GREER, S.C. — TBC Corp. has opened a new-look NTB Tire & Service Center in Greer, featuring what it's calling a "shop of the future" layout that it intends to use for additional new stores in the pipeline.
The 9,000-sq.-ft. store features eight service bays and an open view into the service bays that allows customers to watch the digitized inspection process in real time, TBC said.
"Our shop-of-the-future concept was designed with our customers in mind," TBC President and CEO Erik Olsen said.
"Focus groups, customer surveys and feedback helped us to design a space that was comfortable for customers, ideal for associates and now affords us the opportunity to exceed customer expectations at a beautiful location that is state-of-the-art and conveniently located in Greer."
The location on U.S. Route 29 west of downtown Greer includes a designated bay equipped with the latest digital equipment, including drive-over laser readers that test tires' tread depth and provide an alignment status report.
TBC said it chose Greer for this new-look NTB store because of its proximity to Greenville, S.C., headquarters of Michelin North America Inc., a joint owner of TBC along with Sumitomo Corp. of the Americas.
The Greer store is the first NTB retail store to be built using the format, TBC said. The first was under the Tire Kingdom Service Centers brand in West Palm Beach, Fla., which opened in February.
"The response from customers to our shop of the future has been amazing," TBC Division Vice President Bill Shull said. "We're eager to continue unveiling more shop-of-the-future designs for customers and team members to enjoy."
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based TBC did not disclose its investment in the new store nor say how many new stores are in the planning or where new stores might be opened.
At last report, TBC was operating more than 540 NTB stores in 21 states throughout the eastern half of the U.S. — including 29 in South Carolina — along with 190-plus Tire Kingdom stores in Florida.
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