Discount Tire

Discount Tire Co.
Private
Industry Independent Tire Retailer
Founded 1960 (1960)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Headquarters Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Number of locations
 Over 900 Stores, in 28 States (Mar 2015)[1]
Key people
 Bruce Halle, founder
Michael Zuieback, CEO
Ed Kaminski, COO
Gary VanBrundt, Vice Chairman
Christian Rowe, CFO
Products Tires, Wheels
Revenue $3.9 Billion[2]
Number of employees
 16,046[2]
Website www.discounttire.com

Discount Tire Company is a tire and wheel retailer owned by The Reinalt-Thomas Corporation, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1] Discount Tire is known as America's Tire in California (except for San Diego County, where it is still known as "Discount Tire").

Company history

Discount Tire was founded in 1960, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by Bruce T. Halle. After a couple of false starts in other businesses, Halle decided to go into business on his own. He rented an old plumbing supply building on Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor.[3] Halle tidied up the place and hung a sign outside that displayed his stock of six tires (two new and four retreads), and waited for new business. It took three days before Halle received his first customer, and four more before he sold his first tire. Halle admitted to having no real business plan in place when he first opened his doors. [4] Discount Tire grew to over 200 stores by 1990, opened its 500th store in 2002, and grew to over 900 stores in 28 states by 2015. [5]

Discount Tire grew from a one-man operation into the largest independent tire and wheel retailer in the world.[6][7] Its growth has been largely attributed to the company’s focus on reasonable prices, customer service, and its satisfaction guarantee.[8] Halle understood that for a company to excel in a commodity market, product differentiation was a non-starter. However, improving the customer experience could greatly improve the brand's value.[9]

Halle attributed the company’s overall growth and success to its employees, for exhibiting the founder's philosophy: treat people with respect and fairness, always do what is right, care for those in need, work hard, be responsible and have fun.[10] The company built its philosophy around its employees rather than its customers because, as they see it, happy employees make happy customers, not the other way around.[11] Halle taught that success comes from focusing on what each person owes to his family, to future employees and to the next customer coming in the door. Everyone has an unbreakable contract to pay forward to the next customer, the next employee and the next generation.[12] For this reason, Halle promised his employees, "Do a good job, and I’ll provide lifelong opportunity for you."[13] That promise resulted in a strict promote-from-within model for the company's management.[14]

Marketing

In 2005, Discount Tire’s “Thank You” commercial made it into the Guinness World Records as the longest continuously running TV commercial of all time.[15] This commercial depicts a “little old lady” hurling a tire through a Discount Tire store window as the voiceover says, “If ever you’re not satisfied with one of our tires, please feel free to bring it back.” [16] The ad first aired in 1975.

Discount Tire sponsors the #22 Ford for Team Penske in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. They also sponsor in Monster Energy AMA Supercross.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Discount Tire corporate Retrieved 7 March 2015
  2. 1 2 Discount Tire on Forbes Retrieved 7 March 2015
  3. ↑ "10,000 Discount Tire Employees Live on Kronos for Retail". Business Wire. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  4. ↑ "Store of Discount Tire Co. Founder Should Inspire Other Entrepreneures". 9 May 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Company Milestones Retrieved 7 March 2015
  6. ↑ "Discount Tire on the Forbes America's Largest Private Companies List". Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Modern Tire Dealer Top 100 for 2014 Retrieved 7 March 2015
  8. ↑ "Bruce Halle—His philosophy: 'To treat people fairly and to just be nice'". 29 September 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Rosenbaum, Michael. “Six Tires, No Plan”. Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2012 p. 106-107.
  10. ↑ "Discount Tire Corporate - Vision And Values". 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Rosenbaum 2012, p. 108
  12. ↑ Rosenbaum 2012, p. 153
  13. ↑ Rosenbaum 2012, p. 6
  14. ↑ Rosenbaum 2012, p. 109
  15. ↑ "Classic Discount Tire Commercial Earns Guinness World Record for Longest Running TV Commercial and Makes It into the 50th Anniversary Book". Business Wire. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  16. ↑ "Awards & Recognition" (Press release). Discount Tire Company. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Discount Tire Sponsorships Retrieved 7 March 2015
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