Our View: Groups celebrate past by looking to future

While some marketing and franchise groups celebrate anniversaries this year, all of them are looking ahead. Groups are looking to expand both their offerings to current tire dealers along with adding new dealers.

Our annual look at marketing programs features 58 North American programs — 41 in the U.S. and 17 in Canada — run by 49 domestic tire makers, tire importers, tire wholesalers, franchisors and business collectives/buying groups.

Of these, a dozen are true franchising programs with their own consumer-facing market identity while most are considered associate or affiliate programs designed to help dealer members with collective buying and related business issues.

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Some highlights of the year so far include two marketing groups celebrating anniversaries by growing their footprints, as well as a farewell to an industry veteran.

Coming off back-to-back record years in 2020 and 2021, Big O Tires is focusing squarely on the future with plans to take the brand nationwide and delve more seriously into the last-mile fleet delivery business to grow sales. The company made the announcement during its meeting this summer, where it also celebrated 60 years in business.

TBC President and CEO Laurent Bourrut said TBC expects Big O to keep growing at or beyond the pace of the past few years by focusing on its core value of being the "value leader" in the territories and segments where it competes.

The Big O store network exceeded $1 billion in collective revenue last year, becoming the fourth TBC business segment — matching TBC Retail, Midas International and TBC Brands — to achieve this level.

Portland, Ore.-based marketing group Point S Tire & Auto Service is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Since being founded with the mantra of attracting new customers by providing the right tire at the right price and by earning trust, the marketing group has grown exponentially.

Today, there are more than 265 Point S locations in operation in 26 states.

Point S has expanded not only across the Pacific Northwest, but also in the south. It operates regional distributions centers in Portland; Denver; Salt Lake City; and Memphis, Tenn. It recently announced it is opening a regional headquarters and warehouse in Memphis that will increase its storage capacity fivefold and service a growing network of Point S dealers in the region.

CEO of the Independent Tire Dealers Group (ITDG) Dave Marks announced he will retire in 2023 after 45 years working in the tire industry. ITDG credits Marks, CEO since 2017, for leading its growth both in sales — now nearly $350 million annually — and number of locations — 1,007 and counting.

"I've enjoyed the business immensely but I think it's time for simple fact to let someone take leadership role and take (ITDG) to the next level," Marks said, noting he won't officially retire until his successor is in place, adding "it is extremely important that it is seamless."

Marks said there are plenty of things yet to accomplish for the group.

"We have a phenomenal trajectory for the future," he said. "We have an outstanding team that will help drive ITDG to the next level into the future."