Tire Pros aims for 700 locations by year-end

American Tire Distributors Inc.'s (ATD) Tire Pros marketing group aims to reach 700 franchise tire retail locations by year-end.

Tire Pros President Greg Bell told Tire Business that while supply-chain problems persist in the industry, the company has been able to leverage its relationship with wholesaler ATD for continued growth.

Bell talked about business so far this year, along with the Charlotte, N.C.-based company's support of the Gary Sinise Foundation for the Tire Business Mid-Year Report.

How has consumer buying behavior changed this year?

Consumers are investing more money in car maintenance and services, especially as the car parc age climbs north of 12 years. So that's good for business. Even though inflation and higher gas prices affect everyone, we're seeing that people are still traveling this summer — tens of millions of people traveled by car during the July 4 weekend.

They might not be traveling far, but after two years of COVID-19 shutting down so much travel, consumers are back on the road and living their lives. With frequent flight cancellations occurring more regularly, people are turning to road trips, as they have control over their schedule and time. And that means more opportunities for us.

Why is it important for Tire Pros to support the Gary Sinise Foundation?

I had the privilege of attending the Gary Sinise Foundation Gala last year in Charlotte and witnessed firsthand the impact that these donations, resources, physical and emotional support have on families in our communities. Tire Pros is proud to sponsor this year's Gala in October, and we feel it is our responsibility to give back to the many who have given so much to us, both near and far.

To quote Gary himself, "while we can never do enough, we can always do a little more," and we're honored to play a small part in saying "thank you."

ATD is a proud sponsor of the Summer for Heroes giving, and Tire Pros will continue our commitment to the organization through the summer and beyond.

We've already had 12 Tire Pros dealers commit to giving a Partner for Heroes donation, which is a minimum $1,500 contribution, and we're launching a nationwide campaign in our stores that connects consumers with the foundation.

What types of product shortages have you experienced this year?

We recognize that the supply chain overall, much like we experienced last year, continues to face challenges that will impact the industry for the foreseeable future. That said, we are fortunate to be a connected part of ATD. We have a direct line of communication with the sales, merchandising and supply chain teams to source the right products to market, and where we need it most. That's a huge benefit for our franchisees.

By sending the right signals to communicate our needs, they can partner more closely with manufacturers to help mitigate shortages where and when possible.

How has Tire Pros adjusted to increased M&A activity, especially by equity groups?

We are using the power of our network to help our dealers find new opportunities to expand their businesses. At Tire Pros, we've formed a Franchise Council to help connect dealers looking to expand with those interested in a succession-planning discussion. We are also finalizing programs that will provide support for financial, legal and brokerage assistance for those interested in markets beyond Tire Pros' current geography.

Tire Pros looks to grow to 2,000 locations in the future, where does the company stand now?

We have an aggressive approach to continue to grow, and we anticipate a pickup in new opportunities in 2022's second half and beyond. Our goal is 700 locations this year, and we have added 14 new locations so far, including nine new franchisees and five new locations as our existing dealers continue to expand.