SUCCESS STORY
Rain-X helps Denver area tire dealer earn more profits from their thriving wiper blades program.
Troy Parduhm, General Manager, Hometown Tire Pros in Centennial, CO.Success Story: Selling Rain-X Is Easy
Rain-X Wiper Blades Do the Job
For Troy Parduhm, Rain-X wiper blades are the ideal brand for customers of Hometown Tire Pros in Centennial, CO. We talked with Troy between service appointments to ask him more about his wiper blades program.
Tell us about your operation, # of stores, services offered, etc.
We’re a single-shop auto repair and tire services operation in Centennial, CO. Centennial is a larger suburb in the Denver metro area. We do all sorts of tire and automotive work, and we’re a Tire Pros shop. We do full mechanical work, tires, and a lot of inspections for a couple of dealerships. We do their recon, and install wiper blades on every single one of their vehicles before they sell them.
What got you started with Rain-X blades?
They had a booth set up at one of our Tire Pros business conferences and we got to talking. So they had them on display there. And they’re part of the Partner Perks, which we have with our Tire Pros franchise. Tire Pros is really big with Partner Perks. So it has worked out well.
Were you selling another brand prior? How did that go?
We were. We sold Michelin. They were fine, but the distributor in town who provided their Stealth blades went out of business, so we switched to Rain-X.
How’s the program working out now?
The Rain-X program is doing well. I just need to keep my guys on top of ordering in time. It takes 3 days between ordering and delivery.
How important are blades to your business?
Oh, very important. Wiper blades are a priority being in Colorado, because the weather changes all the time.
What is it about Rain-X that drives your wiper blade program?
We install a lot of wiper blades. They’re a popular item around here. It’s a good product. We haven’t had any issues with them. They perform well, yes.
How do customers react when you present the Rain-X brand to them? Do they recognize it?
They can see the display at the front of the showroom, so customers get a quick reminder they need to have new blades installed. It prompts them to purchase wipers.
How profitable is it compared to other blade programs?
They’re good. We haven’t had any issues with them and I’d say they’re profitable.
Do you use Rain-X’s sales aids, merchandising, training, any other support resources you find helpful?
We find the display works well. That’s pretty much all we use. It seems to do the trick with helping them recall that they need wiper blades on top of the other services they need performed.
What advice would you have for other tire shops and dealers who aren’t selling Rain-X yet?
It’s a really simple program, and it’s one of the best wipers out there. The display is compact and doesn’t take up a lot of room. The blades are really simple to order. Once you place the order, you get an email right away telling you where the blades are coming from, which warehouse will send them—some from Texas, some from California, so you know when to expect them arriving. The customer service is great.
In a few words, sum up why Rain-X is so great for your business?
It’s very profitable. The average blade costs a bit more but the quality of the blades are higher than you can find elsewhere at the parts stores. Rain-X is a brand name versus a non-branded blade, and they really work well compared to others out there. It’s a good quality blade.
If you need new wiper blades in Centennial, CO, stop in today!
