Point S Tire USA Annual Conference - Gain Traction Podcast

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Episode 163

Jim Richards, Mickie Segotta, Kolby and Tia Clay, Brandon Haltiwanger, Ed Tuck, Tony O’Billovich, Jeremy Smith, David Priddy, Jeff Tucker, Joe Moore

Point S Tire Annual Conference

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Jim Richards is the National Co-op Recruitment Manager at Point S, traveling extensively throughout the US to meet with independent tire dealers to educate them on the benefits of joining Point S — increased buying power and support from a national network.

Mickie Segotta owns Point S American Tire in Gallup, New Mexico. She took over the business from her stepfather, who passed away in 2021. Mickie honors her stepfather’s legacy by running the business with the same dedication and commitment to her employees.

Kolby and Tia Clay are the Co-owners of Junction City Point S Tire and Auto Service in Junction City, Oregon. Although Kolby is a first-generation tire store owner, he purchased the facility from a family friend who had operated a tire store for 50 years, making him feel like a fourth-generation owner.

Brandon Haltiwanger owns Forrest’s Tire Service and Point S in Johnston, South Carolina. Brandon has a diversified background in the construction industry, including expertise in project management, budgeting, and contract negotiation.

Ed Tuck owns TNT Tire Point S Auto Service in Tacoma, Washington. His father joined Point S in 1984, making their family one of the earliest members of the cooperative. Ed has been involved in the tire industry since he was 12 years old.

Tony O’Billovich leads in-house consulting for the Master Shop Program at Point S, where he coaches independent Point S members. Tony believes in a “win together” mentality and stresses the importance of employee growth to achieve success for everyone.

Jeremy Smith is a second-generation business owner and operator of two Wasatch Tire and Service Point S locations in Utah and six Steve’s Automotive Specialist shops. Jeremy believes in the value of local businesses and building relationships with customers.

David Priddy owns David’s Discount Tire in Haskell, Oklahoma, and has been a member of Point S for almost ten years. He values the buying power, marketing, and family-like relationships that the Point S organization offers.

Jeff Tucker is the Chairman of Point S and CEO of Triple T Tire in Western Tennessee. He hopes to grow the Point S revenue base to 500 stores in all 50 states, building value for independent dealers looking for franchises.

Joe Moore is the Vice President of Purchasing for Point S. He manages the relationships with vendor partners and works to bring good buying prices and programs to the members. Joe also works to create avenues for members to promote their products through the organization.

In this episode…

The tire industry can be a challenging landscape for independent dealers, with many facing the pressures of larger corporations and acquisitions. What benefits can a co-op organization like Point S provide to these independent businesses?

According to Jim Richards, Mickie Segotta, Kolby and Tia Clay, Brandon Haltiwanger, Ed Tuck, Tony O’Billovich, Jeremy Smith, David Priddy, Jeff Tucker, and Joe Moore — attendees of this year’s Point S Tire Conference — Point S offers independent tire and service dealers the opportunity to join a group that provides them with the buying power of a large organization while still maintaining their independence. Members benefit from networking opportunities with like-minded people, access to marketing and point-of-sale materials, better warranties for customers, and a supportive family-like environment. The organization also provides in-house coaching and vendor relationships, fostering a sense of community and shared success.

On this episode of the Gain Traction Podcast, join host Mike Edge at the Point S Tire Conference, where he speaks with Jim, Mickie, Kolby, Tia, Brandon, Ed, Tony, Jeremy, David, Jeff, and Joe about how Point S provides a family environment, purchasing power, and coaching for independent tire dealers — all while fostering a sense of community and shared success among members.

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

[02:19] The power of numbers for independent tire dealers
[03:21] Why joining a tire cooperative network is beneficial
[12:28] How Point S helps independent tire dealers thrive
[17:08] Insights from in-house consulting for tire shops
[19:14] How Point S supports growth and success for members
[23:12] Why Point S feels like a family to members

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

“There’s power in numbers. When we come in, we’re basically telling them, ‘you’re not alone, join the group’.” – Jim Richards
“I promised to take care of them and I promised to keep it going. Those guys — they are the reason I can sleep at night.” – Mickie Segotta
“You cannot do it on your own unless you have some kind of help.” – Kolby Clay
“It helps the independent tire dealer not be so much alone anymore.” – Brandon Haltiwanger
“We’re like one big family that really looks after each other and wants to help each other out.” – Ed Tuck

Action Steps:

Expand your network: Engage with industry conferences and events to connect with peers and thought leaders.
Leverage cooperative buying power: Consider joining a cooperative or buying group to increase your purchasing power without losing your independence.
Foster a family-oriented workplace: Cultivate a supportive, family-like environment within your team to enhance job satisfaction and loyalty.
Utilize in-house consulting services: Take advantage of in-house consulting programs to improve your business operations.
Build long-term vendor relationships: Invest in building long-term relationships with vendors to ensure reliability and consistency in your supply chain.

Transcript

Announcer:

Welcome to the Gain Traction podcast, where we feature top tire and auto repair professionals, shop owners, industry executives, and thought leaders, and share their inspiring stories. Now let’s get started with the show.

Mike:

Hello folks. Welcome to the Gain Traction podcast. I am Mike Edge, your host. I am at this year’s Annual Point S Tire Conference in Amelia Island. Today’s guest are several members and a few employees of Point S Tire USA, and I couldn’t be more excited about interviewing the following people. This has been a lot of fun. And who are you going to hear from? And you may know some of these folks. Jim Richards, Mickie Sagata, Kolby Clay, Brandon Haltiwanger, Ed Tuck, Tony O’Billovich, Jeremy Smith, David Pretty, Jeff Tucker, and Joe Moore. But before we begin, this episode is brought to you by Tread Partners and its educational tidbit for today. When it comes to your PPC budget and your ad spend, do not put all your ad spend with Google in one bucket, divide it up for accountability and control and watch the results happen. You might have to do a little research. It’s a pretty good in-depth topic, but it could pay off major dividends. All right, so let’s get started with these interviews. I can’t wait. It’s a great lineup. Sit back and enjoy.

All right, folks. I’m still at the 2025 Point S annual conference and I’ve got Jim Richards, National Co-op Recruitment Manager. Woo, what a title, baby.

Jim:

Thank you very much. It fits on a card.

Mike:

It does?

Jim:

Barely, two lines.

Mike:

What, do you abbreviate every word in it?

Jim:

No, I like it big and bold. That’s all the card says.

Mike:

Well, let’s talk about real quick, because we don’t have a lot of time. What does that title mean? What do you do?

Jim:

My function in life is to get to meet independent tire dealers, service dealers and try to teach them the gospel of the ways of Point S.

Mike:

That’s awesome.

Jim:

Yes.

Mike:

So give me one of those gospels.

Jim:

Well, there’s power in numbers. You’re out here on an island, Big Brother’s all around you. You read the business news is every day, Gobble, gobble, gobble, acquire, acquire, acquire, bankruptcy, whatever’s going on out there. So the world of the independent is me alone. When we come in, we’re basically telling them, “You’re not alone.” Join the group that’s all about the independence. Have power in numbers, have the buying power of a huge organization without interfering with your life.

Mike:

That’s awesome.

Jim:

Yes.

Mike:

So let’s just tee this up right for you. Let’s say somebody’s listening to this podcast and they want to know, are you the main point of contact for-

Jim:

I’m the key point. I have some gentlemen that work for me, other parts of the country come out and visit you. All we ask for is you give us an hour of your time, hear our program, we have two programs to offer, and if it’s for you, great. And if not, well, you just met another group.

Mike:

Well, but the other idea too is they can’t be in a location that you already have Point S members necessarily either, right?

Jim:

Yeah. We kind of have a protected area, but it’s defined off demographics first and foremost. A small rural town, if you’re the only guy in town-

Mike:

You win

Jim:

Your game.

Mike:

That’s awesome.

Jim:

If you’re in a big metropolitan area, well, we might allow one every two, three [inaudible 00:03:47].

Mike:

Well, I’m in the Kentucky market and the Southern Indiana market, I mean, that’s where we were reside and you guys are looking for members in those spots.

Jim:

Absolutely.

Mike:

Yeah.

Jim:

We’re trying to grow all 50 states. We’re currently only in 34.

Mike:

I love it.

Jim:

We added three states this year, and any place we can put a new point that’s independent cooperative dealer with us, it’s a win for all of us.

Mike:

Real quick before I let you go, how can somebody reach you personally?

Jim:

You can just simply go on Point S Tire and ask for information about us, or you can go to our joinpointstire.com and it’ll take you to some testimonials, give you some stories about us, and from there we’ll get you information. We’ll reach out to you, I’ll fly out to you and visit you.

Mike:

Awesome.

Jim:

I fly a little over six times around the world. 45 days a year I’m on a plane, baby.

Mike:

Awesome, awesome.

Jim:

I’ll come see you, trust me on that.

Mike:

Awesome. Jim, thanks for being on the podcast. Enjoyed having you.

Jim:

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Mike:

Absolutely. Okay, folks. Now at the Point S 2025 annual conference. I’ve got Mickie Sagata. Mickie, welcome to the Gain Traction podcast.

Mickie:

Thanks, Mike. How are you?

Mike:

Good. So your company is called Point S American Tire, Gallup, New Mexico. You have one location.

Mickie:

We have one location, two buildings, but one location.

Mike:

As a one location shop owner, two minutes or less, what makes Point S so valuable to you?

Mickie:

Well, our story, it started out in the 1980s. My stepdad was a Big O Tire dealer.

Mike:

Okay.

Mickie:

And he was Big O forever until 17 years ago, I believe, when he switched over to American Tire Factory. And then when American Tire Factory rebranded as Point S, he was one of the original signers then. And back in 2021, he passed away and handed it over. And he had the business sold actually in March of 2020, but my mother died and so he pulled the deal and then five months later he died. We found out in March 15th that he had cancer and he was gone two weeks later.

And so in that amount of time, he had time to show me how to do the online banking and that was all. And so he called all the guys up to the house the Saturday before he passed away and he told them he was sick and he wasn’t going to make it. He told them, “My daughter’s going to take over and y’all are in good hands.” And nobody was more scared than me. They probably would beg to differ, but I was terrified. But I’d made him a promise, I’d promise to take care of them, and I promised to keep it going. And so those guys, they are the reason I can sleep at night. So we’re approaching four years starting April 1st, because he died March 31st.

Mike:

Mickie, that is the best story yet. That is awesome. So I take it that Point S is an extension of that family then, and that’s why it’s very important to you.

Mickie:

It is. And we kind of asked him for, I don’t know 100 times, “Why don’t you just sell it? Why don’t you just sell it?” And then those last two weeks I had with him with tears running down his face, he said, “I can’t do it. I love it. I’m a tire man and I will always be a tire man.”

Mike:

And he died a tire man.

Mickie:

And he died a tire man. And every day I keep that promise and every day, those 14 guys that come to work, and most of them, well, that’s not true, there’s six of them that were there then. And all of them, we keep that promise together, but most of them knew my dad and so everybody still calls him dad.

Mike:

That’s a great story.

Mickie:

And we’ve done nothing but thrive.

Mike:

You get a high five on that story. I’m telling you right now, you get the checkmark for the day. Well, I appreciate you sharing that with us, and thank you for being on the podcast.

Mickie:

No problem. Thanks for inviting me.

Mike:

All right. Maybe we’ll get you on for a full blown one one day.

Mickie:

Oh, anytime. Call.

Mike:

Hey, have fun at the show.

Mickie:

Oh, thanks so much.

Mike:

All right folks, I got Kolby Clay with me now at the Point S 2025 annual conference. Kolby is from Junction City, Oregon. He has Junction City Point S Tire and Auto Service. Kolby, welcome to the Gain Traction podcast.

Kolby:

Thanks for having me, Mike.

Mike:

Hey, so let’s talk a little bit about why you’re here. What do you get out of Point S?

Kolby:

Point S is a big group. I’ve known some people in the past, even though I’m a first generation tire store owner, but I’ve heard really good things about it and I really wanted to be part of it. I knew as a new store owner coming in, I needed to have some buying power. Today’s economy, today’s market. You cannot do it on your own unless you have some kind of help. I had a friend of mine who was a third generation tire owner that had retired, but told me a lot about it.

I went and talked to him and when I found out the building I’m currently in actually, he ran a tire store for 50 years out of it. It was third generation, his grandpa, his dad and himself started it. So I had a little intel. The last 10 years he was in business, he was with Tire Factory before it switched over to Point S. So I knew there were some strengths there and I know a couple other store owners in the area that have been successful and been happy with where they’re at. So I knew that’s a path I wanted to go down.

Mike:

Awesome, man, that’s a great story. Kind of makes you almost like fourth generation in that building.

Kolby:

In a way, yeah. It’s kind of cool carrying on that legacy a little bit. His son unfortunately didn’t want to carry that on, but I’ve known him for 25 years. And so I was kind of that extended family in a way, I guess you could say. And unfortunately we lost him a little over a year ago on Christmas.

Mike:

Sorry to hear that.

Kolby:

So to carry that on, it’s pretty cool.

Mike:

That’s an honor.

Kolby:

Yeah. Well, hey man, I can’t say enough thank yous for being here at the Point S Annual Conference, but actually joining me in this podcast booth. Thank you.

I appreciate you having me. Like I said, I’ve never done this before. Something fun, something different.

Mike:

Yeah.

Kolby:

That’s part of being with this group. You’re learning new things, you’re talking to new people, you’re networking with people.

Mike:

This is my favorite thing about this whole gig doing podcasts and doing it through tire businesses, meeting all the people I get to meet. It’s a blast. And I got to eat dinner with you last night too. That was lot of fun.

Kolby:

Yeah, that was good. It was fun having dinner with you and it was kind of ironic, we got 500 out of people and we get the same table.

Mike:

You didn’t know us and you said, “Hey, why don’t y’all sit here?” And I was like, “Okay.” And next thing you know, you’re like, “Hey, I’m supposed to make your podcast tomorrow.” I’m like, “Oh yeah, you are.”

Kolby:

Yeah, no, it’s funny how things work out in life. You never know. Take every opportunity and run with it.

Mike:

Well, good luck with Point S and the conference. I hope you enjoy it.

Kolby:

No, it’s been good. It’s my third year here and brought my wife, my kids, and just always networking, always new things. And Point S as a whole is a great group and I haven’t regretted it for a minute.

Mike:

Fantastic. Thanks for being on.

Kolby:

Thanks, Mike. Thanks for having me.

Mike:

All right folks, I’m here with Brandon Haltiwanger with Forest Tire and Point S out of Johnson, South Carolina. Brandon, welcome to the Gain Traction podcast.

Brandon:

Thanks, Mike. Good to be here.

Mike:

Well, I’m excited by having you because you told me that you are a fan of the podcast.

Brandon:

I am. I enjoy building to you.

Mike:

Well, good. Do you remember how fou found us originally?

Brandon:

I search. I was searching for tire podcasts and I saw you guys, and I think you had interviewed Walter Lybeck.

Mike:

Oh, okay. Yeah.

Brandon:

And-

Mike:

Yeah, that was funny there. Yeah, he had a good funny story, didn’t he?

Brandon:

Yes, sir.

Mike:

Yeah, no, I appreciate you tuning in and you won’t hurt my feelings. Where do you rank us among the tire podcasts?

Brandon:

Well, you stay at the top because you always got new podcasts and always having new ones come up.

Mike:

We try to do them frequently.

Brandon:

You do?

Mike:

Yeah.

Brandon:

Yes.

Mike:

So let’s talk about Point S. You’ve been a member for how long?

Brandon:

I’ve been with Point S for two years.

Mike:

Okay, so this is your second annual conference, I take it?

Brandon:

It’s actually the third.

Mike:

Okay. We joined right before we went down to Puerto Rico. It’s a little bit to live up to.

Yeah. Well, what do you get from Point S? What’s the big, if you had to tell somebody in 30 seconds or less why they should be part of Point S, what would you tell them?

Brandon:

Well, it helps the independent tire dealer not be so much alone anymore. We’re able to buy better and do better warranties for our customers and just really, you’re not by yourself like a normal independent is.

Mike:

Yeah. It really makes you part of an organization that’s almost 500 stores nationally, right?

Brandon:

That’s right. And you keep your independence.

Mike:

But you get all the benefits of being a big boy in a sense.

Brandon:

Exactly.

Mike:

Yeah.

Brandon:

Yes, sir.

Mike:

That’s awesome. Anything that stands out to you as to what you love about the show real quick, I mean, the annual conference?

Brandon:

The annual conference-

Mike:

What’s your favorite part?

Brandon:

Well, it gives you a chance to meet other owners and see how they do things and pick up a few things here and there and kind of get to know other people.

Mike:

That’s my favorite answer from you guys. Everybody seems to see the other guys every year.

Brandon:

Absolutely.

Mike:

Yeah. It’s not about all the other benefits you get from being part of Point S and the conference, it’s actually about the friendships and learning from each other.

Brandon:

Yes, sir.

Mike:

Well, hey, I can’t thank you enough for being part of the podcast, Brandon, and I appreciate your friendship and being a good listener.

Brandon:

Yes, sir. Thanks a lot. I enjoyed being here.

Mike:

All right, have a great show.

Brandon:

Thanks.

Mike:

Okay folks, I am here with Ed Tuck, T&T Tire Point S Auto Service, out of Tacoma, Washington. Ed, it’s a pleasure having you on the podcast.

Ed:

Well, thank you.

Mike:

Yeah. So we’re here at the 2025 Annual Point S conference. How long you been a member?

Ed:

Since 1984.

Mike:

Whoa.

Ed:

Yep.

Mike:

All right, so what store number are you?

Ed:

I’m store number 28.

Mike:

Bam, 28 out of how many today? Like 40, 50, 60?

Ed:

There’s a total of 400 stores now.

Mike:

Okay.

Ed:

400 plus.

Mike:

400 plus, yes. So you’re an early bird, man.

Ed:

Yeah.

Mike:

Now, did that relationship precede you?

Ed:

My father got involved with it, so in 1984 he saw the benefits of being in a cooperative or in a buying group and just knew that if we weren’t going to get into some type of group, that we were to get surpassed by their competition.

Mike:

So we’re literally talking 41 years, the relationship.

Ed:

Yep.

Mike:

And you guys have been coming to the conferences ever since?

Ed:

I’ve been involved with this industry since I was 12 years old, so before Point S. And so I’ve been coming to a lot of these tire dealer meetings and seen it go from Tire Factory to Point S and it’s been a very positive thing.

Mike:

So we got about 30 more seconds. Okay, I’ve interviewed several folks that have been only had two, five years experience with Point S. Here’s a guy that’s 41 years of experience and relationship with Point S. What’s your biggest takeaway that you could give anybody that’s listening right now that Point S provides?

Ed:

Well, I’ve heard it at the conference already, but we’re like one big family that really looks after each other and wants to help each other out. It’s like we all want to see each other grow, prosper, do well, improve their marketing. And it’s been great. I mean, Point S has been giving us the tools to do all of those.

Mike:

Man, that’s a fantastic way of wrapping it up. And I’d like to say this too, your answer is consistent with so many other people that I’ve interviewed. That’s got to be the theme for me is the family part that you guys all rely on each other, you all support each other and everybody wins if everybody’s successful.

Ed:

That is 100% true.

Mike:

Well, hey, Ed, it’s a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for being on the Gain Traction podcast.

Ed:

I look forward to doing it again sometime.

Mike:

All right.

Ed:

Thank you.

Mike:

Have a good show.

Ed:

Take care.

Mike:

Okay. I am now with Tony O’Billovich, your head of in-house consulting for master shop program at Point S.

Tony:

Correct. I do all the in-house consulting for people that sign up with me. It’s a private program that independent stores, independent members of Point S can sign up with me and I coach with them for one year.

Mike:

Nice. That says a lot about the organization right there, just having that available.

Tony:

Yeah, it’s wonderful. It’s something they brought me in on. It’s something that I love to do. I love to help people have success.

Mike:

Yeah.

Tony:

That’s my success is watching someone win.

Mike:

I can tell that with you. You’re an enthusiastic kind of guy and you’re a football player too, right?

Tony:

Many moons ago.

Mike:

But here’s the thing, team sports build that.

Tony:

Absolutely.

Mike:

I mean, it’s almost like I don’t want to win without my team being with me in a sense. And you’ve got that kind of coaching mentality like, “Hey, let’s all win together.”

Tony:

Yeah. I mean, it’s probably the top thing I teach is growing your people. Because if your employees are growing, the owner’s winning, the general manager’s winning, the manager’s winning, the employees are winning. If everybody’s winning and the customer wins, they’re getting great service, they’re getting competitive pricing, make sure your employees are growing, you provide opportunity and they’re winning.

Mike:

And what you guys do, what I love about Point S, first of all, I mean you guys have a great organization, the people here, the vendors you guys pull in, everybody that’s involved, but it’s a testament to what you guys have achieved over the last several years. But the fact that you are an in-house coach when a lot of these independents out there, shop owners that join 20 groups, et cetera, and they’re trying to, they pay for other coaching, and you guys as an organization have that with you, it speaks volumes about what you guys are trying to do for your members.

Tony:

Well, I think we’re a very service-based group and we’re a family. The biggest thing about us is when outside people come to this meeting for the first time or new members come to this meeting for the first time, they’re blown away by what a family it is. And that’s what we’re all about. We’re all here to help each other win. And how else are independent tire stores going to stay relevant versus a big box company, we come together.

Mike:

What I like too is that you guys are growing.

Tony:

Yes, we are.

Mike:

Which makes everybody a bigger winner and the organization just keeps growing and getting stronger and stronger. And I love the relationships I witness here because you coordinated this whole interview process and it’s been a lot of fun getting to know the last 10 members. I mean, it has been, I consider it an honor getting to know them. Glad to be part of this.

Tony:

I think that kind of like I said with your employees, everybody’s got to win. If Point S wasn’t a successful thing, people wouldn’t join it.

Mike:

Yes.

Tony:

People want to be successful and they want to be around success and they want to share those successes with each other, which helps everybody.

Mike:

Well, one of these days I want to have you on the standard podcast, get you out there for about 30 minutes with me and we talk about your master class.

Tony:

Sure. Master shop, yeah.

Mike:

Master shop, yeah. If you don’t mind, let’s do it sometime.

Tony:

Absolutely. I would love it.

Mike:

Well, thanks for being on today.

Tony:

Mike, you’re awesome. And you have a big following and thank you very much for having me on. I really appreciate it.

Mike:

I’ve enjoyed it. Thanks. Bye. All right folks, I’m here with Jeremy Smith, Wasatch Tire and Service Point S in West Jordan, Utah. Did I say that right?

Jeremy:

You did.

Mike:

Man, I’ll tell you what, Kentucky Boy like making can get it right once in a while. Hey, I appreciate you doing this podcast. Let’s talk about Point S. How long have you been a member?

Jeremy:

We have been a member for a little over two years.

Mike:

That’s awesome. So you’re kind of a newbie still?

Jeremy:

Yes.

Mike:

Okay. Well what do you think?

Jeremy:

It has been awesome for us.

Mike:

Yeah.

Jeremy:

The reason we did it, I’m second generation.

Mike:

Yeah.

Jeremy:

My father was a Texaco operator for years and we kind of got away from tires a little bit as we moved into just repairing cars and we wound up wanting to make sure we added that back into our business at some point.

Mike:

But you still own some automotive stores that are not tire-based, aren’t they?

Jeremy:

Yes. We’ve got six automotive repair shops under us, Steve’s Automotive Specialists brand.

Mike:

So are they ever going to get into tires or do they kind of dabble?

Jeremy:

They’re into tires. So they’re associated Point S stores now.

Mike:

Oh, nice.

Jeremy:

So they are part of the Point S family.

Mike:

All right.

Jeremy:

But we do have the two Wasatch Tire and Service Point S locations.

Mike:

Fabulous. So you have no doubts about why you’re in this organization?

Jeremy:

I do not. Yeah, the goal is to get in the tire business again and it’s allowed us to do that. And being a co-op like it is, it’s been not only well worth it and rewarding for the business aspect, but also for just the people. The people are, we’re all like-minded.

Mike:

Yeah.

Jeremy:

Independent business operators that want to deliver a great customer service and be able to have the products to stand behind that and Point S allows us to do that.

Mike:

And it seems to me, and I’ve said this several times to several other members, but it seems like you’ve got that, we got a bank in our area that uses this cliche, but I like it. It says, “Hey, we’re big enough to serve you and small enough to know you.” And Point S, with their national brand. It’s big enough to serve everybody, but you’re still local, you own your shops, but you get this buying power and big network that supports down to the community level. Am I summing it up?

Jeremy:

I think that’s a perfect way of summing it up, absolutely.

Mike:

Yeah.

Jeremy:

And especially in today’s world where everybody’s being bought up by these corporate giants. I come from that generation of, it’s the community, that local small group of people that you’re serving every day and you get to know them. It’s a relationship.

Mike:

That’s awesome.

Jeremy:

And that’s what people want and people buy from people that they know and are comfortable with and they like.

Mike:

That is well said. I’ll leave it on that. Thank you for being part of Gain Traction, Jeremy.

Jeremy:

You bet. Thank you.

Mike:

All right, see you next time. Have a good show.

Jeremy:

Thanks.

Mike:

All right folks, I’m at the 2025 Point S Annual Conference, and right now I’ve got David Pretty from Haskell, Oklahoma, David’s Discount Tire in front of me.

David:

Yes, sir. How’s it going tonight?

Mike:

Fantastic.

David:

Good, good.

Mike:

So listen, we don’t have a lot of time, but let’s talk about Point S. Why do you come to this conference?

David:

So I joined Point S about nine years ago, coming 10 and looking for a company co-op family. And it’s been one of the best things we’ve ever did in my company. I do it for a lot of reasons, not just one. The buying part of it, the co-op, the marketing, the family tighten ship. It’s just a good group, totally, all the way

Mike:

Around, man. I’m blown away by the friendships in this place. It seems like they’re years long deep relationships here.

David:

It’s probably the best organization I’ve been with and I’ve been with a few. I’m with another one now, but Point S makes you feel like not just a member, but a family.

Mike:

That’s awesome.

David:

Yeah, it’s really-

Mike:

No, everybody I’ve met here has been a blast. The conference is, I mean, this thing’s first class, brother.

David:

It’s good. Seem like it gets better every year. This is one of the best one we’ve had this year, I think.

Mike:

Well, and that’s cool to see that process when you’re a member. You want to see that, hey, we’re only getting better as a group.

David:

Yeah, we got to keep growing up instead of going back. So yeah, we’re doing a good job.

Mike:

That’s right.

David:

Doing good.

Mike:

Well, how long have you been a member, nine years you said?

David:

It’s nine coming on 10.

Mike:

So if anybody was out there in 30 seconds, why would you tell them to be part of Point S?

David:

So several reasons. One is the buying power. When you’re in a group of people, unity’s stronger than one. That’d be the biggest. The marketing, the different parts of the company. We got different materials, we got tire machines, we got different tires, we got point of sales material, we got a lodge. And then like I said, the family closeness is really tough, really a tough thing to beat. You can’t buy that.

Mike:

Well, I could see that with your bantering with Clint Young, the president. Clint’s telling me I need to have a cutoff button for you.

David:

That’s what he said, but we probably need one for him. It’s just a good group of guys, really.

Mike:

Listen, thanks for being on the podcast. I’m glad you dropped by. I wish you the best of luck and hopefully we’ll have you on again sometime.

David:

I’m ready.

Mike:

All right, tire.

David:

Thank you buddy.

Mike:

All right folks. I’m with Jeff Tucker with Triple T Point S Tire out of Western Tennessee. Jeff’s also the chairman of Point S.

Jeff:

That’s right.

Mike:

I get to meet with the big dog himself.

Jeff:

Great to be here, Mike. Hey, always great to talk to you.

Mike:

Oh man. We’ve known each other for a few years now. We’re state neighbors.

Jeff:

Yeah, that’s right.

Mike:

Yeah. Listen, let’s talk about Point S. We got a couple minutes. You’ve been chairman now for four months, how are you liking it?

Jeff:

It’s a lot. It’s a lot. We’re learning every day, getting mentored into the position and looking for some great things to happen this year.

Mike:

How long do you hold the position?

Jeff:

Up to three years.

Mike:

Awesome.

Jeff:

Yeah.

Mike:

Yeah. Let’s talk about some long-term goals in less than a minute and a half here.

Jeff:

Long-term goals is we want to grow the revenue base, 500 stores, 50 states, and build a value base for anyone looking for a franchise. So there’s a lot of franchises out there to choose from, but we want to set ourselves apart to make us more valuable to the independent dealer.

Mike:

Aren’t you more like a co-op?

Jeff:

Yeah, we are a co-op.

Mike:

Yeah.

Jeff:

Yeah, we are a co-op.

Mike:

That shares the name.

Jeff:

Shares the name. We share, we have a management committee that takes care of all, manages the co-op, and we basically distribute tires to our independents and then we all win on that distribution.

Mike:

That’s awesome.

Jeff:

Yeah.

Mike:

If you had 30 seconds to sell somebody on why they should join, because I’m from Kentucky and there’s a lot of room there.

Jeff:

There is.

Mike:

And in Southern Indiana. Why should some of those dealers join?

Jeff:

So acquisition cost is one. Secondly, it would be the ability to gain information from the group. It’s amazing what you can learn across the table.

Mike:

Well, I’ll tell you one thing you guys have gotten, and I noticed this just being here. This is my first annual conference and it’s cool, but you guys know how to do it. But you got some world-class vendors here and they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t have a lot of respect for the organization.

Jeff:

That’s true, that’s true. And as I was saying earlier, we’ve got a lot of new vendors here that are eager to do business with us because we’ve been growing so fast. It is pretty amazing to have them say, “Hey, what can we do for you?”

Mike:

Yeah. Well, congratulations on being chairman. I think you’re going to kill it. I’m glad you’re there and I wish you the best of luck.

Jeff:

Thanks Mike, appreciate it. Always great to talk to you.

Mike:

You too. We’ll have you back on the podcast sometime. You know, you were one of the first.

Jeff:

Yeah.

Mike:

I mean, the originals when it was a little rough.

Jeff:

That’s right.

Mike:

I like to think we’ve gotten a little bit better.

Jeff:

There you go.

Mike:

All right.

Jeff:

Here we go. [inaudible 00:28:25] Perfect.

Mike:

Take care. All right folks, I’ve got Joe Moore here on the Gain Traction podcast at the 2025 Point S annual conference. Joe is vice president of purchasing. Joe, welcome to the Gain Traction podcast.

Joe:

Thanks, Mike. Great to be here.

Mike:

Well, glad to have you. So you are in a very important role in this because one of the reasons that people join this organization is obviously buying power and you’re the chief buyer.

Joe:

That’s right. Yeah. I try and herd the cats in this independent organization to follow and do what I tell them to do.

Mike:

Well, let’s talk about that. You play an intricate role. Tell us what your position does to leverage each individual member.

Joe:

Well, we believe we have programs that benefit any member anywhere. We’ve got a great group of vendor partners that really do a great job supporting us. And my job is to manage that relationship, make sure I bring a good buying price, a good program, put together the funds and the avenues for them to promote their products to our organization and bring value to our dealers.

Mike:

So when you talk to your members, what input do they give you that’s important as the VP of Purchasing?

Joe:

You name it.

Mike:

Okay.

Joe:

Everybody’s got an opinion. The kind of tire I should be putting in our warehouses. Everybody’s got an opinion, but at the end of the day, they want a quality product from a well-known vendor that they know they can trust who’s going to be here. And we try and develop long-lasting relationships. We don’t want to go switching up every couple years on what brand we’re supporting. We want long, long relationships with vendors we like and trust who value what we bring to the table.

Mike:

So you treat your members as, I mean, you treat your vendors in a sense, almost like a member to the family in a sense.

Joe:

They are. It’s a brotherhood. I mean, we’re a member-owned cooperative. And I don’t take that lightly. I work for our members and if I’m not bringing them value, then I need to step it up.

Mike:

But you also do that in a sense with the vendor if you’re being committed to them for that kind of long-term relationship.

Joe:

I expect a lot from our vendors, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.

Mike:

But that’s good. Then they know the value that you bring and everybody wins.

Joe:

Yes. You know what? I’m a partnership guy and I don’t just say that I’m also a guy, line I like to use is, “I’m not going to tell you any lies because I’m not smart enough to remember who I told what lie to.” And so-

Mike:

I love that.

Joe:

I’m very honest with our vendor community and I think they appreciate the relationship they have with us in our organization because of that.

Mike:

I agree with you. Well, I love that trait about you and it’s a pleasure having you on Gain Traction. One of these days we’ll have you on a full-blown podcast.

Joe:

Sounds good, Mike. Appreciate it.

Mike:

Thank you. Good luck at the show.

Joe:

Thank you.

Mike:

Wow, folks. Was that not awesome? 10 great guests here at the annual Point S Tire USA Conference and a special gratitude shout out to Jeff Tucker with Triple T Point S Tire in Western Tennessee. He’s the newest chairman of Point S Tire. What an outstanding group of people, organization. Couldn’t say enough gratitude for having me here. And to all our listeners, thank you for being part of the podcast. We are always grateful for you. If you would like to recommend a guest to me, please email me at Mike at Tread Partners. Or if you just want to email me any suggestions, comments, or sometimes people email from me for introductions. If you ever want to meet one of our guests and you feel like there’s something that connected you to them, don’t hesitate to do that as well, [email protected]. Until next time, be safe. Have a fabulous day.

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Contents hide

1 In this episode…

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

1.2 Resources mentioned in this episode:

1.2.1 Quotable Moments:

1.2.2 Action Steps: