e-commerce and online tyre business news
Back in September 2018 Pirelli announced that the system it had developed for the monitoring and management of tyres had been renewed. As a result, the company launched two technological solutions at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover – Cyber Fleet Smart and Cyber Fleet Gate – both of which represent the company’s latest engagement with the digital revolution.
A new online tyre price comparison service has launched, aiming to provide UK motorists with an online tool to choose their tyres quickly and easily, and bringing together products from a wide variety of retail businesses. Motokiki’s comparison engine is designed to offer an impartial whole of market price comparison of tyres from a broad range of suppliers, as well as tyre label result comparison, and the location in which they can be fitted. The company initially comprises 20 staff in offices a short walk from Port Talbot railway station, working on the technical development and marketing of the website, with other aspects of the business outsourced to teams around the country, such as its London-based communications agency, FWD Consulting. Tyres & Accessories travelled to south Wales in late November to attend the launch, with Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”) and the Development Bank of Wales, which have collectively made an equity investment of £3 million in the company, also represented.
Michelin has bought Tablet, an online travel agency specializing in boutique and luxury hotels. Headquartered in New York, Tablet was founded in 2000 by Laurent Vernhes and Michael Davis to provide a high-quality selection of unique hotel experiences to millions of travellers, and an associated booking platform. The purchase of The Tablet follows Michelin’s earlier purchase of Bookatable.com in January 2016 and Restaurantes.com in December 2016.
Mike Welch, the founder of Blackcircles.com has founded Tirescanner.com, a new online portal designed for North American tyre retailers. Initially investing more than $1million in the venture, Welch claims it will be “North America’s first online portal for brick and mortar tyre retailers.” Welch sold UK “click and fit” tyre retailer, Blackcircles to Michelin three years ago, and will bring his online experience to the world’s largest tyre retail market in the US, where replacement tyre sales reached $39.6 billion in 2017. Earlier in 2018, Welch became strategic adviser and shareholder of Indian e-commerce venture Tyremarket.com, while he joined the board of US player Simpletire.com in 2017, prior to US distributor Dealer Tires, itself currently in the process of being acquired by Bain Capital, making an investment in the company this year.
Developing an online identity and regular customer service training for staff are key to boosting profits, Michelin’s Republic of Ireland partner dealers have been told at an annual event.
Delegates at the full-day session at Langton House Hotel in Kilkenny were given advice on developing their digital offering through websites and social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
October has been a tumultuous month for US tyre distribution. First ATD filed for Chapter 11 during the first week of the month. Then, less than two week’s later Sears, which includes Sears Autocentres (itself one just two major tyre installation partners for Amazon), also applied for bankruptcy protection. Now market analysts are asking if Amazon is planning to buy ATD.
On Monday 15 October 2018 Sears Holdings Corporation, the 132-year-old US retailer known for selling everything to everyone, filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of New York.
A month after its credit rating was downgraded, American Tire Distributors, Inc. (ATD), the largest tyre wholesaler not only in the USA, but in the entire NAFTA region, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware on 4 October. At the time, the company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with approximately 75 per cent of its bondholders on the terms of a recapitalization that would reduce the company’s debt by approximately $1.1 billion and increase its financial flexibility as it continues its ongoing transformation
Bridgestone has introduced an all-inclusive monthly subscription service for tyres called Mobox. According to the company, Mobox subscription offers “new tyres, full warranty and other premium vehicle-related services, and all at an affordable price per month”.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has introduced a new tyre retail process that integrates online purchases with real-life fitment. “Roll by Goodyear”, as the new approach has been named, will start out in the Washington, DC, metro area where Roll by Goodyear showrooms and the multiple installation options will be available. The goal is to offer consumers the chance to purchase interchangeably between online and in-store, according to the company.
Tyres on the Drive now offers delivery appointment self-scheduling online using Descartes’ dynamic appointment scheduling and route planning solution. The offering provides a differentiated customer experience while improving the productivity of Tyres On The Drive’s fleet and technicians.
This year Amazon really stepped up its presence in the tyre space, especially in the USA where the company is now dominant across online retail in general. To be specific, a whopping 50 per cent of everything bought online is from Amazon. But these figures are not just an American phenomenon. In the UK, 33 per cent of online retail is conducted through Amazon. This makes Amazon the fifth biggest retailer in the UK, just behind the big supermarkets. The point is that, now we know Amazon is moving into the tyre space, anything that is happening in the US has resonance in the UK market as well.
The MIDaS3 B2B e-commerce platform is being launched by CAM. According to the company, it will enable retailers to interact with dealers more effectively online by delivering stock to all their digital devices including mobile, tablet and PC.
Bridgestone has taken pole position in the 2018 Tyres & Accessories global social media ranking. The world’s largest tyre manufacturer’s @Bridgestone handle rose an impressive seven places to take first place from last year’s winner Michelin. Both @Bridgestone’s Klear and RightRelevance scores were of the highest order, with just three points separating them, resulting in a very high average of 87.7, which was ultimately three points clear of second place.
Michelin’s social media influence continues to lead the pack in the UK, according to our latest social media influence for companies operating social media networks for the local markets. And what’s more, the entire top three on this year’s table is the same as it was in 2017 – meaning Continental retains second place and Dunlop keeps third.
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