TAFF Awards 2012: Tyre Wholesaler of the Year nominations

Last year we had six finalists in this category and five of them have made it through to the 2012 shortlist. In recent years, the award has been shared between B.I.T.S. and Stapleton's and this year B.I.T.S. is looking to make it double figures, while Stapleton's will be trying for three wins on the trot. Can the other three finalists – Bond International, Grouptyre and Micheldever – improve on their 2011 performances?

B.I.T.S.

B.I.T.S. – a part of the County Tyre Group – has been delivering tyres and a first-class service to its impressive customer base across the UK daily. Unusually in today’s market, B.I.T.S. remains an independent, family-owned group, albeit one that operates on a nationwide scale, offering daily deliveries and attractive prices.

Although based in Bristol, B.I.T.S. has developed a network of wholesale centres in key locations across the country, allowing speedy deliveries via the company’s dedicated fleet of delivery vehicles. With centres at Bristol, Burton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Essex, Grangemouth and Preston, the majority of B.I.T.S. customers can be quickly reached. And extensive inventory of tyres ensures that most orders can be filled from stock.

B.I.T.S. stocks a range of tyres, from household name premium brands to value tyres – B.I.T.S. has a tyre to suit all budgets and requirements. The company is also the exclusive agent for several tried-and-tested brands of tyre; Roadstone, and Vee Rubber. These tyres cover a wide range of vehicles, from high performance cars through 4x4s and SUVs, to family runabouts and, thanks to B.I.T.S. efforts, are growing in popularity among the UK’s motorists.

Throughout its 75-year history, the group has prospered by recognising that its customers demand the best in service and in price and the company has grown by fulfilling these needs and going the extra mile where necessary. In a competitive industry, B.I.T.S. is determined to maintain its leading position by continuing to offer the ultimate in service and value to its valued customers, with a fully trained staff that cares.

Bond International

For over 45 years Bond has prided itself in providing top quality service with the personal touch. The UK’s leading independent tyre wholesaler operates from four strategically located distribution centres with a fleet of over 90 delivery vehicles. All the vehicles incorporate upgraded tracking systems providing real time delivery information.

Several years ago the company launched a B2B online ordering system to complement their telesales team. Known as Fastrac, this system continues to attract new users on a daily basis. Constant improvements and new features ensure Fastrac remains the industry leading system. Fastrac has the current EU tyre labelling requirements covered with all data displayed online and the option to instantly generate printable labels.

Over the last few years Bond has continued to strengthen its relationship with the leading premium brand manufacturers. To complement their premium brand offering, Bond have six exclusive value brands; Marshal, Infinity, Sailun, Jinyu, Rotalla and Marshal.

Both the Marshal and Infinity Key Dealer programmes are said to be proving very popular with members benefitting from “some superb rewards.” Bond will have a high profile presence at this year’s Brityrex Show with an 87 square metre stand enabling them to display their six exclusive brands with plenty of space to entertain visitors to the show.

Grouptyre (UK) Ltd

Grouptyre are once again delighted to have been nominated in the category of Tyre Wholesaler of the Year. Grouptyre has made a name for itself as the leading UK tyre distributor on the back of consistently high performance, delivered every day, for 1000s of British businesses around the country.

The figures are impressive and speak for themselves: over one million tyres held in stock at any one time, 37 strategically located wholesale locations, 19 customer contact centres and more than 400 delivery vehicles on the road, offering a same day, multiple and rapid response delivery service.

Its stable of dependable brands covers everything from premium high performance to margin-boosting exclusive lines, such as Evergreen, Federal and Goodride and, in these times when profitability is increasingly pressured, Grouptyre’s exclusive dealer packages are designed to make more sense than ever.

“We believe that a customer’s success is crucial to our own and that is why Grouptyre is committed to continually giving customers healthy margins based on quality tyres, plus the proven back up and service of the UK’s leading wholesaler. We’re extremely proud to have been nominated in the Tyre Wholesaler of the Year category again,” says Karl Naylor, Grouptyre’s managing director, adding: 

“With difficult trading conditions within the industry over the last 12 months, we’ve demonstrated our commitment and dedication to our customer base, by staying true to our values and providing exceptional services levels.  We are delighted that all our hard work has been recognised with this nomination”.

Micheldever Tyre Services

Micheldever (MTS) is delighted to have been nominated for the 2012 TAFF awards, and believes the support for MTS comes from recognition by independents across the UK of the company’s strategy. MTS is a tyre distributor committed to the future of independent retailers, the sector of the UK market within which Micheldever operates its own retail stores, and a sector within which Micheldever recognises many challenges going forward for the independent.

Part of MTS strategy is not to supply tyres to the UK’s largest retail chain, as according to Alan Baldwin, MTS Wholesale director, how can any tyre distributor claim to support the independent yet supply their largest competitor with 100s of retail depots nationwide, and a virtual monopoly on UK Fleet business?

MTS has a wholesale distribution strategy of significantly increasing its support to retailers by offering multi-facetted programs for independent retailers that don’t just focus on sell-in but are designed to help MTS customers compete in a retail market against the multi million promotional and marketing budgets their major competitor has at its disposal. 

In combination with market-leading exclusive mid-range brands like Kumho, GT Radial, General and Enduro, MTS has a vast range of products including budget tyres and all premium brands, but according to Alan Baldwin, the most important assets Micheldever has to offer its customers are industry-leading support programmes that increase retail footfall and, ultimately, business.

“We all face challenges in a difficult market with consumers hit hard by the recession, but the UK’s independents have always delivered the very best in service, and value, and MTS aims to support the independent sector to the very best of its abilities.

Stapleton’s (Tyre Services) Ltd

Stapleton’s, the UK’s leading distributor of passenger car tyres, is delighted to once again be nominated for the tyre industry’s highly regarded TAFF Award. Winners of the 2011 accolade, Stapleton’s have had another impressive 12 months and having disbanded from their retail stream; now concentrate on their core strength as a tyre distributor.

Providing quick and efficient deliveries to customers in all parts of the country is a priority for Stapleton’s. With this in mind a fleet of over 300 vehicles now operates from 14 locations across the country, offering nationwide deliveries on a three times a day, twice-a-day, same-day or next-day delivery basis, depending on location. 

Stapleton’s believes that offering the market the most comprehensive range in the industry whilst remaining competitively priced, has helped it become the first call for many of the UK’s retailers. The company’s key focus on customer service has also seen an increased use of the highly esteemed e-commerce platform, ProfitLink, which enables customers to be able to order up to 19:00, 6 days a week.

All major manufacturers as well as a large number of private and exclusive brands are available from a stock holding of over 1.2 million tyres the company has available. The wide range of private and exclusive brands from budget to mid-range products are offered with attractive dealer support packages to reward loyalty and include preferential pricing, in-store marketing support and branded merchandise.

Stapleton’s head of marketing and range planning, Stephen Childs, said: “We are honoured to once again be nominated for this prestigious award, it is the culmination of extensive research and investment into meeting the needs of our customers that once again sees Stapleton’s nominated for the tyre wholesaler of the year”.