AKRON, Ohio – Western Pennsylvania-based retail, wholesale and commercial tire dealer Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service was named the winner of the 2014 Tire Review Top Shop Award. Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, becomes the eighth winner of the award, presented by Ammco/Coats and Tire Review magazine.
 
Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service is owned by Joe Flynn III, Tania Flynn Warminski, R.P. Flynn, Anne Flynn-Pulaski and James Flynn.
 
The Tire Review Top Shop Award, presented by Ammco/Coats, seeks to honor the “best of the best” independent tire dealers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
 
With 18 retail stores and nine wholesale and commercial centers, Flynn’s Tire reported gross sales of approximately $30 million for 2013. Flynn’s Tire claims 67 percent of its business from tire sales and 33 percent from vehicle service. Its approximately 150 employees span a business footprint that stretches from Kent, Ohio, in the west, to the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pa., in the east, and from Dover, Ohio, to the south all the way to Buffalo, N.Y., to the north.
 
“Receiving this prestigious award during the year of our 50th anniversary gives us all the more reason to celebrate,” said Joe Flynn III, president. “Our fine associates have earned this award through their hard work and customer-focused dedication, and I am honored to work with each of them and represent them in accepting this award. This award is something that we all can be delighted by because it reflects what we do every day to make our customers No. 1 with us. I’m sure that my father and grandfather, who started the business back in 1964, are smiling down on us.
 
"We are a customer-centric company,” Flynn continued. “We strive to serve our customers better than anyone else can. That starts with hiring the right fit of person every time we have a job opening. When the right people are in the right positions focusing on our customers’ satisfaction, everything else falls into place a lot easier."  
 
“We are honored and excited to have been selected as the Top Shop Award winner for 2014,” said Tania Flynn-Warminski. “We are blessed to have as many quality employees as we have. Much of our success in the past 50 years is because of their dedication, hard work and customer focus. Most people don’t purchase tires and automotive service because of the Flynn Family. They purchase from us because they are happy with the quality of service they receive – both at the counter and in the shop – and that comes from our employees.”
 
In addition to the Top Shop winner, three finalists were also honored this year. This year’s finalists include:
 
* M&W Tire, a single-location retail tire dealer based in Benton Harbor, Mich., owned by Adam Wade, Paul Zurcher and Bud Wade.
 
* Redwood General Tire Pros, with a single retail location in Redwood City, Calif., owned by Alpio Barbara. Redwood General was a 2007 Top Shop Finalist.
 
* Performance Plus Tire & Automotive Superstore, a single location tire dealer in Long Beach, Calif., owned by Hank and Joyce Feldman.
 
“The Top Shop Award program is truly an amazing experience, and every year tire dealers across this continent reaffirm that this is the most prestigious honor any active tire dealership can earn,” said Tire Review Editor Jim Smith. “What could be better than having one of the most respected independent dealers in the U.S. – and one that is celebrating its golden anniversary – as our eighth winner. Congratulations to our deserving winner Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service, and a tip of our hat to our three equally remarkable finalists. The entire industry should take heart in knowing that the level of professionalism, dedication and innovation continues to rise among North American tire dealers.
 
“And we certainly want to thank Ammco/Coats, our presenting sponsor for eight great years, who have never wavered in their support and have believed in this concept from the start,” said Smith. “We could not have a better partner supporting the Top Shop Award program in every possible way.”
 
As the Top Shop winner, Flynn’s Tire receives a Coats APX90 tire changer, a $1,500 cash prize, airfare and hotel for two (two nights/three days) to the 2014 Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show in Las Vegas, a feature story on their business in the October issue of Tire Review, and a specially designed trophy to display in their stores.
 
The three finalists will each receive a Coats 1250-3DV tire/wheel balancer, a $500 cash prize, a feature story on the dealership in the October issue, and a specially designed finalist trophy.
 
For the 2014 Top Shop Award, Tire Review accepted entries from Jan. 1 through June 6. From the full group of some 90-plus entrants, judges selected 20 semi-finalists, which were then required to complete an extensive entry form and provide details about their business, including their size, sales mix, merchandising techniques, customer service, training, achievement and their role in their community. From there, eight semi-finalists were chosen for final judging by an independent panel of judges. Working independently, the judges then graded each dealership on eight business criteria, and those grades determined the winner and three finalists.