The First Stop network has completed its support team for new and existing partners with the recruitment of two further retail business consultants. The First Stop area map for Britain is now fully populated with the appointments of Nick Salt (Northern England and Scotland) and Shaun Sweeney (South West England and South Wales).
First Stop Tyre & Car Services has confirmed our reports on 14 September that the network has established a franchise partnership with one of the most successful garage depots in Devon, Pilgrim Tyres. Three new jobs are being created in the process. It is First Stop’s first partnership with a former HiQ franchise.
First Stop Tyre & Car Services has revealed its striking new rebrand at a flagship store in Birmingham. The Auto Workshop, headed up by father-and-son team Steve and Graham Todd, has become First Stop’s latest partner. Five new jobs have b
Pilgrim Tyres Plymouth is rebranding its premises after leaving the HiQ network and joining First Stop Tyres & Car Services. Describing the transition as “an ambitious decision”, company representatives said:
First Stop Tyre & Car Services has appointed Nikki McCluney as its new marketing manager.
Formerly HiQ’s marketing manager, McCluney brings with her over 25 years marketing experience across automotive, fast fit and retail brands having previously worked for Goodyear Dunlop, Maxxis Tyres and Halfords. Indeed, she played a key role at the HiQ rebrand while at Goodyear Dunlop in 2007 and launched the chain’s concept store while in the role.
The newly created network will be made up of 160 Bridgestone locations, 240 franchisees and at least eight resale platforms. Bridgestone acquired Ayme & Fils in 2017 and has also been active in France with the Speedy autocentre/fast-fit business since 2016.
Bridgestone UK retail manager Mark Widdows has confirmed that the first tyre retailer to sign up to the newly-revamped First Stop programme is Cardiff-based A&A Tyre & Auto Services.
Bridgestone has promoted Daniel Giroud to chief sales officer (CSO), Bridgestone EMIA, after Riccardo Cichi leaves the role on 16 March after three years in the position. Giroud is currently VP retail operations, Bridgestone EMIA, and CEO and president of First Stop Europe. Cichi is joining Bridgestone North America as CSO after three years in EMIA.
When Mark Widdows left HiQ to head up the First Stop project as UK retail network manager, Bridgestone EMIA in October 2019, it was a fair guess that the revamped First Stop would end up competing with HiQ for the role of leading UK tyre retail franchise operation. However, six months into the role, Tyres & Accessories met up with Widdows and learnt that the new First Stop retail proposition has both ambitious plans and a comprehensive franchise offer.
Kevin Nicks, Guinness world record holder and creator of the world’s fastest Shed, has partnered with First Stop. Amongst other things the partnership involves the placing a First Stop hoarding on the front of the Shed.
Bridgestone tyre retail network First Stop has announced that, as of 2020, First Stop UK has joined the NTDA in its own right. It is the first time First Stop UK has joined the NTDA. As a result of its membership, First Stop is including NTDA membership as part of its new value proposition.
First Stop has recruited Mark Widdows to the senior position of UK retail network manager after working with Goodyear Dunlop for 20 years, where he latterly served as national franchise manager for the HiQ network. The recruitment is seen as a statement of intent, as First Stop aims to grow its network and position itself as a major player in the fast-fit sector.
The First Stop network has appointed Brenden Marais as south region retail business consultant. Marais previously held roles at Euro Car Parts (general manager and operations manager over the past six years) and The Parts Alliance (account manager).
Bridgestone has bought all the shares of ETB. ETB – otherwise known as Exhaust Tyres Batteries and Britannia Tyres – runs 32 different locations, with 265 employees assisting more than 10,000 customers a month. The news follows the sale of Bridgestone’s Kingsway tyre retail business in the East England to Lodge Tyre in September 2017. More widely, Bridgestone has been behind a series of high-profile tyre retail acquisitions across the major European tyre markets.
Both ETB and Britannia Tyres will continue operating under their current identities and with their current team, with founder Charles Ivill continuing to direct operations from the ETB company headquarters in Worcester.
The extension of First Stop’s fast fit network has continued to accelerate with the addition of Uncle Tom’s Motorist Centre. The Harlow based garage’s owner Laurence Nicholls has 45 years of experience, making Uncle Tom’s a mainstay in the community. He said the decision to become a First Stop partner would enable his business to continue improving and adding more strings to its bow.
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The Auto Workshop; First Stop
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Nikki McCluney
Bridgestone, First Stop
Bridgestone, First Stop