NEW YORK, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A year prior to opening his first tire store, Bruce Halle was unemployed with no job prospects and in debt $17,000. His prior business failed and by age 30 he opened his store with six tires and no plan. It was a week before he sold his first tire.
But a half-century later Halle now sits atop the nation's largest independent tire dealer, an 800-store chain that grossed over three billion dollars in revenue last year. One in 11 replacement tires on the road today is sold by his very own Discount Tire stores. He's come a long way since renting a run-down plumbing supply building in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1960. How did a humble, ordinary Joe rise from rags to riches in a commoditized business?
The answer can be found in the first published biography of the octogenarian billionaire, Six Tires, No Plan, (Greenleaf Book Group, March 1) written by business consultant and former business journalist Michael Rosenbaum of Chicago. Ranked as the 96th richest American by Forbes, few know much about a man who has eluded the spotlight. The founder and chairman of Arizona-based Discount Tire, along with current and former employees, were interviewed by Rosenbaum, providing not only a historical account of the company but an insightful blueprint of how one entrepreneur used skill, faith, hard work, and humility to rise to the top of his industry.
The book reveals:
- How and why Halle's employee-centric management style works.
- The secret to delivering great customer service in an industry that is commoditized.
- How Halle lives by the pay it forward mantra.
- Why the billionaire is largely unknown – and how his wild success has slipped under the radar.
- Why Halle will press the reset button for employees who fall short of expectations.
- How to expand and grow at a smart pace and why remaining independent is vital.
- Why a decentralized, non-corporate approach works best for individual stores.
- How Discount Tire has increased its revenue every single year – and has never had a layoff – since its inception over 50 years ago (in 1960).
"Halle, 81, continues to serve as a big motivator, as the tire jockey who made it big, who remembers his roots and keeps the doors open for the next generation," concludes Rosenbaum.
Rosenbaum is represented by MEDIA CONNECT (www.Media-Connect.com).
SOURCE Michael Rosenbaum
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