConnection said.
In addition to launching TRT, OEConnection has improved its tire locator product and reports use of this tool-which allows a car dealer to search for a specific tire from the OEConnection network-increased 18 percent in August vs. July.
In addition, four more tire dealers-Pennsauken, N.J-based Albert Tire Co., Buffalo, N.Y.-based Dunn Tire Corp., Norfolk, Va.-based Kramer Tire and Louisville, Ky.-based Raben Tire Co.-have become supplier members of OEConnection, which claims to provide access to more than 12,000 potential car dealer customers.
Zisser expands Lexani worldwide
ST. LOUIS-Zisser Tire Wholesale has expanded its Lexani-brand performance tires to worldwide distribution.
The Lexani performance tire line is being offered to qualified dealers who wish to become exclusive distributors in their territories, according to Zisser.
``The only way dealers can protect themselves against the uncertainty of price fluctuations is with an exclusive brand,'' said Don Mathis, sales manager for Zisser Tire. ``Just think of what your business would be like today if you could have secured an exclusive to one of your top brands.''
The Lexani line includes the Lexani N3000, an ultra-high performance tire designed for sport and luxury automobile fitments. Also, the Roadian HP is a performance tire Lexani is offering for sport-utility vehicles and sport trucks. Sizes for the Lexani line range from 17- to 24-inch rims.
Zisser Tire is partnering with Lexani Wheel Corp. and South Korea's Nexen Tire Corp. for the Lexani tire line, which was launched Jan. 20.
La Cie opens its fifth warehouse
MONTREAL-La Cie Canada Tire Inc. has opened a fifth warehouse, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, to service eastern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.
The 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse will complement the company's Montreal warehouse, where the distributor ran out of room, according to CEO Jack Granatstein. La Cie Canada's other warehouses are in Toronto; Moncton, New Brunswick; and Newfoundland.
The wholesaler does not plan to expand into western Canada, Mr. Granatstein said.
``We don't go further than the Ontario border,'' he said.
He rules out expansion because of the difficulty of getting exclusive brand rights over the large areas that would be necessary in the sparsely populated Western provinces.
La Cie Canada, founded in 1928, distributes primarily Cooper, Federal, Hankook and Aurora brands.
ATD launches wheel Web site
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-American Tire Distributors (ATD) Inc. has launched a Web site that allows consumers to see how their vehicle would look with a new set of custom wheels.
The site, www.wheelenvizio.com, uses vehicle-modeling technology developed by ATD and a Web site designer to allow users to choose from hundreds of wheel styles that fit their specific vehicle. The site digitally installs the wheels on the image of their vehicle, which then can be rotated, saved, e-mailed or modified, ATD said. Users can even select their vehicle color scheme to personalize the image.
``Selecting a new set of custom wheels is a highly involved process for a consumer,'' said Ron Sinclair, ATD's vice president of marketing. ``Wheel-Envizio.com provides a level of graphics and functionality unsurpassed in the industry to help consumers accurately envision the new wheels on their vehicle from all angles.''
Envizio is another valuable tool ATD has developed to support its independent dealer network, Mr. Sinclair said. ``We...expect this initiative to drive substantial business to our dealer partners.''
The site also includes a dealer locator to drive consumers to local dealers.
Viewers need to have Viewpoint Media Player, a development of Viewpoint Corp., installed to use the device.
GPX rolls out Web quote engine
BRAMPTON, Ontario-GPX International Tire Corp. has launched an online quote engine that can be used as a quick way to obtain a quote for GPX tires.
The Web site, www.gpxtire.com/ dealerlogin.aspx, is a tool for dealers and end users that enables searches for products by brand, size, application or TRA code, the company said.
``In our continuing efforts to help our dealers, we created the quote engine to also allow end users to register and generate a request for a quote,'' said Mike Knorr, GPX vice president of sales and marketing. ``Our sales staff receives the request and forwards the information to the closest GPX dealer for follow-up.''
GPX also released a product CD featuring the company's tire brands that includes a direct link from the CD to the quote engine Web site.