FRESNO, Calif. — The California Tire Dealers Association (CTDA) has unveiled plans to start a consumer-based online tire marketplace, with the goal of driving sales to CTDA member dealers.
The initiative was discussed during the recent CTDA meeting in Fresno.
CTDA sponsor TireTutor Inc. will develop the website, which will let consumers locate a CTDA member dealer in their area, view the dealer's real-time inventory, purchase tires and wheels and schedule installation with the dealer.
Wade McNamara of TireTutor provided details about the website while answering attendees' questions.
CTDA President Chris Barry of the Independent Tire Dealer Group called the online tire marketplace "a game-changer for CTDA and its members, providing a platform for CTDA's independent tire dealers to compete in the online space with the much larger national tire chains."
TireTutor founder and CEO Jason Abrahams said his company is "thrilled to partner with CTDA" and provide software "that allows their members to reach online tire shoppers and ultimately win the sale."
CTDA Vice President Billy Eordekian said the group's board and staff vetted and evaluated TireTutor and their services before moving forward with the initiative.
"... They were the right partner and the right product for this initiative," Eordekian, of 1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels, said.
Several Fresno area tire retailers and distributors attended the event, sponsored by TireTutor, RoboTire, 1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels, Yokohama Tire Corp., U.S. AutoForce, National Tire Wholesalers and American Tire Distributors Inc.
Attendees also participated in a discussion about finding and retaining quality employees, and received an update on CTDA's advocacy efforts, including legislation and the California Energy Commission's low-rolling resistance tire standards.
The CTDA represents more than 100 independent tire dealers, wholesale tire distributors and vendors statewide.
