TAFF Awards 2011 Preview – Tyre Wholesaler of the Year

Wholesalers depend on delivering customer service to stay in business and today's customers are increasingly demanding. It is a tribute to their ability to keep customers happy that all of last year's finalists – B.I.T.S., Bond International, Grouptyre, Micheldever and 2010 winners Stapleton's – have made it to this year's shortlist and are joined by a sixth finalist: Viking International. This is always a competitive category and even more so this time around with six companies to choose from.

B.I.T.S.

For over 74 years B.I.T.S, which is a part of The County Tyre Group, has been offering outstanding service and value to its large customer portfolio. It is proud of its heritage as a wholly independent, family-owned group, with its headquarters based in Bristol.

To operate its key daily delivery service throughout the vast majority of the UK, B.I.T.S has strategically opened key wholesale centres in order to ensure that no matter where you are located there will be a B.I.T.S wholesale centre to fulfil customers’ orders.

The company has always provided tyres from all the leading manufacturers but has now diversified so that it now is the exclusive sole distributor of three quality brands.

Firstly, Roadstone’s complete quality tyre range which covers 4x4s from the popular SUVs from BMWs to Volvos etc. New for 2011 is the exciting 661 range for all types of vehicles. Secondly, Dextero by GiTi, an exciting new range of tyres of high quality and performance, introduced in July 2010. From B.I.T.S point of view, this product has excelled in not only performance but also sales and popularity. The third sole tyre brand is the Vee Rubber tyre range, which reinforces and complements the total range on offer from B.I.T.S.

These three sole exclusive brands are all designed to give the retailers maximum choice and availability at great prices for their customers. B.I.T.S believes that they have got it right – The right service and the right value all at the right price.

In 2011, the B.I.T.S team aims to improve its service, not only by investing in the latest technology, exciting exclusive brands, but also in its people for, as the company says, it’s service plain and simple that makes the B.I.T.S difference.

Bond International

Bond International reports that it is delighted that its most successful year in business has been rewarded with nomination for the 2011 TAFF Wholesaler of the Year Award.

For over 40 years Bond International has prided itself in outstanding service with the personal touch. Offering same day or next day delivery from its four distribution hubs, Bond have developed industry leading service levels to ensure their customers receive the best possible experience from order placement to delivery of their tyres.
2010/11 has seen some exciting developments at Bond International.

The company’s new brand identity signaled the start of a fresh new strategic direction for the company. The introduction of a new B2B platform called ‘Fastrac’ has seen a major surge forward on orders taken over the internet. New partnerships formed with leading premium manufacturers have also been a major step forward and has seen Bond strengthen its product offering. The latest development in August 2011 involves the introduction of a new internet retail platform called ‘Tyre Giant’. This new online presence will route sales through the company’s dealer network and reward their loyal customers with a share of this growing market.

Other important developments for Bond include the introduction of the Infinity Key Dealer Club to complement their already successful Marshal Key Dealer Programme. The company has also continued to develop its market leading range of value brands through partnerships with Rotalla and Jinyu, plus development of its own private brand called Admiral.

Going into 2012 Bond International will continue to develop the next stage of their strategic plan with new product ranges and innovations to ensure the company’s continued success.

Grouptyre

Leading independent tyre wholesaler Grouptyre continues to be committed to meeting the requirements of tyre retailers and garages throughout the UK and Ireland by offering all the services of a national distributor coupled with that all-important local market expertise.

Over the past year the company has been reorganising its distribution infrastructure in line with the continuing development of its core strategy and highly successful ‘National Strength, Local Service’ offer to the marketplace. A sub-contract arrangement with Tyrespot Ltd is enhancing Grouptyre’s offering to customers in the North East of the country, whilst ongoing investment by the member companies is being channelled into continually improving Grouptyre’s unrivalled delivery service. 

With a network of strategically located distribution points, Grouptyre ensures customers receive fast, reliable multiple daily deliveries and an on demand ‘rapid response’ service is also widely available. 
Investment in extra warehousing is enabling the company to win new business in the market place because customers are confident about obtaining specific patterns and sizes exactly when they need them. As a result, these businesses are in a position to maximise profitability, while continuing to provide a cost-effective service to the public, by holding less product stock. 

“The improvements we have made during the past year are clearly impressing the tyre industry, as retail customers have switched to Grouptyre as a supply partner, because of the high quality delivery service we provide, and this has no doubt influenced our nomination for Tyre Wholesaler of the Year, which we are delighted to receive,” says Grouptyre managing director Karl Naylor.

Stapleton’s (Tyre Services) Ltd

Stapleton’s is the UK’s leading distributor of passenger car tyres, offering tyres for all retailers in every price bracket and prides itself on outstanding customer service.
Stapleton’s provides one of the most comprehensive ranges of tyres in the industry; all priced competitively, making it the ideal choice for all your tyre needs.

Orders can be placed over the phone or via the company’s recently improved online ordering service, ProfitLink, making it as simple and efficient as possible. The company stocks all major manufacturers as well as a wide choice of private and exclusive brands. These private and exclusive brands are offered with attractive dealer support packages to reward loyalty and include preferential pricing, in-store marketing support and branded merchandise.

Providing quick and efficient deliveries to customers in all parts of the country is a key priority for Stapleton’s, and is an area that has received continued investment. The company operates a fleet of 275 vehicles operating from 17 locations across the country, offering nationwide deliveries on a twice-a-day, same-day or next-day delivery basis, depending on location. Stapleton’s continually looks at ways to improve this service and recently acquired NE Wholesale in order to increase stock and delivery throughout its network. This expanded distribution network caters for the growing demand from customers and has improved delivery times. Stock holding is now over 1,250,000 tyres, thus ensuring maximum availability of all ranges – nationwide.

Stapleton’s trading director, Steve Parker, says the whole company is delighted to have been nominated for the award. “Winning a TAFF Award is a great achievement and we are pleased that our hard work and commitment to customer service has been recognised with this nomination.”

Two other leading wholesale players (Micheldever Tyre Services Ltd and Viking International) have also been nominated this year. However, perhaps because they have opted to let the respective services speak for themselves, they have chosen not to set out their stalls in our preview this time round.

Related news:

• 2011 TAFF Awards preview

• TAFF Award nominations announced

• NTDA adds tyre retail gong to TAFF Awards line up