ITDG Celebrates its Growth at Annual Meeting, Sets Goals for 25th Anniversary in 2019

June 21, 2016

When you’ve had a great year in a relatively flat overall market, it’s time to take a break and say thanks to your members and suppliers. That’s what the Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG) did last month at its annual meeting and trade show in Akumal, Mexico.

The affinity group totaled over $207 million in purchases in 2015, shattering its previous high mark of slightly under $187 million in 2014. The group also achieved a record profit with a shareholder return of 4.6%, amounting to over $8 million for its 100 shareholders.

According to Michael Cox, CEO and president of ITDG, the group now has 145 members with 609 locations. He says almost 95% of the members are retailers, or a combination of retail/wholesale, and three-quarters of the members purchase at least 25% of their products through ITDG’s program.

ITDG gained 11 new members from 10 states during 2015 adding 50 locations and so far through the first quarter of 2016 has added seven new members with another 54 locations.

Cox thanked the assembled manufacturers, vendors and distributors who have supported ITDG’s organization throughout its growth years. He then expressed excitement about the continued growth in the years ahead.

“Our growth has been steady, from the membership side, annual purchases and profitability and shareholder return for our members and stakeholders. With the support we get from our vendor partners and member/shareholders, there is no reason the results won’t continue as they have in the past years,” Cox told MTD.

Speaking of growth, Cox threw down the challenge for the members for the group’s upcoming 25th anniversary in 2019. He set a goal of $300 million-plus in annual purchases and over 700 retail locations in the U.S. ITDG is one of the largest “affinity groups” in the country, originating in Southern California in 1994.

About the Author

Greg Smith | Publisher

A 36-year veteran of automotive trade publishing, Greg Smith has held various publishing positions at the management level. He has worked extensively on both the editorial and publishing sides of the business and is a recognized expert in the aftermarket and tire industries. As such, he is a frequent speaker at many industry events. He has traveled internationally as an advocate for the industries he serves.

Currently as publisher of Modern Tire Dealer, Greg is responsible for the brand’s business operations. MTD is where Greg got his start, and through most of the last three decades, has led it to tire market prominence.

To support education in the tire industry, Greg leads MTD in its sponsorship of the Tire Industry Association’s Certified Instructor Training Tour, a program designed to train the trainer in proper safety and step-by-step procedures for proper wheel installation. As further reinforcement, Greg created the Performance Handbook, a how-to publication on proper ways to mount, balance and work with performance tires.

To help recognize outstanding tire dealers, Greg helped establish the MTD Dealer of the Year award over 20 years ago. The award provides a deserving tire dealer with recognition for accomplishments both within the industry and in the dealer’s local community.

Greg helped launch Auto Service Professional magazine in 2010. The primary focus of Auto Service Professional is to provide high-level information to an audience of more than 150,000 automotive professional technicians whether they are business owners or technicians.

From his early years in the market, Greg has been active participating on industry committees and boards. Among the early ones were APAA and ASIA, and has since participated in AWDA, SEMA, NTDRA, TIA and TANA.