Les Schwab Tire Centers
Encyclopedia
Les Schwab Tire Centers is a tire
retail chain operating in the western United States. Founded in 1952, The company is named for founder Les Schwab
and is headquartered in the Central Oregon
city of Bend
. The private company employs over 7,000 people in eight western states. The company is known for its customer-oriented employees and product guarantees.
, when he bought OK Rubber Welders in 1952. The headquarters were later moved to nearby Prineville
. In 1964, an annual February "Free-Beef" promotion started to boost sales during slow late-winter
months. The company was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
in 2006 over allegations of gender based job discrimination. The EEOC suit claimed the company denied women top management positions in the company. They were also sued by former employees over the same allegations in a class action lawsuit filed the same year.
On December 12, 2006, Dick Borgman became CEO of the company. That year the company ranked as the 318th largest private company according to Forbes
. As of 2007, the chain operates more than 410 stores in Alaska
, California
, Idaho
, Montana
, Nevada
, Oregon
, Utah
, and Washington. The company does more than $1.6 billion in sales each year, and is the second largest independent tire retailer in the United States
. Founder Les Schwab died in May 2007, with ownership remaining within the family. In 2006, the company announced that its headquarters will move to nearby Bend, with the move completed in December 2008. Les Schwab's distribution center remained in Prineville. The company was named the 23rd best company to work for in Oregon for large employers in 2008. Founder Les Schwab died in 2007 and then chairman Phil Wick died in 2010.
magazine ranked Les Schwab as the 324th largest privately held company in the country. Modern Tire Dealer has called the Les Schwab "arguably the most respected independent tire store chain in the United States." The company closes all of its stores on Sundays, and employees are known for running to customer vehicles when they pull in to park.
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
retail chain operating in the western United States. Founded in 1952, The company is named for founder Les Schwab
Les Schwab
Leslie Bishop "Les" Schwab was an American businessman from Oregon. He was the founder of Les Schwab Tire Centers, a company which Modern Tire Dealer called "arguably the most respected independent tire store chain in the United States." A native of Oregon, he served in the U.S...
and is headquartered in the Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
city of Bend
Bend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
. The private company employs over 7,000 people in eight western states. The company is known for its customer-oriented employees and product guarantees.
History
Les Schwab founded the company with a single store in Prineville, OregonPrineville, Oregon
Prineville is a city in and the county seat of Crook County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the first merchant located in the present location, Barney Prine. The population was 9,253 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, when he bought OK Rubber Welders in 1952. The headquarters were later moved to nearby Prineville
Prineville, Oregon
Prineville is a city in and the county seat of Crook County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the first merchant located in the present location, Barney Prine. The population was 9,253 at the 2010 census.- History :...
. In 1964, an annual February "Free-Beef" promotion started to boost sales during slow late-winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
months. The company was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
in 2006 over allegations of gender based job discrimination. The EEOC suit claimed the company denied women top management positions in the company. They were also sued by former employees over the same allegations in a class action lawsuit filed the same year.
On December 12, 2006, Dick Borgman became CEO of the company. That year the company ranked as the 318th largest private company according to Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
. As of 2007, the chain operates more than 410 stores in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, and Washington. The company does more than $1.6 billion in sales each year, and is the second largest independent tire retailer in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founder Les Schwab died in May 2007, with ownership remaining within the family. In 2006, the company announced that its headquarters will move to nearby Bend, with the move completed in December 2008. Les Schwab's distribution center remained in Prineville. The company was named the 23rd best company to work for in Oregon for large employers in 2008. Founder Les Schwab died in 2007 and then chairman Phil Wick died in 2010.
Operations
In addition to tires, the company sells a variety of other auto parts and auto related services, including brakes and shocks. In 2008, ForbesForbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine ranked Les Schwab as the 324th largest privately held company in the country. Modern Tire Dealer has called the Les Schwab "arguably the most respected independent tire store chain in the United States." The company closes all of its stores on Sundays, and employees are known for running to customer vehicles when they pull in to park.