How to Scale a Tire Brand Without Losing Community Trust with Christian Seem of Goodturn Tire & Auto

Christian Seem is the President & CEO of Good Turn Tire & Auto, a rapidly growing tire and auto repair company with 55 locations and 16 brands across five states. With nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Christian has worked in big box retail, commercial parts distribution, and tire retail, including leadership roles at TBC Corporation. Since joining Good Turn in 2023, he has led aggressive expansion while preserving the local brand names, cultures, and community trust that give each store its value. His leadership philosophy focuses on building strong teams, protecting brand equity, and scaling with integrity, essential qualities for any tire dealer or auto repair shop owner aiming for sustainable growth. In this episode… Scaling a tire brand is no easy feat especially if your goal is to protect decades of customer loyalty, brand equity, and community relationships. How do you grow without erasing what made the business successful in the first place? In this episode of the Gain Traction Podcast, Christian Seem shares the strategies Good Turn Tire & Auto uses to expand while keeping each store’s unique name, culture, and customer connection intact. From standardizing point-of-sale systems, vendor relationships, and key performance indicators to creating a unified marketing approach, Christian outlines the operational backbone needed to scale effectively in the tire and auto repair industry. But beyond systems, he emphasizes a truth every shop owner should remember: "People are the foundation of any successful expansion." He also shares Good Turn’s “high speed, low drag” integration process, which ensures smooth transitions during acquisitions, supports employees, and safeguards the trust customers have in their local shop. If you’re looking for a proven blueprint for tire dealer growth strategies that balance expansion with brand preservation, this conversation delivers valuable insights you can apply to your own business. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [02:05] Christian’s background and entry into the automotive industry [04:16] From 49th to 26th in the top 100 independent tire dealers [05:20] Good Turn’s acquisition approach for independent tire dealers [07:55] Why preserving local brand names beats rebranding [08:39] How scaling boosts buying power for tire and auto repair shops [09:19] Traits of high-performing shops Good Turn seeks out [12:31] Protecting an owner’s legacy during an acquisition [14:08] How sellers can connect with Good Turn Tire & Auto [15:40] Christian’s leadership mantras for growth and success [18:49] When owners sell but remain actively involved [20:10] The significance of Christian’s favorite movie, Braveheart [23:44] “High speed, low drag” integration philosophy explained [23:59] Christian’s bucket list and future aspirations Resources mentioned in this episode: Goodturn Tire & Auto Christian Seem on LinkedIn Contact Goodturn Tire & Auto Gain Traction Podcast Episode #143: The Art of Scaling Integrity in the Tire Business With Seth Sands of Goodturn Tire & Auto Tread Partners Gain Traction Podcast Mike Edge on LinkedIn Quotable Moments: “As long as we’re doing the right thing, the results will follow.” “The name on the sign matters, customers recognize it, and employees are proud of it.” “People are the foundation of any successful expansion.” “High speed, low drag; get through integrations quickly and with minimal disruption.” “We respect what came before us. Our job is to make it stronger, not erase it.” Action Steps: Preserve local brand identity when expanding to maintain customer loyalty and community trust. Standardize operational systems (POS, vendors, KPIs) for efficiency and scalability. Evaluate team strength before acquisition to ensure a strong people foundation. Invest in staff development to retain top talent and drive long-term success. Adopt a streamlined integration process to minimize disruption and keep customer relationships intact.