The last two months have tested the best of us during these unprecedented times.
Nearly 100,000 people have died in the U.S. as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy has tanked. Employment has hit an 80-year high. Retirement funds have shriveled.
And some are predicting a rebound spike of coronavirus cases this fall.
Through it all, most tire and automotive service shops continued to operate, essential business that not only are critical to helping maintain those supporting the nation's food-supply chain, but also helping keep vehicles safe and in operation for our first responders.
How would you like to reward your employees for a job well done? How proud would they feel to work at shop that has been named one of the top dealerships to work in the U.S.?
Please consider entering your dealership in our annual Best Places to Work survey. And it's free to enter.
Tire Business, in conjunction with Best Companies Group (BCG), an independent research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work, is seeking the best employers our industry has to offer.
The rules for the survey are simple. In order to participate, a business must:
- Be a retail, commercial, OTR, retread or wholesale tire dealership in the U.S. (publicly or privately held);
- Have a minimum of 15 full- or part-time permanent employees working in the U.S.; and
- Have been in business a minimum of one year.
Among companies eligible are online tire businesses (such as Tire Rack, Simple Tire, etc.); franchise tire businesses (such as individual Tire Pros, Big O Tires, etc. franchisees); mass merchandisers with tire stores (such as Walmart Tire & Lube Express or Sears Tire Centers — individual stores not eligible); and wholesale clubs that sell tires (such as BJ's or Costco).
The process is simple. Each business is asked to fill out two surveys.
The owner or representative of the dealership must fill out the Employer Benefits and Policies Questionnaire, an online survey detailing company policies, practices, benefits and demographics.
Employees, meanwhile, are asked to complete the Engagement and Satisfaction Survey, a series of questions, using a scale of 1 to 5, ranging from "agree strongly" to "disagree strongly."
The survey includes seven demographic and two open-ended questions. Employees can fill out this survey online or on paper, if a full company employee email list is unavailable.
An employee should need just 10 to 15 minutes to complete the survey.
We have extended the original deadline in order to accommodate businesses that frankly haven't had the time nor the opportunity yet to enter. The deadline, originally in mid-May, has been extended to July 17.
To enter, go to www.tirebusiness.com/bestplaces and follow the instructions. Dealerships may purchase specific results once the survey is complete.
Organizations with 25 or more employees must have a response rate of at least 40% in order for the results to count, meaning not every employee is required to participate. However, the higher the response rate, the more representative the analysis will be.
Organizations with 15 to 24 employees must reach a response rate of 80% or higher for their results to count.
St. Louis Wholesale Tire, a family-run business that specializes in specialty tires and inner tubes, was named the winner of the inaugural Tire Business Best Places to Work survey competition last year.
Five other businesses also were recognized:
- Chapel Hill Tire, a Chapel Hill, N.C.-based tire dealership;
- Porter's Tire Store, a Russellville, Tenn.-based tire retailer;
- Service Tire Truck Centers, a Bethlehem, Pa.-based commercial tire dealership;
- SimpleTire L.L.C., a Trevose, Pa.-based online tire retailer; and
- Telle Tire & Auto Centers, a St. Louis-based dealership .
Tire Business will announce the winner later this year.
Perhaps your business will be one of those recognized. Wouldn't that be a great way to end a tumultuous year?
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And while we're on the topic of feel-good honors, we also invite you to enter a worthy tire dealer for our annual Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award, which recognizes an independent tire dealer or retreader who, during the past year, has made significant contributions to the betterment of his or her community through charitable and/or public service work.
The honor, in its 27th year, is one of the most coveted honors in the tire industry. Nominations will be judged by an independent committee outside of the tire industry.
The person selected will have demonstrated an unselfish commitment to the betterment of others. The winner will receive the Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award Medal and a $2,500 donation to the charity of his or her choice. The award will be presented at the 2020 Tire Industry Association's Tire Industry Honors Awards ceremony prior to the SEMA Show Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.
The award is open to any independent tire dealer or retreader in North America, regardless of business size or sales volume. Nominees must have an ownership stake in the business. Self nominations are welcome.
Nominators are encouraged to renominate candidates if they are not past winners. To enter, complete the nomination form, attach detailed support material and submit. Detailed support material is required for the nomination.
Entry deadline July 31. The nomination form can be found at https://www.tirebusiness.com/awards/nominations-sought-2020-tire-dealer-humanitarian-award.