NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 25, 2006) - Taking care of your customer’s tire and service needs has never been easier thanks to the CornerStone point of sale (POS) system now available for Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC’s (BFNT) network of Affiliated Dealers across the country. The new POS system went “live” this week in Texas at two of BFNT’s Affiliated Dealers.

“At Bridgestone Firestone, we are excited to be able to offer this professional system to our family of Affiliated Dealers, and we know that dealers who use the system will be equally pleased with it,” said Kirk Sutherland, manager, retail marketing POS, BFNT. “The state-of-the-art technology and user-friendly features enable our dealers to easily and professionally service their customers’ vehicles while giving them the information they need to manage and improve their business.”

BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC, a sister company of BFNT, has been using this POS program for six years in its more than 2,200 company-owned stores, and now BFNT’s dealers will have the opportunity to use it as well. The integrated software package allows dealers to effectively manage inventories, create easy-to-follow work orders for automotive repairs and print an organized and customer friendly invoice, while storing customer history. All of this allows dealers to enhance customer satisfaction and improve the accuracy and efficiency of their business.

In addition, the new POS system has a database marketing element that will allow dealers to remind their customers when it is time for regularly scheduled visits, as well as provide specific coupon offers. Dealers are able to be “hands-off” as the system handles almost all elements of this marketing program.

“We are offering our Affiliated Dealers our support and training as they adjust to this new system,” said Sutherland. “We have custom-tailored this service for our dealers and will be on-site for all training and support when they start on this new system. Afterwards, we have a help desk and continuing support set-up to assist with their needs. Strong system security and data backup are also crucial components of the CornerStone system to ensure our dealers’ peace of mind.”

The new CornerStone POS system is one more way that BFNT provides additional benefits and services to its more than 880 Affiliated Dealers.

“Our overall Affiliated Dealer program is very strong, but this new system provides us with one more support program that we can offer to our dealers,” said Barry Feasel, general manager Affiliated Dealer Channel, BFNT. “We are holding meetings across the country informing our dealers about the CornerStone POS system and are encouraged by their interest.”

The program was tested at four dealers in Muskego, Wisc.; Joplin, Mo.; New Bern, N.C.; and Mentor, Ohio, before being offered to the company’s Affiliated Dealer network.