UK Maxxis Rewards Retailers Back from “Excellent” Star Prize Thailand Trip

Following an all-expenses paid trip to Thailand, courtesy of the Maxxis Rewards Scheme, Grouptyre sales director Paul Hollows gave a vote of thanks to the brand, which is sold exclusively through Grouptyre wholesalers in the UK: “I know from conversations during our week away and since that the retailers who went to Thailand with Maxxis got a great deal out of the trip, especially the visit to the Maxxis Rayong factory, which helped them really appreciate the commitment Maxxis makes to manufacturing quality products. Congratulations to Maxxis on an excellent initiative and here’s to continued success in 2010.” Hollows accompanied the retailers on their journey through the country from November 21-28, during which they spent time in the beach resort of Pattaya and the bustling capital city of Bangkok.

The 30-strong party, which included representatives from hosts Maxxis International UK and managers from Grouptyre, visited the Maxxis Rayong factory during the trip. Output reaches 27,000 car tyres a day at Plant A, while Plant B is newly built and is being commissioned to deliver another 15,000 car tyres per day and 3,000 TBR per day. Raw materials are locally sourced. Factory manager Gary Lin took the delegates on a tour, showing them how a tyre is made from raw material to finished inspection. During the tour the group saw everything from the Banbury mixers and the rubber tread extrusion, to the steel belt manufacture and the bead manufacture before continuing on to the build line to see a green tyre come out when everything is put together. They then went to final curing before moving to the finishing line and on to a three-point final inspection, which includes visual inspection, balance and concentricity checks. Quality control and inspection is a vital part of the production process at Rayong and there are numerous prominent displays to remind workers that “Maxxis clients expect zero defects”. The tour concluded in the boardroom where the dealers were given the chance to fire questions at the assembled Maxxis line managers and senior personnel.

Daytime temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius dropped to nearer 23 degrees, making the evenings quite comfortable, and although it can rain heavily in Thailand at this time of year, the Maxxis party didn’t see a single drop. While the trip scheduled free time for shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing at the hotel, the delegates reassembled for the evening meal.

On the first night, after the 11 and half hour flight from London Heathrow to Bangkok and transfer to Pattaya, the party enjoyed a traditional Thai meal in a local restaurant. Later in the trip they were treated to alfresco dining at the water’s edge in an excellent Thai restaurant – hosted by Warren Lin, managing director of International Sales for Maxxis and a director of Maxxis UK – and on another evening sat down to steak and chips in a private room at the Pig and Whistle, an English-themed pub.

Cultural highlights included a visit to Nong Nooch Village, the Royal Grand Palace and Golden Temple and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Nong Nooch Village is a tropical botanical garden filled with ornamental flowers and plants and has been created on land which was bought in 1954 and was originally intended for a fruit plantation. While the original aim was one of conservation, in 1980 the garden opened to the public as a major tourist attraction, with Thai-style houses, banquet halls, swimming pools, restaurants and a theatre for cultural dances. Today, Nong Nooch Village lays claim to being the biggest botanical garden in South East Asia and welcomes more than 2,000 visitors daily.

The Royal Grand Palace and Golden Temple is the most visited tourist site in Bangkok and features some stunning scenery. Wat Traimit, Temple of the Golden Buddha, houses a five and a half ton Buddha image which was only discovered some 50 years ago, having been plastered to avoid detection.

During the half day trip to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market the Maxxis delegates were able to experience traditional buying and selling methods. Small, flat boats were piled high with tropical fruit and vegetables, ready to drink coconut milk and local food specialities cooked from the onboard kitchens and jostled in small canals ready to stop and bargain at a moment’s notice.

The last night of the trip culminated in good food and karaoke at Henry J Bean’s Bar at the Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok, when Maxxis warehouse manager Trevor Brame rang the bar’s special bell to signify a free drink for everyone who was in the bar at the time. The occasion was a fitting end to a superb week and the subsequent installation of a plaque on the bar’s wall of fame commemorated the Maxxis party’s visit.

All the retailers agreed the trip had been a thoroughly enjoyable experience and were keen to participate in the 2010 Maxxis Rewards programme, realising that they will need to redouble their efforts if they are to secure a place on the VIP Rewards trip. Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin said: “The dealers who joined us in Thailand gave us tremendous support in 2009 and I’d like to thank them again for being such great ambassadors for our brand. We look forward to rolling out this year’s Maxxis Rewards programme and to 2010 being another bumper year for Maxxis and its retailers.”