Tire Pros embracing 'Small Biz Saturday'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 24, 2015) — American Tire Distributors Inc.'s Tire Pros dealer network is embracing “Small Business Saturday” this coming weekend, with participating dealers offering incentives under a “Gobble Up the Savings Sales Event.”

Among the incentives available on Nov. 28 is a $100 mail-in rebate on select Continental-brand car or light truck tires.

ATD is urging all of its nearly Tire Pros 700 locations to promote the holiday shopping tradition and encourage their own customers to make a positive impact on the community by supporting businesses in neighborhoods where Tire Pros exists.

“Research has shown that independent retailers like Tire Pros dealers return three times more to local economies than national chains,” said Bill Brunelle, co-founder of Independent We Stand, a nationwide movement of independent businesses that believe buying local can make a big impact in communities across the country.

“Small Business Saturday is a great event that reminds us to buy local all year round,” he said.

Tire Pros announced a formal partnership with Independent We Stand earlier this spring

in an effort to spread the word about the “buy local” movement.

In advance of Small Business Saturday, Tire Pros provided its dealers with a comprehensive activation kit, which included an event checklist, logos, sample press releases and emails, customizable print-ready posters, etc.

“For the first time in years, you're seeing major national retailers put less emphasis on Black Friday, by either reducing store hours or reducing the advertising hype, and put more emphasis on ‘shopping small' and supporting the things that matter like the community, your neighbor and the spirit of the holidays,” said B. Quick Chadwick, director of marketing for Tire Pros.  

“We are proud of each of our dealers' commitment to their communities and Small Business Saturday gives us the opportunity to help give back and drive awareness of these hard-working men and women tire dealers.  Our dealers don't just say they're committed to the community, they are woven into the fabric of the community through their relationships and support of local schools, events and causes.

"Our partnership with Independent We Stand enables us to drive awareness of the impact buying locally has on our communities,…and that's perfectly in line with what Tire Pros stands for.”

Now in its sixth year, Small Business Saturday serves as the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the U.S.

It's estimated that 88 million consumers shopped locally on Small Business Saturday last year, up nearly 15 percent from the previous year, according to American Express. That amount of commerce equates to an estimated $14.3 billion spent at independent businesses on that day, AmEx said.

Research further shows small businesses accounted for nearly two-thirds of all net new jobs over the past 17 years, and they employ 77 million Americans. As for the impact on local economies, 89 percent of consumers agree that independent businesses contribute positively to the economy.

To make an impact, Independent We Stand encourages consumers to shift $10 a month to local spending to create a $9.3 billion dollar return to local economies.