Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
  • Resources
    • ADVERTISE
    • AWARDS
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • DIRECTORY
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • Best Places to Work
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 06, 2014 01:00 AM

Bridgestone phasing out Expert Tire brand

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    BLOOMINGDALE, Ill.—Bridgestone Amer-icas' Retail Operations unit is phasing out its Expert Tire retail store brand, closing 15 stores in the final days of 2013 and rebranding 65 others by the second quarter of 2014.

    Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) will rebrand 63 Expert Tire locations to Firestone Complete Auto Care stores and two sites in Oklahoma to Hibdon Tires Plus stores.

    The tire maker said its decision was based on a number of factors, including sales volume and proximity to other Firestone Complete Auto Care and Tires Plus locations. BSRO said it will reassign about 100 employees affected by the closings and offer severance benefits to fewer than 40 it is not able to accommodate.

    “After a careful banner review process, we determined that converting our Expert Tire stores best aligns with our strategic direction and makes the most sense for our customer base,” said BSRO President Stu Crum. “The stores will benefit from the brand equity inherent in the Firestone Complete Auto Care and Tires Plus names, as well as their marketing programs.”

    The Expert Tire stores are scattered throughout 30 states, including 14 in Texas. The stores to close are in Arkansas (two stores); Georgia (two); Montana; Nebraska; New York; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania (two); Texas (three); and Virginia.

    Most Expert Tire stores are open longer hours than other BSRO locations and many are open seven days a week.

    Bridgestone rolled out the first Expert Tire stores in the early 1990s as part of a strategy to explore alternative retail store formats, predominantly those that concentrated solely on tire and wheel services with an emphasis on speed and more entry-level consumers. Other formats included Tire Station.

    This story first appeared on www.tirebusiness.com.

    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
    Pirelli won't bid for WRC tire supply contract
    2
    Canada court rules for Michelin in tire trademark case
    3
    Grupo Tersa's Valle becomes first Mexican to earn Humanitarian award
    4
    Atlantic Tire & Service founder Blackman dies at 69
    5
    TIA elects 6 new board members
    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
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
      • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • Resources
      • ADVERTISE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • DIRECTORY
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
    • DIGITAL EDITION