Stars Shine Brightly for Bridgestone

A 33 per cent increase in the number of UK First Stop dealerships reaching Bridgestone’s highest customer service standard has topped a memorable year for the thriving network, the company has reported. Eight outlets across the country are now proudly operating as five star dealerships, with an equally impressive 37 having reached the very respectable four star grade.

“To have so many dealerships achieve five star ratings is a tremendous boost for the First Stop network, and it demonstrates the continual improvement in the service levels our partners are offering their customers,” said Andy Dingley, senior marketing analyst at Bridgestone UK.

Using independent assessors, the annual Stars awards programme tests dealerships in the network on a range of criteria including tyre sales, telephone technique, staff training, and marketing. It was introduced as a means of establishing the standard of customer care required within the network, rewarding those dealerships that met the criteria, and improving the overall standard of outlets.

The excellent results come at the end of another bumper year for First Stop, in which it celebrated its ten year anniversary with a modern new logo, attracted more high-quality dealerships, and helped promote the Think Before You Drive campaign at numerous events across the country.

The nine dealerships achieving the prestigious five star rating are:

· Flintstone Tyre Services near Fareham, Southampton;
· Steve Andrews Tyres in St Austell;
· TW Tyres in Rugby;
· Wilsons Tyres in Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire;
· Airway Tyre & Auto in Colchester;
· Eden Tyre Sales in Derby;
· Bridgnorth Tyre & Exhaust, in Bridgnorth;
· Hardwick Tyres, in Bury St Edmunds

They each receive a £3,500 investment of Bridgestone investment in their business, with four star winners receiving £2,500.