TEQUESTA, Fla.—Independent Tire Dealers Group L.L.C. (ITDG) added 16 dealers representing 66 sales outlets to its membership roster in the first half of 2013, raising the group's presence to 462 points of sale in 31 states.
The group's collective sales power now exceeds $1.8 billion annually, according to ITDG President and CEO Michael Cox, who said the growth is a “testament to the viability of our program.” The group's buying power is up from about $1 billion previously.
Mr. Cox cited several reasons for why he believes ITDG keeps growing, including the flexibility of the buying program, breadth and depth of supplier partners and the addition of the Diamondback passenger/light truck tire line as an exclusive brand.
“We join forces with our vendor partners to offer competitive programs that work for just about every type of independent dealer out there,” he said, noting that adding the Diamondback line complements ITDG's offerings and will help fuel its future growth.
ITDG secured exclusive U.S. distribution and marketing rights in April for the Diamondback brand from Husky Tire Corp. of Brampton, Ontario, which is providing logistical support for the Chinese-sourced brand through an office in San Antonio.
Ed Long, vice president of sales and marketing for ITDG, said at that time that the Diamondback line “further complements our offerings and will help fuel future growth of the group when combined with our current program.”
The Diamondback line is produced in China by Triangle Group Co. Ltd. Diamondback medium radial truck tires are also available through regional wholesalers and ITDG members with commercial operations, but many regions remain available, Husky Tire said.
ITDG's alliance with Point S Development of Lyon, France—the purveyor of the Point S retail concept in use at more than 2,000 stores in Europe—has not yet started paying many dividends, Mr. Cox acknowledged.
That deal, signed at the 2011 Specialty Equipment Marketers Association show in Las Vegas, eventually should yield a proprietary brand for the ITDG members, Mr. Cox said.
ITDG is working with Point S, Uni Pneu of Montreal—the Point S affiliate in Canada—and Al Dobowi Group of United Arab Emirates to develop a line for North America. In Europe Point S dealers sell the Summerstar/Winterstar line.
ITDG did not identify any of the new members.
Among ITDG's larger member dealerships, according to the group's website, are:
Big O Tires—27 franchised locations in California; Jack Furrier Tire & Auto Care/Desert Rat—20 stores in Arizona; Clark Tire & Auto—18 stores in North Carolina; Big Brand Tire Co.—16 stores in California; Ramona Tire—15 stores in California; Clark Tire Co.—13 stores in Missouri; Nebraska Tire/Farmers Cooperative Tire Centers—11 stores in Nebraska; Sun Tire—11 stores in Florida; Ted Wiens Tire & Auto—11 stores in Nevada; and Jack's Tire & Oil—10 stores in Arizona, California, Idaho and Utah.