Jim Richards is the National Co-op Recruitment Manager at Point S, travelling extensively throughout the US to meet with independent tire dealers with the goal of educating them on the benefits of joining Point S — increased buying power and support from a national network.

Mickie Segotta is the Owner of Point S American Tire in Gallup, New Mexico. Mickie took over the business from her stepfather, who passed away in 2021 — honoring her stepfather’s legacy by running the business with the same dedication and commitment to her employees.

Kolby and Tia Clay are the Co-owners of Junction City Point S Tire and Auto Service in Junction City, Oregon. Although Kolby is a first-generation tire store owner, he purchased the facility from a family friend who had operated a tire store for 50 years, leading him to feel like a fourth-generation owner.

Brandon Haltiwanger is the Owner of Forrest’s Tire Service and Point S in Johnston, South Carolina. Brandon has a diversified background in the construction industry, including expertise in project management, budgeting, and contract negotiation.

Ed Tuck is the Owner of TNT Tire Point S Auto Service in Tacoma, Washington. Ed's father joined Point S in 1984, making their family one of the earliest members of the cooperative. He has been involved in the tire industry since he was 12 years old. 

Tony O’Billovich leads in-house consulting for the Master Shop Program at Point S, where he coaches independent Point S members. Tony believes in a “win together” mentality and stresses the importance of employee growth to achieve success for everyone.

Jeremy Smith is a second-generation business owner and operator of two Wasatch Tire and Service Point S locations in Utah, as well as six Steve’s Automotive Specialist shops. Jeremy believes in the value of local businesses and building relationships with customers.

David Priddy owns David's Discount Tire in Haskell, Oklahoma and has been a member of Point S for almost ten years. He values the buying power, marketing, and family-like relationships that the Point S organization offers.

Jeff Tucker is the Chairman of Point S and CEO of Triple T Tire in Western Tennessee. He hopes to grow the Point S revenue base to 500 stores in all 50 states, building value for independent dealers looking for a franchise.

Joe Moore is the Vice President of Purchasing for Point S. He manages the relationships with vendor partners, working to bring good buying prices and programs to the members. Joe also works to create avenues for members to promote their products through the organization.

In this episode…

The tire industry can be a challenging landscape for independent dealers, with many facing the pressures of larger corporations and acquisitions. What benefits can a co-op organization like Point S provide to these independent businesses?

According to Jim Richards, Mickie Segotta, Kolby and Tia Clay, Brandon Haltiwanger, Ed Tuck, Tony O'Billovich, Jeremy Smith, David Priddy, Jeff Tucker, and Joe Moore — attendees of this year’s Point S Tire Conference — Point S offers independent tire and service dealers the opportunity to join a group that provides them with the buying power of a large organization while still maintaining their independence. Members benefit from networking opportunities with like-minded people, access to marketing and point-of-sale materials, better warranties for customers, and a supportive family-like environment. The organization also provides in-house coaching and vendor relationships, fostering a sense of community and shared success.

On this episode of Gain Traction, join host Mike Edge at the Point S Tire Conference, where he speaks with Jim, Mickie, Kolby, Tia, Brandon, Ed, Tony, Jeremy, David, Jeff, and Joe about how Point S provides a family environment, purchasing power, and coaching for independent tire dealers — all while fostering a sense of community and shared success among members.

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

• [02:19] The power of numbers for independent tire dealers
• [03:21] Why joining a tire cooperative network is beneficial
• [12:28] How Point S helps independent tire dealers thrive
• [17:08] Insights from in-house consulting for tire shops
• [19:14] How Point S supports growth and success for members
• [23:12] Why Point S feels like a family to members

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Jim Richards on LinkedIn 
• Brandon Haltiwanger on LinkedIn
• Ed Tuck on LinkedIn
• Jeff Tucker on LinkedIn
• Joe Moore on LinkedIn
• Point S Tire
• Triple T Tire
• Forrest’s Tire Service
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners

Quotable Moments: 

• "There's power in numbers. When we come in, we're basically telling them, ‘you're not alone, join the group’." - Jim Richards
• "I promised to take care of them and I promised to keep it going. Those guys — they are the reason I can sleep at night." - Mickie Segotta
• “You cannot do it on your own unless you have some kind of help.” - Kolby Clay
•  "It helps the independent tire dealer not be so much alone anymore." - Brandon Haltiwanger
• "We're like one big family that really looks after each other and wants to help each other out." - Ed Tuck

Action Steps: 

1. Expand your network: Engage with industry conferences and events to connect with peers and thought leaders. 
2. Leverage cooperative buying power: Consider joining a cooperative or buying group to increase your purchasing power without losing your independence. 
3. Foster a family-oriented workplace: Cultivate a supportive, family-like environment within your team to enhance job satisfaction and loyalty. 
4. Utilize in-house consulting services: Take advantage of in-house consulting programs to improve your business operations. 
5. Build long-term vendor relationships: Invest in building long-term relationships with vendors to ensure reliability and consistency in your supply chain.

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.