Skidz award ‘demonstrates just what can be achieved when someone gives you a little bit of support’

Falkirk-based Skidz employs a 16-strong team and has been named the best tyre retailer in the UK.

Falkirk tyre retailer Skidz was named Tyre Retailer of the Year at the Tyre Industry Awards. The family-owned business, a member of the Michelin Quality Centre network, won the Small Tyre Retailer category for the best single location site, before going on to be crowned the NTDA’s overall winner ahead of the Medium Retailer (up to 25 centres) and Large Retailer (national chain) champions.

Craig Crosbie, managing director, explained that the win had been an emotional moment. 27 years ago Crosbie, aged 21, set up his own business selling alloy wheels with the backing of a £5,000 interest-free loan from The Princes Trust. “I honestly never dared to dream of how successful the business would become. It demonstrates just what can be achieved when someone gives you a little bit of support to pursue your business dreams.”

Today the company turns over more than £3 million a year. It employs a skilled 16-strong team and has a huge customer base – even carrying out regular work for flagship business accounts including Lamborghini Edinburgh.

Crosbie said he puts his team at the heart of every business decision; this was one of the reasons he recently decided to close on Saturdays despite years of weekend opening. He explains: “Instead we open for longer hours in the week so customers can call in on their way to or from work. It’s enabled me to give everyone their Saturdays back, which has proven incredibly popular. And we know it’s working well for the business as our turnover has gone up!”

Commenting on what it means to be named the best tyre dealership in the country, Crosbie adds: “It’s still sinking in to be honest, but I know my team thoroughly deserve it. Most tyre dealerships our size serve motorists in their local area, but we literally have drivers visiting us from across Scotland, because they know we’ll look after their vehicles as if they were our own.

“We have no aspirations to be the biggest; we just want to be the best. We treat every customer who walks in as if they were a good friend – everything’s geared around giving honest, expert advice, backed up by great service.”

Skidz supplies in-car entertainment systems, vehicle alarms, immobilisers, trackers and fleet telematics systems as well as supplying tyres and alloy wheels.

Craig Crosbie, managing director of Skidz (Photo: Skidz)