AKRON—Crain Communications Inc., publisher of Tire Business and Rubber & Plastics News, and Latin Expo Group L.L.C. of Miami have joined to co-produce the North American Tire & Retread Expo, which will take place April 19-21 in New Orleans.
The agreement combines the strengths of NATRE and those of Crain and Tire Business, a sister publication of Rubber & Plastics News, into a show for tire dealers and auto service professionals.
In joining with the Latin Expo Group, Tire Business kicks off an expanded approach to reaching tire dealers and retreaders through face-to-face education. The new focus aims to provide practical educational solutions to tire dealers and auto service professionals using tools that will enable them to increase sales, improve productivity and develop new profit opportunities, show promoters said.
At NATRE Tire Business will develop a broader educational program for retail and commercial tire dealers and retreaders attending the show.
Under the “Tire Business Educates” banner, the educational program will include seminars and possible panel programs on timely topics affecting tire dealers and retreaders. Along with the educational program, industry suppliers will offer workshops on the tradeshow floor.
“The North American Tire & Retread Expo is honored to be a partner with Crain Communications Inc., which immediately elevates and validates the show's importance to the tire and tire retread industry,” said Gustavo Lima, CEO of the Latin Expo Group.
“We look forward to a complete program of seminars and educational presentations by industry leaders.
“I am personally pleased that the Crain Communications team has seen the value and future of a stand-alone tire expo for all tire and retread tire professionals in a very friendly and easy ‘The Big Easy' location to hold this yearly event.”
Introduced by Latin Expo Group in 2015 and now in its second year, NATRE is one of North America's largest tire conference and trade shows designed exclusively for tire dealers, retreaders and wholesalers.
“It is the only stand-alone tire and tire retreader show in the United States,” Lima said. “Our goal is to bring together tire and retread business professionals so that they can buy and sell to each other.”
More then 100 exhibitors are expected at this year's event, including Goodyear, Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., Triangle Tire North America L.L.C., Alliance Tire America Inc. and Marangoni Tread North America.
The conference will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, located near the city's famous Bourbon Street and other well-known attractions.
“This is a wonderful partnership and great news for tire dealers, retreaders and wholesalers looking for an opportunity to meet other dealers and suppliers and learn, network and conduct business in an environment that is exciting and fun,” said David Zielasko, editor and VP/publisher of Tire Business and publisher of RPN. “We look forward to working with the Latin Expo Group and the NATRE team to build an event that all segments of the tire industry will see as important and valuable.”
In addition to the emphasis on tires, the show's focus will expand to include the automotive service sector, which has become a major profit center for many independent tire dealers.
“Today automotive service often accounts for more than half of many tire dealerships' annual sales, a trend that is only going to continue,” Zielasko said.
The agreement with Latin Expo Group does not affect the International Tire Exposition & Conference for tire manufacturers, which is produced by Crain and Rubber & Plastics News. That event will take place Sept. 13-15 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.
According to Lima, this year's NATRE will include the popular Miss Retread Contest, where retreaders enter their best-looking retreaded truck tires, and will be complemented by the “Mr. Retread” contest, where the best off-the-road retreaded tires will be judged.
The top winners in each contest will receive cash prizes.
Music will play a role in NATRE as well, Lima said. Attendees can expect to hear the sounds of a Dixieland jazz band marching through the trade show hall, and dealers will find a comfortable piano lounge on the trade show floor where they can relax to soothing music or conduct a business meeting.
For fun, all attendees are invited to an evening at the House of Blues in New Orleans from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 19.
There is no cost to attend the NATRE conference and trade show for tire dealers, retreaders and others allied to the tire industry. To learn more about the conference and to register, visit the show's website. Persons interested in speaking should contact Tire Business at 330-865-6112.