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From Oil Changes to Leadership With TJ White of Tire Source Neighborhood Car Care

Gain Traction

Release Date: 03/05/2025

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Gain Traction

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TJ White is the General Manager of Tire Source Neighborhood Car Care, a company with six locations in the Canton and Akron, Ohio area that specializes in tire and auto repair services. Under TJ's leadership, Tire Source has maintained strong community relationships and a reputation for customer loyalty, stemming from its innovative and efficient service practices. TJ grew up in Akron and has been part of the family business since he was 16, having worked his way up from changing oil and tires to his current managerial role.

In this episode…

Operating a tire and auto repair business with multiple locations presents an abundance of challenges and opportunities. What are some key strategies that contribute to success and growth?

According to TJ White of Tire Source Neighborhood Car Care, the company has several key strategies. Tire Source focuses on being innovative and efficient, staying up-to-date with technology, and investing in training and equipment. It takes a step-by-step approach to implementing new technologies, testing them at one location before rolling them out to all locations. Transparency with employees is a priority, leading to a low turnover rate.

On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes TJ for a conversation about Tire Source, family history with Goodyear, business growth and strategy, and a memorable story about finding drugs in a spare tire. They also discuss the importance of efficiency and process, as well as the value of transparency and a positive work environment.

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

  • [02:24] TJ White discusses his deep-rooted community connections and customer relationships
  • [03:08] The White family's unwavering loyalty to Goodyear tires
  • [08:07] Tire Source's innovative approach to staying tech-savvy
  • [09:37] The strategic, step-by-step business improvement process used by Tire Source
  • [11:29] How Tire Source's employee turnover stays low
  • [13:24] TJ's philosophy: Efficiency and action drive success in business

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments: 

  • "I've never entertained anything else. I grew up wanting to go to work with my dad every day."
  • "Efficiency is something that drives me to become efficient in every way that I do anything."
  • "We try and make it very clear what we can offer to you, what you can offer to us."
  • "Everything can be fine-tuned, and then once you fine-tune it, you can fine-tune it again."
  • "I like to think of us as innovative, efficient, and always trying to stay up with the times."

Action Steps: 

  1. Focus on building strong community relationships: Engaging with the community and fostering trust can lead to long-term loyalty and customer retention, helping to stand out in a competitive market.
  2. Embrace technological advancements: Investing in technology improves efficiency and service quality, providing a competitive edge and meeting modern customer expectations.
  3. Implement a phased approach to new investments: This minimizes risk and allows for adjustments based on real-world feedback, managing resources and reducing potential waste.
  4. Prioritize transparency in employment practices: By clearly communicating expectations and company values, businesses can foster a positive work environment and improve employee satisfaction.
  5. Commit to continuous improvement: Address inefficiencies and seize opportunities for growth and development.

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.