HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.—A seminar titled “Retail Market Insights” will open the 31st Annual Clemson University Global Tire Industry Conference, scheduled for April 15-17 on Hilton Head Island.
The seminar, scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. on April 15, will open with a speech titled, “What Training Do Tire Dealers Want or Need?” by Glen Nicholson of TBC Corp.
Other topics addressed in the seminar include:
• “Turn That Frown Upside Down: Utilizing Consumer Insights for Product Improvement,” by John Evankovich, Sam's Club;
• “What Information Do Tire Retailers Need/Want from a Tire Manufacturer To Help Launch New Products?” by Freda Pratt-Boyer, Purcell Tire & Rubber Co.; and
• “The Market Needs/Wants and the Challenges Facing the Tire Industry from an Innovation/New Product Development Standpoint,” by Andrew Lovell, Eastman Chemical Co.
Following the seminar will be sessions April 15-17 on new technology, the tire industry's outlook, materials and the environment.
Among the scheduled speakers and their topics will be Eugene Peterson of Consumer Reports on tire counterfeiting; Al Cohn of Pressure Systems International on commercial tires and truck fleets; Dean Tener of Smithers Rapra Inc. on creating and using tire models; Dennis Johnson of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the EPA's SmartWay tire testing; and Michael Blumenthal of Marshay Inc. on the history and current state of the scrap tire recycling industry.
The keynote speaker for the April 16 luncheon was not listed on the conference website as of March 17.
The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort will be the headquarters hotel for the conference. Visit its website for registration, hotel reservations and other information on the conference.