Discount Tire
Discount Tire Company is the world's largest independent tire and wheel retailer.[1] The company was founded in 1960 when Bruce T. Halle rented a building on Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With six tires and a portable air tank, Halle started what has now become America’s Largest Independent Tire and Wheel Retailer. His philosophy has remained consistent-develop a long lasting relationship with customers by providing a product that exceeds their expectations at a competitive price. Treat customers with respect and fairness, while offering them service that reflects the skill and knowledge of our employees. And always remember that customer loyalty must be earned. Today, Discount Tire Company has over 657 stores and four distribution centers in 20 states.[1] Discount Tire Company (also known as America’s Tire Co. in some areas) is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The company is known as America's Tire in California, Oregon and Washington.
Company Milestones
1960: Store #1 Opens
- 1960 Founder Bruce Halle opens the first Discount Tire store in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[2]
- 1966 DTC purchases their first automatic tire changer.[2]
1970: 7 Stores and Growing
- 1970 Arizona region opens. The first Discount Tire Road Hugger brand is sold.[2]
- 1975 Discount Tire's Little Old Lady is created for the "Thank You" TV ad.[2]
- 1979 Indiana opens first store.[2]
1980: 36 Stores and Growing
- 1980 Colorado region opens.[2]
- 1983 San Diego, Nevada, Oregon, Houston, New Mexico and Dallas stores open for business.[2]
- 1985 Utah becomes a region.[2]
- 1986 San Antonio opens its first stores.[2]
- 1987 Corporate headquarters relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona.[2]
- 1987 Washington stores open for business.[2]
- 1988 Los Angeles stores open for business.[2]
- 1989 Florida stores open for business.[2]
1990: 209 Stores and Growing
- 1993 Northern California begins as a new region.[2]
- 1994 Our web store, Discount Tire Direct, opens for business.[2]
- 1995 Illinois stores open for business.[2]
- 1997 Ohio stores open for business.[2]
- 1999 Carolina stores open for business.[2]
2000: 418 Stores and Growing
- 2001 Georgia, Minnesota and South Carolina regions open.[2]
- 2001 Michigan grows with two regions, opening offices in Lansing and Detroit.[2]
- 2002 Store #500 opens.[2]
- 2002 New corporate headquarters opens in North Scottsdale, Arizona.[2]
- 2002 New prototype store is launched.[2]
- 2002 Mobile service begins.[2] - 2004 Discount Tire goes NASCAR racing as it sponsors the No. 41 Dodge.[2]
2005: 600 Stores and Growing
- 2005 Orange County, CA is named our newest region.[2]
- 2005 August - store #600 opens in Acworth, Georgia.[2]
- 2006 Discount Tire employees grow to over 10,000 with more than 600 locations in 18 states.[2]
Extensions of the Company
America's Tire Company In parts of California, Oregon, and Washington, Discount Tire Company is known as America's Tire Co. Official Website. Although these stores use a different name, the showrooms are the same as those you will find in Discount Tire stores.[3]
Discount Tire Direct Discount Tire has a mail order division known as Discount Tire Direct. It has distribution centers in Arizona, Ohio and Texas.[3]
Advertising
A little old lady was made famous by throwing a tire through the glass storefront of a Discount Tire Store back in 1975, as part of Discount Tire’s first 10-second ad, which includes these words: “If ever you’re not satisfied with one of our tires, please feel free to bring it back. Thank you, Discount Tire Co.” It made the Guinness World Records Longest Running TV Commercial category.”[4]
In 1999, a new campaign was created by the Phoenix office of Cramer-Krasselt and Small But Mighty Films. Its premise was, "Don't know much about tires? That's OK." The new ads feature people who, though knowledgeable in their respective fields, know little about tires. In one spot, an economist is shown solving a math equation. While she's a wiz with monetary inflation, she doesn't know a thing about tire inflation pressure. But a voiceover reassures: "Discount Tire. It's all you need to know." In another spot, a heart surgeon know all about heart valves, but nothing about tire valves.”[5]
Accolades, Accomplishments, and Controversy
Not one Discount Tire Co. job was eliminated during the recession of 1990. In fact, Halle’s firm opened 30 new stores and hired 200 employees in 1990. The company had sales topping $400 million, with more than 6 million tires going out the door of 211 Discount Tire Co. locations in 11 states.[6]
Despite the economic slowdown, two Houston stores made company history. One topped $400,000 in monthly sales, and another set a record with $272,595 in sales during it’s first month in business.[6]
The company’s web operation, Discount Tire Direct, began in 1994 and was pulling in enough business to show a profit. But it was sales from regional stores that were really keeping the accountants busy. By 1992, the $4 million annual sales mark was reached by a Solano Beach, California store, breaking yet another company record. Three years later retail sales reached $650 million. With 295 stores by 1995 and sales totaling more than 7 million tires annually, Discount Tire Co. had more than doubled in size in the previous 10 years.[7]
In 1989, executives from the top 100 privately held companies in Arizona selected the firm as The Most Admired Company of 1989. The company took the title again in 1990 and 1991 and would do so in future years.[7]
It was during this period that Discount Tire Co. moved to the top of the independent tire dealer rankings to become the number one tire dealership in the nation. Despite downward economic trends and industry-wide restructuring, the Scottsdale based firm would hold on to that title for years to come by having more retail stores and sales than any competitor.[7]
In 1991 readers of the Arizona Sun selected a Discount Tire Co. store in Flagstaff as Outstanding Tire Dealer of the Year. In 1994, readers of Arizona Senior World picked Halle’s firm as their favorite place to purchase tires.[7]
The American Heart Institute named Halle honorary chairman of its 1992 Heart Ball, and his alma mater, Eastern Michigan University (EMU), honored him with its 1993 Distinguished Alumni Award. He was named one of Phoenix’s “most influential retailers” by the Phoenix Business Journal and honored for his fundraising efforts by the Muscular Dystrophy Association at its 1994 Share a Holiday Dinner fundraiser.[7]
Halle was named a Captain of Achievement at the American Academy of Achievement’s 1994 Golden Plate Award ceremony in Las Vegas.
In 1993, tire manufacturers mounted legal challenges against rivals over patent infringement.
Some 70 independent dealers in Minnesota were cited in a 1993 lawsuit after thousands of discarded tires were found in landfills being cleaned up under the federal Superfund law. The state of Florida was levying fines against independent dealers amid allegations that several companies, including Discount Tire Co., had failed to list their tire disposal costs separately from the $1-per-tire tax charged by the state. Three large dealerships paid a $1.22 million settlement to the state in 1993 to resolve the matter. Discount Tire Co. picked up just $18,921 of that tab.[7]
When an Orem, Utah businessman opened Randy’s Discount Tires and Auto in 1991, Discount Tire Co. threatened a legal battle to protect its name. As in a similar fight years earlier in California, the dispute was settled amicably when the new business agreed not to use the Discount Tire name in its advertising.[7]
Both Tire Business & Modern Tire Dealer have ranked Discount Tire Company as the #1 independent tire retailer based on number of retail outlets and annual revenues. The company was also recognized by Forbes magazine, placing no. 171 out of 500 for annual revenues of a privately-held company.[8]
Discount Tire Company received the "Most Admired Company" Award voted by its peers in Arizona and consistently ranks #1 in revenue according to Arizona Corporate Excellence 100 for privately held companies.[8]
Contributions
Halle has made sizable contributions to the American Red Cross, the American Liver Foundation, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, among other organizations. He has funded programs such as the Children’s Urban Survival Program, in Phoenix, Arizona to reduce childhood accidents. His company also sponsors Special Olympics programs and parties for graduating high school seniors, clothing and food drives, and holiday gatherings for underprivileged children. Eastern Michigan University (EMU) was among the first to benefit from his philanthropy when, in the early 1990’s, he donated funding to help build a library which was later named in his honor.[9]
The Discount Tire Co. founder also bestowed a large grant on Holy Redeemer High School, from which he graduated in 1948. The money helped build a new gym, named the Halle Gymnasium.[9]
His donation to the American Heart Association helped build an innovative educational facility designed to educate the public about heart disease. The Halle Heart Center, in Tempe, Arizona, which opened in 1996, features more than 16,000 square feet of interactive displays that encourage a healthy lifestyle. The center, free to the public, is the only museum of its kind in the country.[9]
He has continued to fund various charities and art programs, often with little fanfare. And through the years, his philosophy about helping others has never changed. His business, as he often says, is not just about tires. It is about people.[9]
Sponsorships
NASCAR
Discount Tire is the primary sponsor of the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion for the Busch Series with Roush Fenway Racing.[10]
Discount Tire began its involvement with NASCAR in 2004.[10]
"Our participation in NASCAR and our association with Roush Racing echoes our commitment to being the best tire and wheel retailer in the world," said Discount Tire's Senior Vice President Michael Zuieback. "In each of our 650-plus stores across the country, our people provide customers with the best price, advice and service, just like a winning pit crew. It's a great rallying point for our people across the country. The parntership with Rouch Racing and driver David Ragan promises great success."[10]
References
1. "10,000 Discount Tire Employees Live on Kronos Retail; Leading Tire Company Implements Kronos for Increased Employee and Customer Satisfaction". 2005-1-17. Retrieved 2007-05-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. "Company Milestones". Retrieved 2007-06-27.
3. {{cite web | title = Extensions of the Company | url = http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/compExtensions.dos
4. "Discount Tire ad makes Guinness World Record". The Business Journal of Phoenix. 2004-10-12. Retrieved 2007-05-02.
5. "C-K Drives Discount Tire to TV". Adweek. 1999-04-26. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
6. Rodengen, Jeffrey L. (2002). The Legend of Discount Tire Co. Inc. Write Stuff Enterprises Inc. p. 84. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
7. Rodengen, Jeffery L. (2002). The Legend of Discount Tire Co. Inc. Write Stuff Enterprises Inc. pp. 96–99. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
8. "Awards and Recognitions". Retrieved 2007-06-22.
9. Rodengen, Jeffery L. (2002). The Legend of Discount Tire Co. Inc. Write Stuff Enterprises Inc. p. 110. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
10. "David Ragan Named as Driver of the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion". 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
External links
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