Managers Corner
Part 2: The First 90 Days Decide Everything Most tire shop owners think turnover happens at six months or a year. In reality, the decision to stay or leave is usually made in the first 30–90 days. This is where good technicians disengage. Where sales advisors get frustrated. Where
Managers Corner
Part 1: Fix the Foundation Before You Blame the Labor Market If you ask most tire shop owners why they can’t find or keep good people, you’ll hear the same answers: * “Nobody wants to work anymore.” * “Good techs are impossible to find.” * “Salespeople don’t stick around.” * “Managers
Managers Corner
What exactly is a “lifetime alignment”? In most markets, a lifetime alignment means: * The customer pays a higher one-time fee than a standard alignment * In return, they can come back for free checks and re-alignments for as long as they own that vehicle (within the program’s terms and conditions)
Managers Corner
For the past decade, the tire and automotive service industry has watched consolidation at a historic scale. Large national chains, private equity groups, and mega-brands have aggressively bought out local tire shops—sometimes dozens at a time—hoping to capture market share, streamline operations, and build national loyalty. But 2025
Managers Corner
For decades, the snow belt has enjoyed a predictable rhythm. Late Q3 and Q4 meant one thing: money season—snow tire sales, stud installs, and a parking lot full of seasonal changeovers. But over the past 10 years, that rhythm has been disrupted. Weather patterns have shifted. Snow is arriving
Managers Corner
How to Attract Bigger Fleets, Farms, Dairies & High-Value Accounts by Listening Better Than Your Competitors Most tire shops and automotive service centers want more fleet business. They want the farms, dairies, municipalities, delivery companies, trades fleets, and commercial accounts that bring in stable, repeatable revenue—year after year. But
Managers Corner
Spiff programs are one of the most underutilized—and often misunderstood—tools in the tire industry. Manufacturers create them to incentivize front-counter sales teams, reward product knowledge, and move priority inventory. Yet out in the field, reactions vary wildly: * Some owners refuse to let their people participate because it “feels
Managers Corner
If you run a tire shop, you already know this: customers judge you on speed, accuracy, and communication. They expect the job done right the first time, and they hate waiting around for unclear timelines or disorganized processes. Interestingly, some of the best lessons on operational efficiency don’t come
Managers Corner
Most tire dealers perform courtesy inspections on every vehicle that comes through their bays. These inspections are supposed to build value, identify needs, and ultimately help the customer maintain their vehicle. Yet the feedback from many owners is the same: “We do inspections, but they rarely convert to tire sales.
Managers Corner
If there’s one thing every shop owner is struggling with these days, it’s keeping good people. You can teach technical skills, you can coach on sales, but you can’t teach work ethic or pride in ownership — and that’s exactly what too many shops are losing in