Twenty-eight Minnesota Tires Plus Total Car Care outlets have been declared “Green Star” automotive service providers through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s voluntary Environmental Audit Program.
The endeavor encourages participants to determine how well a facility’s operations are complying with local, state and federal environmental regulations. For auto-related operations, the evaluation categories include proper handling of waste, antifreeze, wastewater discharge, used oil, batteries, towels and solvents.
“The store locations that earned the Green Star Award deserve recognition for this achievement,” says Larry Magee, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, Tires Plus’ parent firm.
“The commitment to improving the environment that they demonstrate each day is important not only to their customers, but to each person in the community,” he notes.
Under Bridgestone’s “One Team, One Planet” campaign, the company “has a long tradition of working to enhance the environment and supporting conservation initiatives, and we are looking to the future to find new ways of making even greater improvements,” Magee says. “Not only do we want to protect the environment, we want to help and encourage our customers and communities to do so, too.”
Tire retailer programs include tire pressure checks to help consumers conserve fuel and reduce emissions, participating in community cleanups and accepting do-it-yourself used oil and batteries for recycling.
Established in 1972 and based in Clearwater, Fla., there are 500 Tire Plus stores in 23 states employing more than 5,000 people.
The chain, which sells other tire brands in addition to the Bridgestone and Firestone lines, attributes its success to “beating back old stereotypes of the automotive industry. Walk into a Tires Plus store and you immediately notice the brightly lit, colorfully merchandised showroom. You are greeted by a clean, well-dressed, well-trained service professional,” the company reports.
Vehicles are serviced in about an hour, “which is barely enough time to take advantage of several waiting room amenities like reading a magazine, watching TV, enjoying a cup of coffee or browsing our displays.”
The guiding philosophy is “We won’t sell you tires, we help you buy them.” The company says “customer satisfaction is simply not good enough; rather, guest enthusiasm must be the goal. We believe a customer who leaves satisfied will come back, but a guest who leaves enthused may tell everyone they know.”
For more information, visit www.tiresplus.com and www.bridgestone-firestone.com.
