First Stop Network Grows

Bridgestone has reported that the number of independent tyre dealerships that have joined Bridgestone First Stop is at an all-time high. A total of 160 dealerships are now involved in the network. “In the past 12 months a total of 17 new outlets across the country have become members,” said Andy Dingley, senior marketing analyst at Bridgestone UK. “This represents excellent growth as we work towards increasing both the size and quality of the network.”

Bridgestone UK has invested £250,000 in the network this year. The company says that this has been spent on training for dealership technicians and managers, and upgrading the visual appearance of First Stop outlets. “The investment we have put into the network is clearly paying off,” said Mr Dingley. “Not only is the overall standard of dealerships improving, as proved by this years First Stop Stars awards programme, but we are also continuing to attract more high-class businesses to the scheme.”

The company highlights Eden Tyre Sales as a prime example of the type of dealership First Stop is attracting. Eden has a series of outlets across the East Midlands and has recently signed three of them up to the First Stop network including a new state-of-the-art outlet in Derby.

“We decided to sign-up our outlets to the First Stop scheme for a number of reasons,” said Matthew Eden, director of Eden Tyre Sales. “The Bridgestone brand is very recognisable. We pride ourselves on having a good reputation in the local community for high-quality service, and the business support and training we receive from being part of the First Stop network will further improve the service levels we offer our customers.”