TAFF Wholesaler of the Year Nominee Committed to Providing One-Stop Solution

Grouptyre and its 13 member companies report that as they continue to invest in key areas such as warehousing, distribution and IT, they are achieving key operating efficiencies. And this is said to be making it easier for retailers to do business with Grouptyre, which the company believes played a part in Grouptyre’s nomination for the 2010 TAFF Wholesaler of the Year Award.

“We are delighted to be in the running for Wholesaler of the Year once again,” says Grouptyre’s managing director Karl Naylor. “It is a major achievement and a good indication of how our ongoing investment in many areas of the business, our commitment to developing the supply chain and our continuing efforts to capitalise on our service offer are being received by the trade at large.”

While retailers have been able to check product information, confirm stock availability and order via the internet through the Grouplink ‘virtual warehouse’ for some time now, Grouptyre has been maximising online technologies to roll out a series of special promotions designed to build relationships and develop its customer base. A number of national incentives in conjunction with manufacturers have been implemented over the past couple of years offering tyre retailers a realistic chance of winning a top prize. The promotions have been extremely well received throughout the trade, enabling Grouptyre to build relationships with retailers and manufacturers and expand its customer base in all areas of the market including the independent sector.

Online investment

Grouptyre’s recent launch of the Good Tyre Guide, a unique new e-commerce platform, is another way in which the company is helping tyre retailers boost their profitability and win a share of the developing online market (see page 3 for more on this). By registering as a fitting centre, retailers can promote themselves as “the” local specialist in their area. 

Since the Good Tyre Guide’s e-commerce functionality can be added to retailer websites, those who already have an online presence can maximise their investment by filtering the results of the retailer search to show their centre(s) only. The Good Tyre Guide can also be rebranded in line with a retailer’s corporate identity, so buyers will see it as an integral part of the retailer’s website, and adding a web link from their existing site means a retailer’s customers can select a tyre, process the order, pay online and have their tyres fitted by that business . 

“Our commitment to investing in innovative new initiatives and supporting our retail customers with an enhanced product and service offering is enabling us to continue building market share and drive the business forward,” added Karl Naylor.

Grouptyre’s stockholding of a million tyres is valued at £50 million at any given time and includes all the major brands plus exclusive brands Maxxis and Federal – along with a market-leading delivery service and competitive prices to provide a complete ‘one stop’ solution. 

The company pioneered a national multiple same-day to on-demand delivery service and has over 500 vehicles operating via 35 distribution points throughout the UK and Ireland. With vans leaving Grouptyre distribution centres three times a day on average – four times a day and even hourly deliveries are available in some areas – retailers can be confident of obtaining specific patterns and sizes quickly and easily in order to fulfil customer orders efficiently and so offer an excellent level of service.

Related News:

• Grouptyre Says New e-Commerce Initiative Benefits Trade

• TAFF Awards 2010: Tyre Wholesaler of the Year Nominations