Mention any of Predator Ridge, Kalamalka Beach, Silver Star, Winter Carnival, orchards and wineries, and longtime B.C. residents know you’re waxing lyrical about Vernon.

Flying just under the radar, but leaving favourable impressions nonetheless is the Vernon-born, family-owned Kal Tire.

With more than 250 stores in Canada (91 in B.C.), 5,400 employees around the world and Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group operating on more than 150 mine sites across five continents, the Okanagan company is thriving.

With almost 14 million registered vehicles on the road in Canada — including nearly three million in B.C. — and auto sales growing significantly, there is no sign of a slow down.

“But the tire industry is one of the most competitive; it seems like everyone is trying to sell tires these days,” Ken Chaun, Kal Tire’s senior vice-president of retail, said from his Vernon office. “Since (founder) Tom Foord emphasized customer service and building trust, we have found a way to do that.”

Despite living in a community touted by Consumer Reports as one of North American’s most desirable places to retire, Chaun said there’s nothing laid back at his busy company where the wheels of improvement always appear to be in motion, just like the city’s bustling Kal Tire Place arena.

“We invest in our people, in our training, in safety, in our community and in our business,” said Chaun. “The fact a lot of our people are poached by competitors proves we must be doing something right. A lot of people talk about doing this important stuff, but we actually do it.”

Profit sharing, bonus incentives, competitive wages, in-depth training, opportunity for advancement and the chance to learn about running a business are some of the Kal Tire magnets used to attract quality people.

“To be fair, I have a ton of respect for many competitors. They push us to be better,” said Chaun. “And we push ourselves, too.”

Chaun, who has been with Kal Tire for a dozen years and has seen double-digit compound growth annually since moving to Vernon 11 years ago, admits technology and online sales have presented a “unique challenge” for the company, which was founded in 1953 on personal touch and face-to-face customer interaction.

“There’s no doubt consumer purchasing habits have changed, and we need to evolve our business to meet the growing demands. While we are striving to be a leader in ecommerce, we also need to find the right way to sell, and communicate online. I believe our face-to-face relationships with customers has always been a huge advantage for Kal Tire and we don’t want to lose that,” said Chaun.

“Trust is a big issue in our industry. It’s different than going to a dentist where you trust the doctor to look after you. In the auto industry, the trust reputation has been challenged at times. So we need to remain strong in this area going forward.”

Chaun pointed to stores in Calgary that remain open 24 hours during snowstorms to help motorists get the correct tires on their vehicles, or the extra hours provided to ensure customers in the commercial and mining sectors avoid expensive delays due to tire issues. As Kal Tire is a multi-brand dealer, they have the ability to provide the right tire for every vehicle and every application.

Chaun says Kal Tire is the largest commercial tire dealer in Canada, and aims to boost sales numbers on the retail side in the next few years. Since the majority of Kal Tire stores are company owned, it’s easier for them to roll out new programs across the country such as Kal’s Tire Lodge for tire storage.