Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/567620
MTD September 2015 Tire Dealer of the Year he loved. Before he died he asked his friends to be pallbearers, and to wear Black's Tire shirts at his funeral. "I've got a bunch of those kind of guys," Benton says. "He was the leader... he was my main one. "Everyone owns this (business). It's not me. Money's just paper, it's just the vehicle. It just gets you the toys. It's about having something together. It's not about the money." One of Bullard's work shirts is framed and hangs in the BTS Academy training center. A large banner with Bullard's picture hangs on the wall. In Benton's ofce a round medallion sits on a shelf, and it's inscribed with these words: "May the work I have done speak for me." Delia Bullard, who also works for Black's Tire, took it out of her husband's casket and gave it to Benton. Losing Bullard was just the beginning of "the most traumatic year" for Benton. His "favorite aunt" died in October, and his 84-year-old father, Valery J. Benton Jr., beter known as "Boss Man" at Black's Tire, died in January. Te elder Benton helped make deliveries to stores, and referred to a seat on a sofa in the hallway as his ofce. Some might take those losses as a sign to let go of work a litle, and spend a few more afernoons with family at the lake house or more days driving the classic cars he loves. But Benton doesn't see it that way. "I spend time with all the people I love." And he's referring not only to his wife and children, but also to his entire BTS family. 'You can't outgrow your people' Larry Allen is among those who have worked with Benton the longest. He'll mark 26 years with Black's Tire in January 2016, and he manages a store in Lumberton, N.C. It was the company's fourth location. "I remember at our frst annual meeting, there were 14 or 15 people there, and that was with our wives," Allen says. "But Ricky told us to keep working. We put our faith in him. He said you work hard and I'll take care of the rest. And I've never been out of a job or missed a paycheck. I've never asked him for a raise. "If Ricky tells you something you can take it to the bank." In 2014 the North Carolina Tire Dealers Association named Benton its frst Tire Dealer of the Year. Te group recognized him for his business success, his charitable work and his support of the industry. And Benton immediately pushed all of that praise onto the Black's Tire team. Te association's Executive Director, Reece Hester, says Black's Tire is the largest independent tire dealer in its statewide membership. Hester remembers Benton's acceptance speech well, and that he stood at the podium without any prepared remarks. "It wasn't so much about Black's Tire Service, but more about the people around him and the stories associated with those people," Hester says. "When a person is speaking with Ricky, you quickly realize he is humble to his beginnings and hasn't forgoten where he's come from. Ricky credits his family for the successes acquired by Black's, and family includes all who work with him." Tere are opportunities for Benton's business to grow. At the beginning of August, the company opened its fourth warehouse, about halfway between the Virginia state line and Charlote, N.C., in Statesville, N.C. "I hope he waits a couple of months until he does the next big thing," says his wife. Right now the retail business is confned to the Carolinas. Will it cross the line into Virginia or another nearby state? Benton isn't saying. He'll consider "whatever opportunity might arise." "You ever hear of BB&T;?" Benton asks, referring to Branch Bank and Trust. "You've got to have a good banker. Good vendors. You've got to have so many things. You can have all the brick and mortar you want. If you don't have the people it ain't nothing. You can't outgrow your people." Te company's real growth poten- tial may be in retreading. Black's Tire acquired the retread operation as part of its purchase of Briggs & Sons Tire in February 2007, and moved the operation to a new shop — a former window and doors factory in Clarkton, N.C. — in late 2009. Tat frst year-plus of production at Carolina Retread included a lot of growth, from seven tires a day to 69. Harry Lyons wraps a retreaded tire at Carolina Retread, where production has grown signifcantly since Black's Tire acquired a retread business in 2007, from seven tires a day to 225. "Celebrating 100 Years 1915 - 2015" CONGRATULATIONS TO RICKY and the entire Black's Tire team! 44