Just Brakes adding tires to mix at all stores

DALLAS (June 27, 2016) — Car care chain Just Brakes is adding tires to the service mix at its 136 locations in eight Sunbelt states after test-marketing the change over the past year at a handful of stores in Florida.

Just Brakes plans to use American Tire Distributors Inc. as its key wholesale supplier, according to CEO Bill Ihnken, with most locations featuring the Nexen brand.

Mr. Ihnken, a fomer TBC Corp. executive who joined Just Brakes in 2013 as part owner, called the addition of tires a “natural fit” with the products and services offered at the chain.

“We won't be doing wholesale advertising of tires,” he said, “but it will be obvious to customers that we offer tires as well.”

To prepare for the change, Just Brakes has equipped all of its locations with John Bean-brand tire-changing and -balancing equipment and carried out training programs for store personnel. Mr. Ihnken declined to quantify what Just Brakes invested in upgrading its locations, other than to call it “sizeable.”

Mr. Ihnken said Just Brakes considers the Nexen brand a “quality tire at a fair price,” backed by a great warranty and supported by both ATD and Nexen with promotional and marketing programs.

 Just Brakes opted to ally itself with ATD, he said, because the business needed a supplier that could react quickly to its needs and ATD's distribution footprint will allow for timely deliveries to Just Brakes outlets in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

While Nexen will be the featured brand, Mr. Ihnken stressed that the stores will have access to ATD's full complement of brands should customers request a specific brand.

Mr. Ihnken said adding tires to the chain's mix would have a “significant” impact on revenue but declined to quantify what sales volume Just Brakes anticipates from tires or what percentage of sales tires will represent as the program ramps up.

All stores now offer brake service, tires, shocks, maintenance services and oil changes and most stores offer air-conditioning service.

By adding tires to the mix, Just Brakes now addresses most motorists' two biggest safety needs, Mr. Ihnken added.  

The company also has started offering state inspections at selected stores, with a big focus on Texas where the firm has more than 50 locations.

Just Brakes recently opened stores in Port Richey and Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and is opening its 28th and 29th Florida locations, in Deland and Holly Hill, in the coming weeks.

Just Brakes locations average six service bays and staffs of five, the company said. All locations are equipped to handle vehicles up to 1 ton in weight.

Mr. Ihnken's partners in Just Brakes are private equity firms Hicks Equity Partners, Gemini Investors and Monhegan Partners.

Just Brakes began in 1980 with a single brake store in Bryan, Texas.