Hello Chris64,
And thanks for your question.
You don't mention where in the country (or the world for that matter)
you are located. So, first, let's list the corporate office contact
information for Firestone:
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
One Bridgestone Park
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: 615-391-0088
Fax: 615-231-3621
Primary Business: Sells and markets Bridgestone/Firestone tires.
http://www.bridgestone-firestone.com/corporate/directory_fr.html
I'm sure that a call here requesting dealership information will
connect you with a sales division that will be happy to answer
questions on their requirements to be a dealer. As with any
manufacturer, they will want to know that you have an appropriate
business to sell and service their products, are credit worthy, have
expertise on cars and tires, carry insurance and perhaps are located
in an area they deem can support another Firestone tire dealer. In
general, a manufacturer will also have intial stocking order
requirements after your credit and dealer app have been approved. Do
ask them for their specific requirements as manufacturers and
distributors often have unique requirements and terms to establish a
wholesale account.
An interesting article by Business Week appears here:
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/sep2000/sb20000915_563.htm
and while the article talks mainly about recalls, it does note:
"Authorized Firestone dealers carry at least 75% Firestone tires in
exchange for a wholesale price break and marketing support. "
Other methods of obtaining products like this for resale are through
wholesalers or distributors. Normally, you will pay a little more for
the product, but you also will probably not have to invest near as
much for stocking inventory and may not have to meet or exceed a
yearly quota to continue your franchise. Searching Firestone tires
wholesale, I found the following:
http://futuretire.com/firestone.htm
Future Tire Co.
202 Bethpage Sweet Hollow Road
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
Sales: 800-772-6373 & 516-752-9200
Fax: 516-752-7944
E-mail: info@futuretire.com
Web: http://www.FutureTire.Com
"Our wholesale operation offers tire dealers across the U.S. and
around the world the best pricing on most major brands of tires for
passenger vehicles, light and medium duty trucks, commercial and
industrial vehicles.
We stock hundreds of different models from Dunlop, Bridgestone,
Peerless, Firestone, Falken, Cooper, Sumitomo Tire, and Yokohama Tires
to insure fast, ontime delivery of your order. We can also special
order most models from these manufacturers."
http://autopedia.com/html/TireRetail.html is a listing of Retail and
Wholesale Tire Outlets including:
Inter-Sprint Banden B.V. - a Dutch based tyre wholesaler serving
Europe, featuring Michelin, Dunlop, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Firestone,
Viking, Colway, Tyfoon and Mastersteel tires. (Just in case you are in
Europe)
http://www.southernindianatire.com/tirelines/wholesale.html , Southern
Indiana / Illinois Tire, "is a distributor to hundreds of retail and
wholesale outlets."
Note this paragraph:
"We have a new and exciting program that we are now a part of through
Bridgestone / Firestone. This program is called "Tire Story," and it's
an excellent way for a dealer to be part of something big. This
program gives you Bridgestone / Firestone as well as SIT support. This
support includes: competitive pricing; advertising; coop; adjustment
program; signage; displays; national account billing; NAPA parts; oil
products; a free internet site; and more."
They can be reached at: 1-800-344-7487
Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
Saturday, 7:00am - 1:00pm CST
I also found an interesting page called "The Rubber Room" at
http://www.rubber.com/rubber/a/rb5020.html where not only is there and
EXTENSIVE list of wholesalers and distributors for passenger tires,
but a discussion board and email newsletter for those in the industry.
Here are just a few listings from that page:
A & R Tire Company
Wholesale & Distribution of New Passenger & Light Truck Tires.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A & R Tire Company
310 North Howard Street
Akron Ohio
USA 44304
Tel: 330 376-1993
Fax: 330 376-3178
Contact: Arthur Taub
Denton Tire
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Denton Tire
POBox90
Collinsville Texas
USA 76233
Tel: 903 429 8473
Contact: Terry Denton
Perry International
We have all kinds of tires available.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perry International
21922 esplendor
Mission Viejo California
USA 92691
Tel: 949 951-8711
Fax: 949 951-2907
Contact: Kirk Miller
Premier Tire Terminal
We sell everything but Bicycle Tires
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Premier Tire Terminal
2200 Market Street
Denver Colorado
USA 80205
Toll Free: 800 525-3031
Tel: 303 297-9555
Fax: 303 295-7726
Contact: John Perschbacher
Tires Wholesale of St. Louis
Wholesale Tire Sales.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tires Wholesale of St. Louis
5048 Penrose
St. Louis Missouri
USA 63115
Toll Free: 800 231-1231
Tel: 314 389-8899
Fax: 314 389-8079
Contact: Larry Inchiostro
And finally, a few industry and publication contacts that might prove
helpful to you in your search:
International Tire Association
P.O. Box 1067
Farmington Connecticut
USA 06034
Tel: 860 228-2536
Fax: 860 228-9772
Contact: Anne Evans
and...
Modern Tire Dealer
Magazine published monthly for the tire and car industry
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modern Tire Dealer
P.O. Box 3599
Akron Ohio
USA 44309-3599
Tel: 330 867-4401
Fax: 330 867-0019
Contact: Lloyd Stoyer
I trust this will get you "on the road" to becoming a Firestone tire
dealer.
Best regards,
-=clouseau=- |
,
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