Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) – with 2,200-plus tire and automotive service centers in the US owned and operated by its Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) business unit – has signed on as a charter data provider for GfK’s new point-of-sale (POS) tire panel. Bridgestone also will be among the first subscribers to GfK’s nationwide tire data.

Through the GfK panel, US tire retailers and manufacturers will have access for the first time to essential information on sales and other key metrics from outlets throughout the country. Retailers can use this data to benchmark and optimize their performance.

Click here to request more information on GfK’s US tire panel.

Custom and syndicated reports from the tire panel database also will allow manufacturers to make more informed decisions about product development, promotional support, inventory management and marketing, based on critical sell-through trends in the independent US replacement tire channel.

In addition to the BSRO locations – which operate under the Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus, and Wheelworks store brands – GfK has recruited more than 1,000 independent US tire stores to the panel, which will launch in early 2017.

“Throughout my career in consumer packaged goods, point-of-sale data and national trends information were essential drivers of our decision making for product development, marketing and promotion,” said TJ Higgins, President, Integrated Consumer Tire Group, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. “We see the GfK point-of-sale panel and database as game changers for the tire industry. We are excited to work with GfK on this project, as they have a track record of building the highest quality panels and making marketplaces more efficient.”

“In the past 21 months, I have traveled to 39 states, meeting with tire dealers to help them understand the value GfK’s information will provide,” said Neil Portnoy, Managing Director of GfK’s POS Tracking businesses in North America. “This is a dynamic, complex industry full of smart people – but you can only be so efficient without clear data to guide you. I am confident that GfK’s panel will help retailers and manufacturers alike compete and win in today’s marketplace.”

GfK already operates POS tire retail panels in 29 countries globally, and will bring the same approaches to coding and tracking to the US market, allowing direct comparison of global metrics. GfK also maintains US POS panels representing more than 11,000 pet specialty retail outlets and over 33,000 contact lens merchants.   

About GfK

GfK is the trusted source of relevant market and consumer information that enables its clients to make smarter decisions. More than 13,000 market research experts combine their passion with GfK’s long-standing data science experience. This allows GfK to deliver vital global insights matched with local market intelligence from more than 100 countries. By using innovative technologies and data sciences, GfK turns big data into smart data, enabling its clients to improve their competitive edge and enrich consumers’ experiences and choices.

For more information, please visit www.gfk.com or follow GfK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GfK

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

Nashville, Tennessee-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

About Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC

Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ill., and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus, Michel Tires Plus and Wheel Works store locations. Credit First National Association and Firestone Complete Fleet Care operations are also part of BSRO. BSRO is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.