PROMOTION | TOWNSVILLE PROUD
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With more than 40 years in the industry, Mike Rogers knows his tyres. Starting out as a tyre fitter in Ayr in 1972, the industrious lad soon moved through the ranks from sales rep to store manager and state manager positions. When an opportunity to move to Townsville arose, some 20 years ago, Mike and his wife Linda didn’t hesitate. “With our daughter going to university, and a more diverse range of further education and trade qualification options for our son, we jumped at the chance,” Mike says. “It’s been one of the best choices we’ve ever made. We haven’t looked backed.” Describing Townsville as a city that offers anyone who truly wants to succeed a fair go,
YOU’LL FIND GOOD-OLDFASHIONED SERVICE ALIVE AND WELL AT BRIDGESTONE SELECT MIKE’S TYRES IN GARBUTT AND DEERAGUN, OWNED AND OPERATED BY FATHER AND SON TEAM MIKE SNR AND MIKE JNR ROGERS.
Mike says he was confident to take the reins when the opportunity to buy the Garbutt business from Bridgestone Australia presented itself in 2010. Three years later Mike took on the Deeragun store. “We saw the opportunity (for the Deeragun store) with the area growing so fast,” Mike says. “We needed to be part of the growth if we were to expand our business.” Now, with three grandchildren, Mike can’t think of a safer city than Townsville for them to grow up in. “People in general will help in a crisis. You only need look at the situation when the two boys were lost at Mt Stuart,” Mike says. “The general public, SES and police were all out in force searching. What a great testament of the community spirit in this city.” It’s this all-in team approach that Mike and his son adopt at their Garbutt and Deeragun
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tyre businesses. “Our team vary in background but have one thing in common and that is pride in their job,” Mike says. “It’s vital to engage your team in the business. They’re a major part of your success and it’s important they are treated that way. It makes no difference what business you’re in, the consumer can buy the same type of tyre, fridge, computer, or any product you wish to name from a wide range of retailers. It’s the service we provide that determines if we get and keep the business.” Townsville has been good to the Rogers family and they believe in repaying the favour by putting back into the community. They sponsor many local sporting clubs and, through the Bridgestone organisation, are proud supporters of the Leukaemia Foundation. “This year our manager at Deeragun had a great result in raising funds through Shave for a Cure,” Mike says. As for the Rogers’ vision for Townsville over the coming decade, Mike Jnr sums it up: “I see a great future for our city, despite the doom and gloom we sometimes hear. Townsville continues to grow at a sustainable pace. The Northern Beaches and Fairfield Precinct is proof of that.
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“Townsville is like no other city I know. It offers all the advantages of the large southern cities but still retains that country town feel. My hope is that we hold onto that big community spirit as we continue to grow.”
Bridgestone Select Mike’s Tyres Corner Bayswater and Dalrymple Roads, Garbutt 4779 6544 Northside Square, Deeragun Road, Deeragun 4751 9069 www.bridgestone.com.au
DUO MAGAZINE AUGUST 2015 duomagazine.com.au 35