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K&M Tire promises more perks in 2023 BIGGER WAREHOUSES, ENHANCED PROGRAMS ARE ON THE WAY

According to K&M Tire research, “70% of web traffic comes from mobile devices” and nearly 60% of users “will never return to a website that isn’t mobile-friendly.”

K&M Tire provides free websites to Mr. Tire members, said Bova. “Your site is a 24/7 salesperson to engage customers anytime.”

Golden Advice

This year’s K&M Tire event included a variety of info sessions and seminars, including one that provided advice on acquiring, retaining and developing employees and another that shared best practices for boosting cash flow.

“Hiring has changed” in the wake of COVID-19, Sherri Miller, CEO and founder of the Center for Extraordinary Success, a consultancy based in Ft. Wayne, Ind., told attendees.

“The most profitable organizations spend more than 25% of their time investing in and engaging (with) their employees. If you don’t have a development program today, I highly encourage you” to create one.

“It doesn’t have to be a complex system. And there’s no wrong answer. Just doing it is a major step forward.”

Jon Zurcher, chief operating officer of Best-One Tire Group, shared tips for increasing cash flow, including raising service rates and other methods that will help dealers counter the escalating cost of doing business.

Even small increases in service rates can yield large, incremental gross profit gains, Zurcher told attendees.

“In our retail stores, we’re targeting $125 an hour for mechanics’ rates,” he said.

“Another thing we’re focused on is doing good vehicle inspections. We want to be the ones to point out an issue” on a vehicle that needs attention.

Charging for shop supplies is another way to boost the bottom line, he advised.

“The best way to protect your business is to protect its ability to generate cash.”

‘WE LIKE TO STAY BUSY’

K&M Tire customers can expect more service enhancements in 2023, Cheryl Gossard, the company’s president, told MTD.

“We’re constantly looking at whatever we are currently offering and ways to improve it,” she said. “We have improvements coming for our online ordering system. We’re going to add features to it.

“Of course, we’re always looking at our warehouses. It seems like every year we’re moving one to a bigger warehouse. We have a couple of those coming in 2023.

“We’ve been talking for years about enhancing our inventory management system. We started that in 2017 and slowly have been adding it to every location. We’re constantly trying to make improvements for our customers.”

• 3D Mobile Wheel Alignment System

• Fully automatic. Beam can be moved up and down

• Compatible with all car lifts including 2 post lifts and mid-rise scissor lifts

• Shortest distance of rolling run-out compensation in the industry, no need to wait during rolling

• Dual display screens

• Fully Automatic. Super easy to operate

• Leverless Center Post. Rim size up to 30"

• Equipped with Wheel lift cart and a 12" display screen that shows the underside of the wheel when changing the tire