Hogan Tire expands and diversifies for the future

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The owners of Hogan Tire on Bangor Street in Houlton didn’t flee from the recession.  They embraced it with a commitment to save jobs and serve their customers with expanded services. This Saturday, they will showcase their new heavy duty truck parts division with a grand opening.
    “In a trying time, in a down economy, Bill and I made the conscious decision to expand. When most people were closing or downsizing, we were expanding,” says Jody Anderson in what some might say was a counterintuitive move. Anderson and Bill Higgins bought the business in 2002. But, they have been working there for about 30 years with managerial responsibilities for the last 20 years.
Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SERVICE IS THE BOTTOM LINE — Jody Anderson, left, and Bill Higgins say by diversifying Hogan Tire and absorbing a heavy duty truck parts company that was about to close, they prepared themselves for  the future. That move saved jobs and gave them an additional service for their valued customers.
     Anderson explains that the expansion involved absorbing an established company, Leon Little and Sons,  that was about to close. They agree that they saw an opportunity to provide a needed service and keep people with experience working when the area was losing jobs. “The truck parts business was a natural complement to everything we’re doing. And, if we hadn’t done this, no one in town would provide this service. It was to our advantage,” says Higgins.
    Jim Coffey, head mechanic for Steelstone Industries, applauded the move that kept people working  “right here in our home community.” And, it’s not just lip service. Coffey and Steelstone are valued customers.
    Higgins and Anderson, hired local contractor Jim Brown of Nelson Construction to  build a 4,500 square foot addition onto their Bangor Street tire sales location. The new space is a showroom and sales area for heavy duty commercial truck parts. Hogan Tire also has another location in Houlton as well as Presque Isle, Lincoln and Caribou.
    “We cover central and northern Maine and the down east region,” says Higgins. “The person who needs truck tires needs truck parts. We were already going to these locations so we have something else to offer,” Anderson added.  
    The company has been doing business for about 55 years. Anderson says returning customers are crucial to Hogan Tire’s success and he values each customer. “It’s how we survive — relationships. You can buy anywhere you want. You can buy any product you want. But, people still buy from people. Every time you need something, I need you to see me. Service and that relationship is the most important thing.”
    Rick Foss, parts manager for a Jonesboro transportation company, Blue Bird Ranch, says “it’s very nice doing business with them.” When asked about the service, Foss responded: “It seems they go out of their way for you. If I need something, they will bring it to me.” Higgins says: “We serve the people who serve people.”
    And, according to Anderson, the expansion will serve them well as the country recovers from the recession. “In a down economy, there will be fewer trucks on the road and we’ll sell fewer tires in the next few years. In order to survive, we diversified.”  
    The Saturday open house at 135 Bangor Street runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with door prizes, refreshments and special pricing on tires and service.