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Episode 244

Tannin Cash

Delta Tire

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Tannin Cash is the owner of Delta Tire, a five-location tire business in New Mexico with more than 50 employees. He entered the industry at 23 after purchasing his first shop with his brother while enrolled in an engineering program. His experience scaling a tire shop business includes owner-financed acquisitions, multi-store operations, and the development of tire-focused management software.

In this episode…

Delta Tire’s first two location deals came directly from owners who carried the financing. The first purchase followed an informal conversation with the shop owner. The second took eleven months of steady follow-up before Cash secured a lease with an option to buy. Relationships opened the door, while persistence and a strong service reputation moved each deal forward.

The harder problem surfaced as the company expanded. Cash and his brother launched ventures outside the shops, creating distractions that competed with the core operation. Adding more stores demanded tighter priorities and repeatable systems across every location.

That operating discipline matters as tire retail adopts new software and shop technology at a faster pace. Cash’s work with a tire-focused management platform turned new-location setup into a repeatable process and gave Delta Tire a consistent structure for continued growth.

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

[01:15] How Tannin Cash bought his first tire shop

[04:50] How Delta Tire grew from one location to five

[09:56] Why outside ventures distracted from tire shop growth

[12:05] How tire-focused software supports multi-location operations

[17:33] How SEMA connects technology, networking, and industry advocacy

[24:18] What tire shop owners learn from industry peers

[27:36] Why entrepreneurship can compete with a college education

[31:37] Why developing employees makes tire retail rewarding

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

“You need to do your best, so always do your best.”
“We can’t win at everything all at once.”
“This industry is usually slow to move, but I feel like in the last five years, the tire industry is moving so quickly.”
“The customers of tire shops are the best customers.”
“We’ve got more than 50 people that work for us, and I love getting to work with the people, seeing them develop, seeing them grow.”

Action Steps:

Create a 12-month acquisition follow-up list tomorrow. Record each owner’s contact details, property status, and next outreach date.
Ask sellers about owner-carried financing before assuming a bank-funded deal. Put the proposed down payment and repayment structure in writing.
Run a distraction audit with the leadership team. Pause one venture that takes attention from the shops without improving store performance.
Make scaling a tire shop business repeatable. Document the steps for launching a location inside the management system and assign one person to own the process.

Transcript

00:00

My brother and I, we we started it together on a joke. He walked in and got a flat repair and said, “Man, when are you going to get rid of this old shop? And the owner said, “When you buy it from me. So six months later, we we took over, and

00:13

that’s just called crazy. You know that, don’t you?

00:15

And now I can say I changed tires for a living.

00:19

Welcome to the Gain Traction Podcast, the official podcast for tire business. I am Mike Edge, your host, and I have the privilege of interviewing the tire dealers, shop owners, counter sales reps, technicians, industry executives, and other thought leaders of our industry. This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners. Tread Partners is the leading digital marketing agency that specializes in digital marketing for multi-location tire and auto repair shops. Tread Partners works with clients that have hundreds of locations, down to five locations. Get a professional, unbiased opinion, and let Tread Partners review what you’re doing. It starts with a simple conversation. To contact Tread Partners, visit TreadPartners.com. So let’s get started. Hey, folks! Welcome to the Gain Traction podcast, the official podcast for tire business. My guest today is Tannen Cash, the owner of Delta Tire, with five locations in New Mexico. Tannen, welcome to the Gain Traction podcast.

01:15

Hey, thanks, Mike. Good to be with you.

01:17

Well, it’s been a pleasure getting to know you over the last couple times we’ve talked. So I know we’re going to have a great podcast here. I look forward to hearing your story again and and telling the the audience about you. But let’s just back up in the beginning because I think you got a great story. How you got into this, you didn’t see it coming technically. You were in college, if I remember right.

01:41

Yeah, yeah, I was in college,

01:43

and then your girlfriend and fiance was just totally excited about you buying into this business, right?

01:48

Yeah, so we, my brother and I, we we started it together on a joke. You know, that’s kind of how the small town deals work. He walked in and got a flat repair and said, “Man, when are you going to get rid of this old shop? And the owner said, “When you buy it from me. And that’s that’s how the deal started. So six months later, we we took over and and that was the same. I took over in December of 14. That was the same month I got married. So I took over the first and got married on the 26th, the day after Christmas.

02:22

That’s just that’s just called crazy. You know that, don’t you?

02:25

Yeah, I was 23, so I think I think everybody’s a little crazy when they’re 20 300%

02:31

So yeah, you make all kinds of decisions. You look back on and be like, “What was I?

02:37

Well, I’m still married and I still have the business, so that is

02:40

it worked.

02:41

Those has to be two thumbs up there.

02:43

Well, and you’ve grown from one to five locations. So, your brother and you, your brother was an HVAC guy, right?

02:50

Yeah, construction and HVAC.

02:53

Yeah. So as you guys progressed, I think you weren’t you weren’t like all in kind of in the beginning. You were just operating a business, right?

03:03

Yeah, I actually operated it for one month. Put all the data into QuickBooks, which was a horrible decision. I, you know, you make all kinds of fun mistakes at first. Put all the data into QuickBooks. It was the only thing we could think to run it off of. And I left the school for three months, and it was kind of just like a pet project idea we had. When I came back, I started operating it and said, “Whoa, this thing like makes real money. The first month was just like everything went over your head, so you didn’t really know what was going on. Came back, they were asking for alignments every day, and and I jumped in with two feet. We we bought an alignment rack. We started innovating. We got real shop software, and when we bought it, we’re doing 900,000 a year. By the end of that year, we had a you know $1.72 million a year run rate at our monthly our monthly intake there, and so it came time to go back for the fall semester, and I told my wife, “This is this is our career now, and she nearly shot me. She’s got a bachelor’s degree, so she thought we were surely committing to the poorhouse for sure. And when I never went back to school, I had two semesters left to finish my engineering program, and and now I can say I change tires for a living.

04:25

That’s a beautiful story. Well, I like I like the fact though. I mean, you were obviously in school to be an engineer, but you found something that grabbed your passion, and and not only that. I mean, it it really it engulfed you because look, you’ve grown to five locations in a relatively short period of time, and and you guys are going to continue to grow from what you’re telling me, right?

04:46

Yeah, we’re we’re trying to get to 20 locations in the next five years here.

04:50

That’s awesome, beautiful. Walk us through the process. I think people like to know how people got to store 234, and five. How did how did you. Get there, and because I think it helps people think about when they’re sitting here listening. You know, I’ve got a couple of little options out there. I know some people want to sell. How do you, you know? And did you happen to go? I I can’t remember the answer to this question, but did you go through any brokers, or did you buy them direct with the people that were selling, or how’d all that work?

05:21

Yeah, our first two locations. One was a takeover from a shop that had closed for more than a year. The site had been left empty. A an incredible site in Gallup, New Mexico, on the corner of I 40 and another major highway. And so there’s 24,000 cars a day that pass, but those first two sites we bought them on handshake deals, owner carry. The original shop was was on owner carry, $130,000 down. We we grabbed every dollar we could find from everywhere and used it as the down payment, and got that shop running, and and the second location was in 2018. So essentially, we started January one of 15. So it’s been three years, and we said, “Man, we’re ready to branch out. There was a sign on the door of this location that we knew would be a good tire shop. It’s an hour from us. We we took a picture of the number and we called it once a month for 11 months. I mean, we were gonna wear them out. And the owner of that shop, he happened to be driving through Grants, New Mexico, and had a flat on his truck. And he stopped in at the shop, got the services done. Somehow he linked together that those guys that were calling him once a month were the same guys that own the shop, and he had a really good experience. You never know when it’s going to be. You need to do your best, so always do your best. And and he called us month later and said, “Hey, that shop I went to, it is amazing in Grants, New Mexico. Do you intend to do the same thing here? We said, “You bet. He said, “It’s yours. You you can come rent the site with a five year option to buy, and we’ve we’ve operated. We’ve already exercised that option to buy, and he owner carried as well, and so we’ve got a nice nice 12 bay shop in in Gallup, New Mexico, on on the corner we call it. It’s all where all the traffic’s at. So persistence is is uh I guess if you’re dumb you got to be more persistent.

07:32

Well, I mean there is a lot of truth to that. I mean you know persistence, perseverance, and persistence can overcome a lot of lack of skill in other areas. If you’ve, I mean, you know, I’m a, I’m a big sports fan, and I’ve noticed that with certain heroes of mine in sport that didn’t have a lot of tools, but man, the perseverance paid off, and I like that. So that that gets you to store three. Then how’d you get to four and five?

08:00

Yeah, that’s store two.

08:02

Oh, that was store two. Okay,

08:03

that’s store two. Store three is fun. When we were doing store two, there’s a really neat Tire Pros. Well, actually, that’s that’s a funny story. Well, might as well tell that. We’ll see if Tire Pros hates me later. So, there was an old guy in Tire Pros named Bob Bittner, and we wanted to go open store two, and we were actually going to buy a tire location in Gallup, New Mexico, and they backed out at the last second. We kind of had the the deal ready to go, and they were like, “Ah, we’re not ready for retirement. It can be it can be hard for people getting ready to retire. And they said we’re going to operate a little bit longer. So he said, “Well, we kind of already got all our equipment ready and stuff, so we’re going to go into this building where we have an opportunity. And Tire Pro said, “No, we’re not going to let you open up there, so you can’t do it. And he said, “Well, you’ll have to kick us off because we already spent the money. So they kicked us off the program. Three years later, we we helped a business partner invest in buying that shop. We went back around to buy that shop. By that time, we didn’t have a real good relationship with them, so they weren’t going to buy from us. So we actually found a partner that wanted to operate it, and we invested in him. This was right during COVID. His wife died during COVID, and they had just adopted two children, and he had to move back to Texas. Just a really sad,

09:24

yeah,

09:24

really sad setup. And so we ended up having to step in about four months later, take over the operation, buy him out. Um, and so we kind of silently operate that one under its original name, that a store three. So we ended up retiring that couple, and Tire Pro comes knocking at the door and says, “Can we have all the locations, please? So that’s our a love-hate relationship of of getting kicked out and having to come back. That’s location three in right around 2020,

09:52

and then so how’d you get to four and five?

09:56

Well, we would have done those a lot sooner, but we got entrepreneur. Oral ADHD. You ever heard of that?

10:02

Oh yeah.

10:04

So we we thought, man, we’ve been really successful at these three shops. Why don’t we just start every business in the whole world? So we we started a finance company. We started a construction company. We we fired back up our commercial construction. We I know there’s one more in here. Oh, and then we we started buying properties, real estate company, and so we were just like, man, we’re just gonna do, we’re just gonna start every company that we can think of because everything we kind of figured out, right? And then it all turned to crap. I mean, I mean, it all functions, but it was all major distractions, and so we had to realign. Say, holy cow, we can’t win at everything all at once. Just learn a good entrepreneur lesson, and we got everything back in line. Got those different businesses under control. Put our efforts back in the shops, and we we added two locations last year, and we expect to add two or three a year. Probably we’ll start doing some new builds. Yeah, from here on out. But yeah, that’s that’s we took a little hiatus when you thought you can you can win at everything all at once.

11:13

But you guys have not done it. You guys have not done a new build, have you?

11:19

We have we have not done a new build. We’ve come really, really close to a new build in the Gallup location. That that store number two, that’s as close as we cut a new build. It was essentially just an empty strip mall.

11:31

Yeah,

11:31

and we we rebuilt it all and fired it up as a tire shop.

11:34

Yeah, I got you. Well, that’ll be exciting, especially to see your next several years here with your your goal being 20 locations, and you know I think it’s I think it’s cool because this this played a little bit into your entrepreneurial HGA ADA I guess you or what am I trying to say

11:56

the entrepreneurial ADH yeah

11:57

HGA you guys you guys had run across a software that you liked,

12:04

yeah.

12:05

But the difference was that was in the business. It wasn’t like something completely separate, like like the other projects you got yourself into. So tell us a little bit about the the the software that that you found and that you guys have. Well, I mean, you’re invested in now, and and then you have clients around the country.

12:25

We do, yeah. It’s it’s really cool. In late in 2023, we got introduced to a guy named Drew, and he’s an incredible, incredible person. I mean, there’s probably not better people in the world when you just find those people that are integrous. They’re hardworking. He’s just incredible, and he had fired up this software, web-based software, in his home, and he had built it all. He’d taken the risk. He’d been entrepreneurial, and we stumbled across him. And he had it pretty well developed for our for our locations. We were going to need some additional features, and so we worked on that for about six to nine months, building out these features. And it was just so cool to be involved in the process. We got it implemented, and it was amazing to have a tire first solution that springboarded us. Now, when we needed to start new locations, it was just like a flip of a switch. He was able to just-I mean, we fired up the two new locations, and it was just one phone call. Hey, we’re ready for store four and five, he fires them up. During that process, their organizational changes inside of hoops and gears. They had some owners change hands. During that, we’re able to kind of jump in and say, “Hey, we would love to continue testing, building, and and investing in software. And we did that, and it’s been incredible since it’s taken me to SEMA a couple times, taking me out to locations in California and and Philadelphia to meet with people that are using using the software, and I love that. That’s my people people that are on the ground operating tire shops. It’s so fun to build things specifically for what’s going to help people?

14:22

Well, the beauty is you co-wrote in a sense the software. I know the guy already had a a base of what he was developing, but you guys got to come in and really add the benefits and features directly related to your your business, which is a multi-location operation, and then you know that it can benefit other multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops, right?

14:49

Yeah, yeah, and we’re getting some validation on that now. It’s it’s kind of fun to put your head in the sand and build something, like learning the shops and and building the software now. That’s gone to a few other multi-store owners. It’s been really cool to see people say, “Wow, this has some features that we’ve never seen some before. This has some incredible service like we’ve never seen. Kind of poke your head up and and know that what you’ve learned along the way is helpful to other people. That’s been the most rewarding part about it.

15:19

So, yeah, say when you guys are ready to market it more broadly and everything. What are is it going to be a subscription based like everything else type relationship or okay?

15:30

Yeah, totally. Yeah, it’s it’s very similar. Like one of the the majors that’s out there in the industry that is that is web based this tire guru, yeah, they’re they were built a little earlier on, and I would say it’s it’s very similar to that structure being a web-based setup. It’s very easy. You’re gonna go to a website on your computer, and you’re right inside your data operating your shop, which means it’s got mobile version. The texts are on it inside the shop. The it’s just it’s just so easy to fire up overnight. I mean, we’re full we’re full blown marketing now. We’re at Seaman, a booth. We’ve been there. This will be our third year, and so maybe our fourth year.

16:15

Where where are you where are you typically in the South Hall?

16:19

We’re going to be in the South Hall this year. We’ve actually been up with the technology guys in the North Hall the last few years.

16:25

Okay.

16:26

But we’re gonna we’re gonna go to the tire first. We’re gonna try to hit better down there in South Hall where people are tire first. Yeah. So we’ll be we’ll be right by the giant pillar as you go down the stairs.

16:40

No, I know where you’re at. Kind of halfway.

16:42

Yeah, halfway.

16:44

Yeah, I know where you’re at. Well, that’s cool. And there’s a lot of, I mean, there’s a lot of technology companies kind of in that space right around there, if I remember correct, because that’s where they put them typically. Yeah, but it is more likely to be your audience. I mean, North Hall is a pretty good haul from there.

17:02

Yes, you know. Yeah,

17:03

and it’s it’s you know I’ve I’ve walked it all, and it’s just you know even in the week time that you stay there, it’s hard to see. I mean, you could see everything if you’re running through it all. You know, short. You know, not really taking your time. But if you were to take your time, I I think it’s almost impossible to go to all all of those halls and see everything.

17:25

Oh, it’s it’s so large, and then once you get outside, you get so distracted with all the custom car builds, you can’t you can’t get anywhere.

17:33

Well, everything’s so cool, and then you got the guy on the motorcycle flipping off on the hills over here that they you know the little ramps and everything they’ve got built for him, I mean, it’s it’s it’s a great expedition. It’s uh, it’s really cool. I, I you know, I mean, just sitting here talking to you, I’d encourage more tire and auto repair shop owners to go to SEMA. I think it benefits our industry tremendously, and I think everybody should be members of it. I think they do a phenomenal job for advocacy in Washington D.C. and it means a lot for our industry. I mean, the biggest one, obviously, right now is right to repair.

18:10

Yes,

18:11

you know,

18:12

they’re they’re out fighting for that constantly. The yeah,

18:17

almost seeing the organization is on top of that.

18:19

Yeah, T is fighting it, SEMA’s fighting it, but everybody has their place in fighting it, and it’s a it’s a big deal, and we and we need to keep doing it. It’s interesting. I’ve talked to some just call it Joe consumers out there and asked them had they heard anything about right to repair, and they’re like, no. Well, why would that happen? You mean I won’t be able to fix my own car, I’m like, yeah. I said the only people really kind of battling this right now is your, your, you know, your auto repair shops and tire dealers that that do auto repair. I said, but the most for the most part is kind of stay quiet. I mean, your car dealers aren’t going to talk about it. I mean, because it benefits them, and and you know, and everybody knows it’s a sketchy proposition to begin with. I mean, they can’t handle the volume anyway, so it’s like the whole thing’s just messed up that you don’t have right over the data of the car that you purchase. So really, I don’t own my car then, right? I mean, you know, and I was telling you know, I’m just calling joke consumers, but they were just normal consumers. Like that’s wrong, and I’m like, I know, but you should be aware of this. This is a big issue right now. They couldn’t believe that they might not have the right to fix their own car, or you know, hire the person of their choice to do it.

19:33

That’s that’s a great reason for people that own shops to be out at SEMA. I I’ve learned that’s that’s one of the great reasons to stay involved in the industry. You can get so inside your head and inside your own space at your own shop with your own problems. Whether you’re multi-store, you just have one location. You can kind of get inside your own head. I’ve learned so much these three years now that I’ve been out helping sell the software. I’ve been in other. Shops, giving best practices, coaching, selling the software. I’ve been at SEMA. I would also put an encouragement out there for anybody that owns a shop to go to SEMA because you’re going to see in one place everything that is technologically advancing inside of the industry, all in one place, and it’s the biggest bang for your buck. I know it’s it’s funny. I’m kind of in a in a sweet spot. I used to look up to people with five stores, and so now I feel like I kind of get to look across and see somebody that I can help up get more locations, and I still look up to somebody that owns 15 or 20. So I get to look both directions in the industry, and it kind of puts me in a sweet spot. I love being at SEMA for that reason because I, I meet people. I get to network into people.

20:47

Yeah,

20:48

get to see new technology. It is just an an unbelievable place to go and stay current inside the the world of automotive.

20:58

Well, I like the way you put that because I don’t think I think everybody, you know, they just look at SEMA and they they they I don’t know. It seems distant, like you said. You’re living in your own bubble and your own space, and you got your own problems and everything. And I can’t get away. But the reality is, the the value of getting away, going to talk to like-minded people in the South Hall, and running into a lot of man, there’s a lot of camaraderie there, and and like you said, all the latest technology that’s affecting the industry will be represented there, and not only like software technology, we’re talking about equipment too. Like Hunter Engineering has the best booth there. I mean, they’re just it’s huge, and they’re not the only ones, but there’s others, and you get to try and see the you know it’s a it’s a show and tell of equipment you know, and if you’re considering equipment, well, this is a place where you get discounts, right? I mean, a lot of them offer really good deals while they’re on the floor, and but all the while you’re walking and learning, and you’re going to bump into people, your peers, and I’m I’m in agreement with you. I don’t. I almost don’t. I think it should be a no miss situation for most owners at this point. From what I witness out there, and I know a lot of people will say, “Well, I’ve heard SEMA’s down in the tire space now. Okay, down is kind of like you know they may be down in regards to like some of the biggest brands being there, but there’s a ton of great brands there that everybody’s familiar with, like the tier two, three, and four. Maybe not the tier one, but there’s a lot of solid brands, and everybody shows up in town, and it’s like fish in a barrel. Everybody gets a chance to meet everybody in one spot, and obviously, if you’re in the tire world, South Hall, it’s where to be. I mean, it’s just it’s worth the walk through just just for the sheer knowledge of what’s going on this year.

22:53

Yeah, you’d be you’d just be surprised who you meet. You just get get get your head out of the sand just a little bit. I know it’s hard when you’re working on your business, but get out there and meet software companies. Get out there and meet equipment companies. Get out there and meet new tire manufacturers, and just learn what’s coming. This industry is usually slow to move, but I feel like in the last five years, the tire industry is moving so quickly.

23:20

Yeah, it definitely feels like there is. I don’t know, and it might it might be there. Seems like there’s more movement, like you said, moving quickly and whatnot. But there’s definitely probably a lot of generational change going on, and you can feel it with the younger audience is obviously more adapt to certain forms of technology that they’re willing to embrace that maybe you know dad and granddad just weren’t willing to, and I don’t blame them. I mean, you’re at the end of your career. What are you going? Why are you going to change something when you’re about to check out anyway and make a big expense or headache for yourself or whatever? That’s not. But the reality is things are changing and the advancements coming quick, quickly. And and when you’re at SEMA, you just you’re able to get a good taste of it all. Plus, like you said, you just get to meet a lot of a lot of interesting people that you get a cool perspective from.

24:11

I I can’t meet a tire shop owner that I don’t learn something from. It’s like

24:17

yeah,

24:18

everybody does something so unique to their markets, and they love their customer base so much. They love their employees so much. I think it’s just the best world. You’ve probably you comment all the time on your podcast, but this this industry is so good to their employees and so good to their customers. It’s you get to meet all the best people in the world in the South Hall, because all the best people in the world own tire shops, and so you’re you’re amongst the most

24:47

But I love the way I love your attitude on that. You know, a lot of people ask me. You know, they know that I talk to so many people in the industry. What do you like about the industry? Honestly, it’s the people, and and they’re incredible. They’re really great people. But you know it’s interesting because the people in this industry, at least your shop owners, you know they know almost everybody in their community. I mean, because your state, their mayor, they get their car fixed too. The the city commissioners, the county commissioners, the you know the judges, the U.S. representatives, the U.S. senators, everybody to some level, they know the politicians as well as the business leaders. Everybody has to access or use somebody to get tires and auto repair done. And if you’re, you know, maybe a more premier shop in your community, you’re going to get some of these, you know, Local, notable people, and you know your community, and you typically care about it more. But the and and like you said, they they they are rooted in their communities, and they know what’s going on, and and you do learn something from every one of them. That’s one thing I try to make about this podcast is that every time I travel, people tell me I love it when I get to hear from somebody like a Tannen Cash because I’ll pick up a nugget or two that that I really didn’t consider, or maybe I did consider it. I just need somebody else to tell me I need to do that, you know. And that’s where I think you know you and I have talked now multiple times. I feel like I know you well because we you know, we’ve had like my preliminary call. I think typically usually lasts about 20 minutes with people. I think I’ve talked to you for over an hour before, you know. But it’s just that’s that’s but that’s what makes this industry great, you know. And I had a funny. I love your I love your story. I love your story because well, man, we’re going to run out of time, but I want to touch on one other thing. the the The interesting thing, because I want to I want people to be encouraged. Not that you you found out along the way that you didn’t necessarily need somebody from a college institution to tell you that you were a smart guy. I mean, because you’re involved in software, you’ve owned five stores. You were going to be an engineer. You saw a business opportunity and you took it, and you didn’t live by that kind of mantra that so many of us that went through the ’80s and ’90s did. That that hey, I go get college education. Yeah, okay, that’s great. But if something better comes along, like you did, you found that you ran with it. And the funny thing is, didn’t you have a little bit of? Didn’t your wife, your fiancee, have a little at the time? She was your fiance. You you married her the same time you bought the store, but she had a little rub with the fact that you weren’t going to necessarily finish your college education, right? It was like,

27:32

oh yeah,

27:33

we we weren’t going to make it,

27:36

right? Are we are we going to build? Are we build pay the bills? Yeah, we um, I think I’ve learned that along the way. I love anybody who goes and gets a college degree. I think there’s some useless ones. I will say that out loud, but I got no no problem with educating yourself. There’s just so many ways to be involved in this world in a way that has knowledge, and colleges do not have the the market cornered on knowledge or learning. They do have the market cornered on debt and some things that are are less favorable. But I have to tell. Let me tell you one story. When you were saying you never know who you’re going to meet, I had the. It just ties into that. The coach from McFarland. You know that movie about the the Mexican American runners in in Southern California.

28:25

Yes, I do, but I don’t. I can’t remember if I’ve seen it. To be honest with you, I do remember what you’re talking about.

28:30

His name’s Jim White. He was traveling on I 40 and came through. So you know what you know when you say these guys kind of know everybody. It’s so fun to see who you’re going to meet inside of a tire shop, especially on a major highway, you never know what’s going to come across your plate that day. It’s a crack up.

28:45

So true. That’s such a great point. You ought to record some of that stuff, not like video. I’m just saying, just to keep a document of how many people that come

28:52

through.

28:54

So, what’s your hobby outside of this, real quick?

28:58

Oh man, my hobby. So i i did play I did play golf at a fairly high level, so that’s that’s a hobby I get to participate now about once or twice a year. So it’s a real it’s a real treat. It keeps it extra special when you do get to play. So golf’s my hobby. I have five kids, Mike. So I guess raising five kids is my hobby too. So no,

29:23

I 100% know where you’re at. I’ve had my five, and my last 118’s. He just graduated, and it feels different. I mean, you know, it’s like all of a sudden, yeah, they just all of a sudden you’re just in a different spot. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just different spot, but it’s not you’re not in the you’re not in the putting out fires as fast every day or taking care of this or that. You know what I mean with the schedules and all that stuff. So it’s a it’s a I never thought I’d say this. So I turned 55 this summer and I’m like, man, I think I’m in the best season of my life. And if you would have told me that, I would have said that when I was. 20, I would have said you got to be out your mind. You gonna be 55 and tell me it’s the bed, but there is something about you know getting older and having a little wisdom, and then you are you you definitely my type A personality and other aspects about just you know being full of it. I all have just simmered down. I am you know I am I am more I don’t know. I just everything comes more pers. I got more perspective, I guess you’d say. So,

30:23

my kids are 10 to two. We’re just about out of diapers, and so we are in what most people your age they see me and say, “Oh man, I miss those days, but they are hard. They they are,

30:37

but the but but but there is something to be said about it. I think my uncle who had seven kids said they are the best days of your life because you’ll look back on them and you realize. I mean, you got everybody under the same roof. the The worries are different. That when they get bigger, the bit the worries get bigger. I mean, you know, they’re they’re gone. They’re driving. They’re traveling. You know, they’re working and all that stuff. It just I don’t know. It’s just a different. It’s just a different set, you know. I mean, you’re definitely not in as big a hurry as parents because you’re at a different. You know, they’re all taking care of themselves. But but then again, it was nice when you had everybody under the same roof and the nest, and it hadn’t been broken yet. You know, nobody’s left, and I don’t know. And I I did. I thoroughly enjoyed my kids’ youth sports and stuff like that, and their activities. I had a blast going and watching all that. So, but I tell you what, Tannen, I can’t thank you enough for being on the podcast. You’re an easy interview, man.

31:37

Hey, this is this is a really good opportunity. I’m so glad that this is the industry that chose me. I’ve got to spend 12 years developing people inside the business.

31:49

Yeah,

31:50

I’ve got to spend 12 years with amazing customers. The customers of tire shops are the best customers. They they come in with some needs. They come in happy to see you. We get donuts, we get pizza, we get all that stuff all the time at the shops, and I it’s I’m so glad it chose me because it has been the funnest ride to get to be in the software space, be in the shops, be multi-store. We’ve got more than 50 people that work for us, and I love getting to work with the people, seeing them develop, seeing them grow. It’s it’s been the most rewarding career that I would have never picked, and it’s been incredible.

32:30

That’s that’s a great great note to end on. I think there’s a lot of people out there that would agree with you, and and if there’s anybody out there that wants to get in touch with Tannen, just reach out to me, and I’ll I’ll make it happen. So

32:41

yeah, I’d love to hear from them. I I love talking on on how to make shops better, and I would I would love to show our systems and and software approach to systemizing a tire shop. It’s it’s incredible. It’s fun.

32:54

Awesome. Thanks. Appreciate you. Thanks,

32:57

Mike. Hey,

32:57

folks. Mike Edge here with the Gain Traction Podcast. Real quick, we get a lot of people ask us. They know gain traction, but who who’s Tread Partners? Well, Tread Partners is our parent company, and they’re a marketing agency dedicated strictly to tire and automotive repair shops, anywhere from five locations all the way up to hundreds of locations. And primarily, one field that is always a pain for most people is paid search or PPC or Google Ads. We see enormous amount of waste in it, and we see inefficient spend in it. If you want to know if you’re doing well or not, give us a call. We’ll help you. We’ll audit your account. We’ll look under the hood and tell you if you’re doing things the right way or the wrong way, and help you optimize that spend. You can reach me, and I’ll direct you in the right direction at Mike at TreadPartners.com, or feel free to go to treadpartners.com, the website. To all our listeners, thank you for being part of the Gain Traction podcast. We are grateful for you. If you’d like to find more podcasts like

33:50

this, please visit

33:51

GainTractionPodcast.com. If you’d like to make a guest recommendation, please email me at mike at treadpartners.com. This episode has been powered by Tread Partners, the leader in digital marketing for multi-location tire and auto repair shops. To learn more about Tread Partners, visit treadpartners.com.

Contents hide

1 In this episode…

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

3 Resources mentioned in this episode:

4 Quotable Moments:

5 Action Steps: