TARHEEL EDITION VOL 22 • ISSUE 2 Serving the Tire and Automotive Repair Businesses of North Carolina Spring 2018 Brought to you by the North Carolina Tire Dealers Association 2018 EXPO REVIEW Were you there? IF NOT, YOU MISSED A FABULOUS NETWORKING EVENT Read all about on page 3 Which major car maker will only be making 2 automobiles in 2020? See page 5 for details Professionally communicate repairs and sales to customers Learn why this is so important | page 10 Keynote Speaker Tom Greco, President and CEO Advance Auto And the winner is... Parts emphasizes the need to embrace technology in our industry. LEADERSHIP QUALITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS Great insight on Page 6 Find out who is featured in T. Beroth of Stokes Tire, winner of the new Coats 60X Tire Changer provided by Hennessy Industries with our Member Spotlight | Page 13 Mike Fassinger, Hennessy Industries. • 01 From the NCTDA President By the time you read this article, several actions have been taken by our Board of Directors and the industries we represent. As announced at our Annual event’s opening night address, several of our Directors will be meeting with the tech schools in NC concerning the prospect of a TIA / NCTDA training curriculum for students that are entering our tire & automotive service industry. This would include the certification working employees. We have requested (4) tech schools across the state that will be convenient for most retail locations requiring minimal time away from the job/business for consecutive days. “You may be asking We will have a follow-up report coming soon. yourself; am I prepared for the ever changing business Recently, our executive director met with the solid waste tire division to landscape?” discuss proposed changes to our scrap tire program. Our objective is to make changes to the fees related to the program. As an example, currently, 2% is the fee for passenger tires. A $600 set of tires cost $12 to dispose of. The national average is between .50 cents to 1.00 per tire. Let’s see $1.00 National average, North Carolina $12, does that seem equitable? We the sellers and the consumers are due a fee that is fair to all. If you read my article in the last issue, you might recall my statement: “you may be asking yourself; am I prepared for the ever changing We, the sellers of tires and business landscape?” Well, enter in the recent industry changes consumers are due a compensated that will impact the distribution of the tires many of you purchase. fee that is fair to all. You must be wondering…what will all of this mean to me as an independent small business manager, or, owner? The end product of the latest consolidation is better, more timely service. From a Distributors perspective it is all about having the right product in the right place and being able to deliver it faster than the competition. With the dizzying array of sizes, styles and brands required to meet the needs of today’s consumer, it is a formidable challenge. I suggest you stay the course of knowing your customers’ needs and focus on providing them with the best ‘customer experience’. Remember, make everyone who walks through your door feel like they are the only one. Speaking of networking . Everyone likes to feel ‘special’. It is the formula for creating repeat Join the Association! customers. To reiterate areas of focus for your business it is a great value at only $150 per year. considerations; Customer Service, Industry Networking, And again, never hesitate to let us & Social Media are paramount. know what you think. We are your advocate. Mike Erickson visit us online @ nctda.com / / spring 2018 • 02 • Contents President’s Letter // An “ever changing business landscape” . 01 2018 Expo Event Review EXPO News // 2018 Expo Event Review . 03 03 NCTDA Article // Industry News: Car Makers Reduce Numbers . 05 EXPO News // Scholarship Recipients . 05 NCTDA Article // Leadership Qualities . 06 Communicating Legislative Updates // . 07 10 with Customers EXPO Photos // Exciting Times at the 2018 Expo . 08 New Members // Welcome to NCTDA! . 09 NCTDA Article // Communicating with Customers . 10 a publication of NCTDA Article // Benefi ting by Embracing OSHA . 11 NCTDA Article // Spare Benefi t? . 12 the North Carolina Tire Dealers Association contact the NCTDA // Member Spotlight // . 13 phone : 877 . 784 . 0111 fax : 919 . 784 . 0144 email : [email protected] LIKE US! web : nctda.com design by : On Thyme Designs Delivering the nation’s largest selection of tires. When you need them. When inventory keeps up with demand, you stay ahead of the game. ATD gives you unsurpassed access to more brands and more tires than any other supplier. With same-day delivery in virtually all markets and multiple times a day in select markets, tires are there when your customers need them. VISIT ATD-US.COM for more information. • spring 2018 / / visit us online @ nctda.com • 03 2018 Expo in Review This Year’s Expo and Trade Show a Success! The NCTDA annual event Our Keynote Speaker for is a ‘fabulous networking the evening was Tom resource for industry Greco, President and CEO attendees’ says Ronnie of Advance Auto Parts. Bridges, owner of Oak Several of Mr. Greco’s Hollow Tire & Car Care points for the evening Center. Events like the were: statewide NCTDA Expo/ Demand for new vehicle Trade Show are rare today, technicians from 2016 to but are indeed of great 2026 will be 3x higher than value to those businesses was previously projected that attend. A lot of for the 2014 to 2024 period. discussion was based on By 2040, 54% of new car the ‘changing industry sales and 33% of the global landscape’ to mirror the Reception begins the evening’s event. car fleet will be electric. Tire Review article by Patti The ride-sharing industry is Renner. estimated to grow to $285 billion by 2030. Friday night’s event was a full house starting with a one Saturday morning consisted of (2) business seminars. One hour networking reception. The annual meeting began on Key Performance Indicators and the second being a with President Mike Erickson addressing how best to group panel discussion for apply all of the resources available to business owners. Be sure to check out the detailed article in Erickson noted that “yesterday’s customers are not today’s all attendees Tire Review’s April edition Magazine. customer, and today’s are not tomorrow’s.” His point in to participate the statement was that varied in Go to Tire Review’s Website and click on to keep in mind a wide range April 2018, or read the paper copy when the importance of topics for you get it! of the customer running a experience. We business in had (3) young today’s environment. Saturday’s Trade Show ended out scholarship the weekend activities with over 50 vendors on the recipients and their floor offering professional a d v i c e t o attendees. families at the Numerous prizes of all types were provided by evening event exhibitors to attendees. (see names/ 2019 will have a fresh new agenda that will be one you pics on pg. 5). will not want to miss. Stay tuned for details coming soon. We showed our If you missed it this year, don’t sit back……….join with your appreciation peers next year! to a few of our departing veteran board members NCTDA realizes saving $’s on benefits is of being Bob Skinner, huge importance to businesses today. Parrish Tire / T Beroth, Mock-Beroth Tire / & Dannel Lamm, ATD. New Board members coming on are Joe Quigg, Ed’s Tire / Will Pleasants, ATD / Steve Garris, Mock-Beroth Tire / and Bill Jackson, Parrish Tire. Our two Hall of Fame inductees were Dan Brown and Roland Boyette, both career veterans with ATD and former Presidents of the NCTDA. NCTDA’s Dealer of the Year is Chris Monroe, Monroe Tire & Service, Shelby, NC. 2018 NC Tire Industry awards banquet kicks off! visit us online @ nctda.com / / spring 2018 • 04 • 2018 Expo in Review Dan Brown, NC Tire Industry Hall of Former NCTDA Director and President T Beroth with new Roland Boyette is inducted into the NC Fame recipient. Director Steve Garris and his wife, Debbie. Tire Industry’s Hall of Fame. Bill Jackson of Parrish Tire TIA President, David Martin with Dave Crawford, accepts Bob Skinner’s award Chris Monroe, NC Dealer of the Year with his mother, Bob Bittner and “photobomber” Greg Bell. for serving 10 years on NCTDA Nancy Monroe and Tire Review’s editor, Patti Renner Board. Frankie Underwood introduces Patti Renner and our panel, Russ Carter, Marc Pons, and Joe Quigg. Mike Erickson, President NCTDA Mike Allen, Carfix, participates in addresses the group. our panel discussion. • spring 2018 / / visit us online @ nctda.com • 05 Other News Ford to Only Manufacture 2 Cars by 2020 (coming fast)! Mustang, Focus crossover will be the only Ford car models on the market by 2020 — Will fewer tire sizes be beneficial to our industry & small business? — Ford Motor Co. said they will shed most of its North Ford is cutting $11.5 billion in cost cuts and efficiencies, American car lineup as part of bringing the total to $25.5 billion expected by 2022. a broad plan to save Savings will come from engineering, product development, money and make the marketing, materials and manufacturing. The company company more previously predicted $14 billion in cuts by 2022. competitive in a fast-changing One-third of Ford’s belt-tightening will come by the end marketplace. The of 2020. changes include The cost savings will come by optimizing digital marketing getting rid of all cars in and discounts on vehicles, as well as putting multiple the region during the next four vehicles on five flexible global architectures in the next years except for the Mustang sports car and a compact few years.