Discount Tire

Discount Tire Company is an independent tire and wheel retailer. Discount Tire operates in 36 states in the United States, and is the largest independent tire and wheel retailer in the world. The company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1] Discount Tire is known as America's Tire in regions of Northern and Central California, including the Greater Los Angeles Area and the Coachella Valley. The only area in California where stores are known as Discount Tire is in San Diego County.

Discount Tire Company
Private
IndustryIndependent Tire Retailer
Founded1960 (1960)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Headquarters
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Number of locations
1067 stores in 36 States (May. 2020)[1]
Key people
Bruce Halle, founder
Dean Muglia, CEO
Michael Zuieback, Executive Chairman
Ed Kaminski, COO
Christian Roe, CFO
ProductsTires, Wheels
RevenueUS$ 5.19 billion (2018)[2]
Number of employees
21,792 (2018)[2]
Websitediscounttire.com

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]

The company grew to over 200 stores by 1990 and opened its 500th store in 2002. On Sept. 10, 2018 Discount Tire opened its 1000th store, a location in Phoenix, AZ.[5] Discount Tire entered the northeast market with a location in Pittsburgh, PA in February 2020.

Discount Tire grew from a one-man operation into the largest retailer of tires and wheels 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 and that improving the customer experience could greatly improve the brand's value to consumers.[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. 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.[9] For this reason, Halle promised his employees, "Do a good job, and I’ll provide lifelong opportunity for you."[9] That promise resulted in a strict promote-from-within model for the company's management.[9]

Marketing

In 2005, Discount Tire’s “Thank You” commercial entered the Guinness World Records as longest continuously running TV commercial.[11][12] This commercial depicts an old woman played by Maxine Olmstead[13] hurling a tire through a Discount Tire store window as the voice-over says, “If ever you’re not satisfied with one of our tires, please feel free to bring it back. Thank you.”[14] The ad first aired in 1975.

Discount Tire sponsors the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Brad Keselowski in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, and the No. 22 Mustang for Austin Cindric in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Team Penske. It also sponsors Monster Energy AMA Supercross.[15]

See also

References
  1. Discount Tire corporate Retrieved Dec. 2018
  2. Discount Tire on Forbes Retrieved 7 March 2017
  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 Archived March 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine 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
  10. "Discount Tire Corporate - Vision And Values". 23 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  11. "Longest running TV commercial". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  12. "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.
  13. Ruelas, Richard. "Bruce Halle and Discount Tire's historic TV ad". AZCentral.com. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  14. "Awards & Recognition" (Press release). Discount Tire Company. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  15. Discount Tire Sponsorships Retrieved 7 March 2015
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