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THE LEN LESSER REPORT  

THE LEN LESSER REPORT

 

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KAL TIRE IS A FAMILY CORPORATION BUILT ON TRUST AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Each year we store our summer tires at Kal Tire who then installs our snow tires. While we waiting for our car to be serviced, I had a chat with two of the employees. Chris and Thomas, who spoke of their enjoyment and sense of fulfilment working for a family owned business founded by the Ford family from Vernon British Columbia.

All of the employees of the 290 stores are considered as part of the extended family who share in the success of the stores. After two years of employment the employees share in 50-50% profit sharing. If the store’s profits are example, $200,000.00 per year, then the employees share is $100,00.00. The company contributes two percent of the employee’s salary into their RRSP`s.

Recently one of my favourite employees, Arun, moved to Windsor to manage the dealership. He had been very fortunate to have been part of the "Fast Track Management Training" program offered by Kal Tire. The company paid for his salary, air fair, food, hotel accommodations and education in "Sales and Service Training" at the head office in Vernon British Columbia. Experienced mangers teach the up and coming staff members to fill the shoes of those who are retiring.

It is rare see in to-day’s impersonal business world that
companies take the time, money to train their staff on their way to a promotion. The staff are integral important parts of what builds loyalty and pride to make the business very successful.

Good service to focus on the needs of the customers is emphasized. The stores closing time is dictated not by the clock on the wall but rather taking the needed time to tend to the needs of the patrons.

Some people think that the purpose of business it to make money. Wrong. The philosophy of what makes a company successful depends on serving the needs of the customer, then you make money. It takes years to earn a customer’s trust and it takes mere minutes to lose the hard earned loyalty.

As a customer of Kal Tire along with being a education-career counselor I appreciate the fine employee/customer service that I have experienced. The company is a good model for others who want to be successful.

Len Lesser

Len Lesser posts a report every week

You can email Len at lenlesser@hotmail.com