Bridgestone recognises Rugby’s TW Tyres on 35th anniversary

Bridgestone has presented Rugby fast-fitter TW Tyres with an award recognising the company’s 35 years in business.  TW Tyres, based in Paynes Lane, and owner Mike Furner were presented with a cut-glass accolade from the manufacturer to recognise decades of hard work in the town.

Thanking Bridgestone, Furmer attributed some of his business’ success to the generosity of an old friend Tom Williams, who offered considerable financial support in his first year in business back in 1978: “Tom was an old work contact from my days as a sales rep and when I told him I wanted to start up on my own, he was keen to help me out. He didn’t have to do that and I don’t know what I’d have done without his support.

“We made a profit in that year and I managed to pay him back. His initials are still above the door today and I’d like to think he’d like what we have achieved since.”

The 64 year-old, who now employs more than 20 people from the area, said that a good reputation amongst motorists in Rugby was the secret to his success.

“It’s only now that I can appreciate that our open and honest reputation was more compelling than price alone, as motorists kept coming back to us.

“We have always prided ourselves on being open, transparent and welcoming. It has served us well for so many years now and the great team I have around me continues to play a huge part in everything we do.”

Bridgestone’s consumer sales director Brett Emerson said: “TW Tyres has been around for longer than many of us can remember and when we realised that it was the company’s 35th anniversary, we were keen to present them with an award on behalf of Bridgestone.

“We have never done anything like this before but we couldn’t let the opportunity pass when we knew of the milestone.

“Mike’s philosophies about customer care and transparent pricing have been in place since he began and they’re being replicated by some of the biggest fast fit networks today.”

Furmer said that exploiting the internet and online environments to sell tyres was the next challenge for his business and encouraged local motorists to think of TW Tyres first.

“Before people order their tyres online, I’d urge them to think of us as there is so much more information about a tyre that they might and keep business and money in the Rugby.

“That’s where we feel that we’ve been successful over the years and where we will come into our own in the future.”