COMPANY HISTORY
Welcome to VIP Parts, Tires and Service! VIP has been in business for over 45 years providing the highest quality parts, tires and automotive service to New Englanders. A new chapter was started for VIP in September of 2001 when the company was purchased by John P. Quirk, the third generation of Quirks in the auto aftermarket retailing business.
Edward S. Quirk Company Inc. dba Quirk Tire, was started by Edward Quirk in 1926 in Watertown Massachusetts. Quirk Tire specializes in commercial tires and is one of the largest giant tire distributors in New England. Edward Quirk Jr. took over in 1953 and the business continued to grow. After graduating from Northeastern University in Boston in 1982 with a degree in business and marketing, Edward Quirk Jr's son, John excelled in various sales and marketing positions before joining the family business. John became the third generation of Quirks in the tire retailing industry. For 15 years John's passion for business and infectious energy grew Quirk Tire exponentially and in 2000 he started the prospect of looking for a business acquisition. In September 2001, Quirk Tire and VIP merged into one with John Quirk as President and CEO.
With the merger, VIP is one of New England's largest privately held automotive parts and accessory chains with 49 stores in Maine, NH and Massachusetts. There are plans to open approximately 2 to 4 stores per year over the next 5 years in targeted markets. There has also been a conscious strategy to create unique selling opportunities for various profit centers of the company. VIP and Quirk have combined all three areas of their expertise into Speed Lane - a NASCAR tire changing experience with safety and speed.
A VIP tire professional checks a customer's tires for wear and then helps select the right tires. The vehicle is brought into the Speed Lane and two technicians perform a safety check and tire change in approximately 15 minutes. Customers can watch the process through a viewing area. The technicians are wearing headsets and communicating. "There are so many things that we are doing with Speed Lane that is totally unique to VIP - things that a customer may or not know about, like 'hand torquing' which is the only true way to ensure that your tires are properly installed", says Quirk. "The goal is to provide the utmost in safety along with the convenience of speed. These technicians have gone through extensive training to provide the best service possible in the least amount of time", says Quirk. This revolutionary system is exclusive to VIP in New England. VIP has a partnership with Ricky Craven the NASCAR Winston Cup competitor in the #32 Tide car who endorses VIP and appears in commercials for VIP.
VIP continues to offer the lowest prices on brand name parts and has a one step distribution system which allows them to buy direct from the manufacturer and pass those savings directly on to their customers. John Quirk is committed to making each customer visit to VIP an exceptional experience. VIP welcomes your thoughts and comments on how to make your experience at VIP the best that it can be.
