Dave Christopher is Co-founder and Co-owner of Tread Partners, a leading digital marketing agency specializing in tire and auto repair operations with locations spanning from five to hundreds. Under his leadership, Tread Partners’ success and reputation has flourished over the past 14 years. Dave grew up immersed in the automotive industry, as his father owned a repair shop — where Dave himself became a passionate advocate for the industry’s growth and development.

In this episode…

The automotive repair and tire service industry faces unique challenges in fostering company culture. What role do core values play in shaping a business that thrives in this competitive space?

According to Dave Christopher, who co-founded Tread Partners in 2010, core values are the foundation of a thriving company culture. He emphasizes the importance of aligning these values with daily operations, from hiring to customer interactions. By living out principles like excellence, humility, and growth, companies can create a cohesive team environment and make impactful decisions, even amid challenges.

On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes Dave to discuss how core values shape company culture, empower teams, and foster success in the tire and auto repair industry. Dave shares his experiences as a shop owner, insights into building strong partnerships, and the transformative power of community involvement. Mike and Dave highlight actionable steps for businesses aiming to build a culture rooted in integrity and growth.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [02:00] How growing up in auto repair shapes careers
• [02:42] Why genuine industry stories resonate with listeners
• [05:10] The key role core values play in success
• [07:05] How regrets indicate personal and professional growth
• [08:15] Why making mistakes is crucial for learning
• [20:04] The importance of evolving core values with growth
• [22:40] How community involvement impacts business success

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Dave Christopher on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners
• Dustin Dobbs
• Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn

Quotable Moments: 

• "Core values are crucial; they guide decisions, especially when you can't always be there to make the call."
• "Mistakes are beneficial. Make a mistake but learn from it, right? Don't make the same mistake twice."
• "Culture is as big as anything. People who get it right, get it. It's simple, but not easy."
• "Company values should evolve over time, just like personal values evolve as life changes."
• "If core values aren't genuinely followed, they crumble, and the culture becomes fake."

Action Steps: 

1. Establish core values: Begin by defining the core values of your organization or personal life, such as being an excellent partner or staying humble.
2. Live by your values daily: Ensure that core values are not just words on a wall, but are actively practiced and reflected in everyday actions.
3. Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities: Encourage a culture where mistakes are seen as a chance to learn, not something to fear.
4. Community involvement: Actively participate in community activities and encourage team members to do the same, whether through sponsorships or volunteering.
5. Regularly review and adapt values: Schedule annual reviews of your core values to ensure they still align with the organization's goals and growth.

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners. 

At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops. 

By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays.

We’ve helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer’s Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Visit www.treadpartners.com or email [email protected] to learn more.