Joe Inchiostro is the Owner and CEO of St. Louis Wholesale Tire. His cousin, John Inchiostro, is Operations Manager. The company is renowned for providing hard-to-find tires and other specialty products in the automotive industry. Their fathers founded St. Louis Wholesale Tire, which started in their living room and eventually grew into an enterprise serving a national customer base. Together, Joe and John have expanded the company's offerings, introducing their own AIRLOC brand inner tubes and positioning St. Louis Wholesale Tire as a silent partner to wholesalers needing unique tire solutions.

In this episode…

The story of St. Louis Wholesale Tire is a true testament to the American dream; two brothers steered their business from brokering tires out of their father's living room to leading a tire industry empire. How did these two brothers manage to create a culture that prioritizes people over profits, fostering a sense of belonging that transcends the boundaries of a traditional workplace?

According to cousins Joe and John Inchiostro, the secret to St. Louis Wholesale Tire's success lies in the unbreakable bond between the founders and their commitment to treating employees like family. From the very beginning, their fathers — who are the founding brothers — instilled a philosophy of putting relationships first, understanding that money comes and goes, but the connections they forge are invaluable. This mindset permeates every aspect of the business, creating an environment where employees feel supported and valued. Whether it's accommodating family emergencies or celebrating personal milestones, the company's leadership recognizes that a happy and fulfilled workforce is the key to long-term prosperity. 

In this episode of Gain Traction, Joe and John talk with host Mike Edge about the evolution and modernization of the family tire business. They reveal how they managed to reinvent their business repeatedly to stay ahead of market trends. The cousins emphasize relationships over profits, exceptional service, and the unique products that set them apart. They discuss their approach to customer service, the significance of offering a broad product range, and strategic partnerships with geographic distributors.

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

• [01:52] How St. Louis Wholesale Tire began as a true American success story
• [10:28] The inception of the AIRLOC brand and how it became pivotal for business growth
• [13:27] Strategies St. Louis Wholesale Tire employed to navigate industry changes
• [15:45] The importance of responding to customer demands with innovative solutions
• [17:59] How the ATV Tire Bible came to be a testament to the company's market adaptability
• [23:20] The services and support offered by St. Louis Wholesale to other wholesalers
• [28:10] How Joe and John Inchiostro embody the philosophy of "time and pressure" in business growth

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Joe Inchiostro on LinkedIn
• John Inchiostro on LinkedIn
• St. Louis Wholesale Tire 
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners

Companies:

• Goodyear Tires
• MOOG Automotive
• Tire Mart

Websites:

• Traction Summit

Quotable Moments:

• "I really feel like it's a true American success story of taking everything you’ve got, taking a shot at it, and you're all in."
• "Pressure and time. One small move a day, one good decision. Over the course of a year, you will move mountains."
• "We want the employees to feel like they're part of our family. Handle your own troubles; we'll handle ours. We're here for each other."
• "We try to go above and beyond just the sale of the tire and provide convenience, service, and quality. Really, value is what we're trying to provide."
• "If there's something wrong, we'll make it right. We're not worried about that tire. It's the relationship. We want to build trust."

Action Steps:

1. Adopt a "time and pressure" approach to business challenges.
   • This patient and persistent approach is proven by the Inchiostro's success and reinforces the importance of incremental progress [00:28:10].
2. Embrace your unique history and expertise to carve out a niche in the market.
   • Understanding your distinct strengths can set you apart from competition, just as St. Louis Wholesale Tire's specialty in rare tires did [00:06:04].
3. Make strategic partnerships for business growth and market expansion.
   • Collaborating with other companies, as St. Louis Wholesale does with tires, can increase your reach and create mutually beneficial relationships [00:21:33].
4. Innovate by responding to customer demands with practical solutions.
   • Addressing client needs with forward-thinking products and services, like the seller return program, can drive subscriber confidence and loyalty [00:15:45].
5. Prioritize relationships in every aspect of the business.
   • Building trust and treating customers as friends, as Joe and John Inchiostro do, can foster a positive reputation and long-term success [00:30:36].

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.