Still others will address making money and keeping the peace in the service bays and finding ways to improve the bottom line by recognizing and measuring marketing ROI and developing a measurable game plan.
For the commercial track, seminars will cover telematics, how to profit from industrial tires, how a tire management program can reduce tire and fuel consumption and how to reduce financial credit risk. Speakers from a large commercial dealership and a tire maker entering the truck- and bus-tire business also will share their views of the market.
Retreaders will hear from experts in a retread panel and will learn in another seminar how to manage envelopes used in the retreading process.
Finally retail and commercial dealers and distributors will hear how to make their operations safer and comply with OSHA regulations during a Safety Panel featuring presentations from several tire dealers.
Joseph Saoud, president of the North American truck, bus and retread business for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, will deliver the keynote address.
In addition to the educational program, attendees will have a chance to visit vendors on the expo floor and network throughout event, includes at a networking party.
With a flat market and intense competition, tire dealers and retreaders need to find new ways to boost sales. Stepping away from the business to attend the NATRE show in New Orleans just may be the answer.
Mr. Zielasko is editorial director and VP/publisher of Tire Business.