Halfords Autocentres to use 1link Service Network
Halfords Autocentres has signed up to the 1link Service Network as a supplier of service and maintenance for light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. The company, which has 246 centres across the UK, is a long time user of the e-commerce platform for company car servicing but this is the first time van and light truck servicing will be processed using 1link. The company currently looks after many thousands of commercial vehicles each year for private customers, SMEs through and large national fleets, while all 246 Halfords Autocentres in the network can look after all Car Derived Vans (CDVs) and over 150 centres have the access, lifting equipment and tools to look after LCVs up to 3.5tonnes GVW, according to a company representative.
Continue ReadingSo long and thanks for all the tyre sales
After an eight-year long mutually beneficial relationship Maxxis International UK Ltd has decided to part company with its long-term distribution partner Grouptyre. The news came in the form of an announcement that the two companies have ended their exclusivity agreement, which implies that the firm will continue supplying Maxxis tyres for the time being. However, Tyres & Accessories understands that there is more to the story than that.
Continue ReadingBond launches Tyregiant.com
It is certainly not the only development to take place within Bond International during 2011, but the wholesaler's recent launch of Tyregiant.com is likely to be the most headline-grabbing. Over the years various sources representing all the UK's largest tyre wholesalers have spoken of their capability of offering an online retailing capability, but up till now few – if any – have ventured onto the information superhighway. The solitary pioneering effort in this area was Grouptyre's GoodTyreGuide, which ambitiously seeks to fuse retailing, reviewing and wholesaling through its membership of whole operations. A year on from that, with the jury still out on whether this concept has delivered the kind of results expected at launch, Tyregiant is pitching itself as a straightforward retail site for consumers. The clever part for Bond (a company that has always shied away from retailing itself so as not to alienate its business to business customers) is that, like GoodTyreGuide before it, it is seeking to offer additional business to its customer base rather than itself becoming a competitor.
Continue ReadingWith sales and profits up, Bond plans UK and international expansion
Based just North of York in Pocklington, the relatively small size of this North Yorkshire town belies the current scale and influence of the tyre wholesale operation it is home to. Bond International was founded in 1966 by Reg Bond when the qualified automotive engineer suffered an industrial injury that blinded him in one eye. In spite of the incident, Bond demonstrated great vision by investing his ensuing compensation into expanding his business to incorporate tyre wholesale. Now the company is firmly in the top flight of UK tyre wholesale operations and has purportedly risen as high as number three in recent years (see next month's Wholesale Feature for an update on the current state of UK tyre wholesaling). With an overseas office already located in Singapore, now Bond is considering its European options, while pointing out that there are still opportunities in the UK. On top of this the company recently launched its first foray into the online marketplace, which executive hope will – over time – develop a whole new source of business for it and its retail customers alike.
Continue ReadingEx-Tesco CEO Leahy a Blackcircles ‘mentor’
According to The Independent, former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy is providing “mentoring services on an ad hoc basis” to Blackcircles.com. Leahy, who the newspaper describes as being an “acquaintance” of Blackcircles.com managing director Mike Welch, also disclosed that he owns a stake in the online tyre retailer. Yet while admitting being a shareholder for some three years now, Leahy stressed to the newspaper he had “no hand” in orchestrating the Tesco Tyres partnership between Blackcircles.com and the supermarket giant. Further distancing himself from potential mutterings over conflicts of interest, Sir Terry reports he informed Tesco chairman David Reid upon acquiring his share in Blackcircles.
Continue ReadingWhy Bridgestone believes its new European structure takes it closer to the market
In the final quarter of 2010 Bridgestone announced that it was reorganising its European operation into key “regions“. At the start of 2011, this plan entered its second phase with the establishment of the North Region (consisting of the UK, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland and Sweden). As a direct result of this, there were a number of promotions for executives at the company’s UK headquarters. On 1 January 2011 John McNaught became North Region managing director with Sam Enya as the North Region deputy managing director and also sales administration director. At the same time John Folliss became North Region commercial sales and marketing director with Andy Lane taking the position of North Region consumer sales and marketing director. Six months into his new role, Tyres & Accessories met with Andy Lane and learnt details of how the company sees the UK and other North Region markets progressing or otherwise this year and how the new approach positions the company to deal with this.
Continue ReadingFormula One opens two new depots in South
UK chain Formula One Autocentres has announced the opening of two new depots in August 2011, following its expansion programme and bringing the total number of sites to 58. The new centres are situated in Basingstoke and West Quay, Southampton. Leon Glencross, managing director of F1 Autocentres, comments: “We identified West Quay and Basingstoke as key areas because the properties fit the F1 profile requirements in that they are highly visible, have ease of access and onsite parking”.
Continue ReadingTraxx Tyres: new wholesaler builds million tyre firm in under a year
Within four weeks of the company’s launch, Traxx Tyres secured new premises 15 minutes from London for the business’ head office. Walk in through the shining polished glass doors and you are greeted by the smell of new carpets and freshly unwrapped furniture. However, the first thing you notice is that this is not simply the administration department of a regional wholesaler, but rather the suite of ground floor offices and board rooms tell you that this operation is set up to be the nerve centre of a business with national aspirations. With the company having such impressive aspirations, Tyres & Accessories visited the Bracknell headquarters (Maxx House) to find out more about Traxx’s short history, recent achievements and plan for the future.
Continue ReadingWestlake to appoint new UK truck tyre agents
Representatives of the Westlake truck tyre brand in the UK have announced plans to appoint between eight and 10 UK-based agents for the brand produced by leading Chinese tyre manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber. According to the company, the new distribution network will be comprised of partners that are independent, established commercial retread processers, retailers, tyre repairers or casing dealers. Once the right partners are identified Westlake is understood to be offering to agree “appropriate and exclusive territory” such as North East, North West with the right companies.
Continue ReadingGfK offers "cost-free opportunity" to truck tyre dealers
Many in the industry will be familiar with the work of GfK within the tyre market, producing regular reports on market size, market shares and trends, among other information. According to the old saying, "knowledge is power" and GfK (which stands for 'Growth from Knowledge') describes itself as 'a knowledge provider' and has been collecting, processing and analysing data on various markets since its foundation in 1937.
Continue ReadingDick Anderson dies
Well known tyre wholesale stalwart Dick Anderson died suddenly on Saturday 16 July. The news was confirmed by RH Claydon group business development manager, John Parker who wrote to Tyres Accessories: “It is with great sorrow that I must inform you of some sad news in that Dick Anderson unfortunately passed away.” Anderson, who retired just over a year ago, was apparently working alone in the garden at his old home in Welnetham when he suffered a massive heart attack.
Continue ReadingF1 Autocentres expands car servicing offering
F1 Autocentres has announced that it will offer three levels of car servicing designed to meet better the varying needs of Britain’s motorists. The newly identified three options comprise interim, full and major services. The Interim Car Service is designed to maintain cars between annual services, states F1 Autocentres. The new Full Service consists of a 66 point check and is an important part of a cars annual maintenance programme, while the new Major Service checks 71 points, covering all areas of essential maintenance comprehensively. The company says that each service is designed to meet the various needs of motorists, carried out by fully trained technicians, and perhaps most importantly is competitively priced.
Continue ReadingNational Tyres adds 10 Broadway branches to its network
National Tyres reports that it has added 10 branches to its network this month as part of the company’s expansion strategy. According to National Tyres and Autocare, the 10 new branches are a group acquisition from Broadway Retail Ltd. “This is a very exciting development for National Tyres and Autocare,” said chairman Alan Revie: “It is a testament to the strength and professionalism of our business that we are able to expand at a time when so many retailers are contracting. It also represents a significant acceleration of our growth plans, having already added eight new branches to our network in the last 12 months alone.”
Continue ReadingFormula One Autocentres to offer new puncture repair service
Formula One Autocentres has announced the addition of a new puncture repair service, costing £19.30. The chain says it considers the service to be priced at a “very inexpensive” level. The company says the replacement of a punctured tyre is “not always necessary as punctures in the tread area of the tyre can often be repaired”. It is easy to see how repair could be a popular option in the current financial climate, as motorists seek ways in which to save money.
Continue ReadingItochu officially completes Kwik Fit Group purchase
Itochu has just announced that it has officially completed the acquisition of the Kwik Fit Group for £637 million. While details of the purchase have been in the press and a popular part of market discussion for some time, up till now the deal had been subject to regulatory approval. However, with the issue of today’s statement Itochu can now say it has officially purchased the UK’s market leading automotive repair company from PAI Partners, which had owned the group since August 2005. The business received EC approval for the purchase back in May.
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