Michelin has been awarded 3rd Prize in an annual survey of shareholder services of the companies comprising the CAC 40 index. The 2006 survey carried out by “Journal des Finances” gave Total and Société Générale 1st and 2nd prize respectively. This third annual survey found that 67.5 per cent of the forty companies in the CAC 40, provide a quality, shareholder-driven service.
With Internet purchasing amongst consumers at an all-time high, and the number of online tyre retailers proliferating, Tyres & Accessories wanted to hear our readers’ opinions on this exciting topic. And what’s more T&A (in conjunction with Actinic Software Ltd) is giving away 25 copies of “120 Top Tips for Running an E-Commerce Web Site” by Chris Barling and Bruce Townsend. So if you want to win a copy of this book then answer this month’s question of the month by clicking here. Please leave your name, address and contact details so we can post your prize to you. Alternatively you can air your views on the subject in an email to theeditor@77.237.250.82.
A recent Farmer’s Weekly article entitled “One man’s waste…Profit from tyres” encourages farmers to shop around for the best deal when it comes to disposing of tyres. The article pointed to new waste regulations that came into force on 15 May, explaining that Farmers can store waste tyres that are “already on-farm” under an exemption licence from the Environment Agency that must be applied for by 15 May 2007.
ATS Euromaster has turned to the web to provide its fleet customers with the ultimate tyre management reporting facility, which the company says gives an instant and more transparent overview of spend – a vital factor for decision making and cost control.
Suitable for both large and small fleet operators, Euromaster Web Reporter provides a comprehensive array of key features including the ability to print detailed reports from any PC with internet access, multi-user access from any location, information either in graph or table format and the ability to export reports and manipulate information via a variety of computer programmes. Above all, the system is extremely user friendly.
Bridgestone Sweden is to supply tyre services to Vagverket Produktion (a company within the Swedish Road Association). The three year contract will see the company provide a complete range of tyre services for vehicles including passenger cars, trucks and OTR vehicles. The contract will be managed through the national Truck Point service network.
While T&A’s favourite remain’s “White With A Hint of M42,” ASDA insurance has claimed that it has discovered the nation’s favourite white van slogan. In an online poll, ASDA Motor Insurance found every person questioned could instantly recall an amusing slogan daubed in the dirt of a white van. One third of those polled revealed their favourite slogan scrawled on the back of a dirty white van was “if only my wife was this dirty”!
Fleet use of e-commerce products will be boosted by higher broadband speeds across the UK over the next few years. New services announced recently by Internet service providers (ISPs) mean that parts of the country have access to broadband speeds of up to 24 megabits per second (many connection currently run at 1 or 2 mbps or less). These faster connections will allow fleet e-commerce services to be developed including high resolution, full screen video links and ever more detailed transaction information.
Viking International, the largest tyre, exhaust and battery wholesaler in the UK, is pleased to report a record number of visitors using its Internet and web based services. Continuous development ensures that the online information and sales service is constantly updated, providing the latest Viking news, offers and information for its users. With 18 months of consecutive year-on-year growth, the website has surpassed all expectations. There are approximately 500 customers with access to the password protected trade area, with figures constantly growing.
Pirellifilm is a unique new communication tool that intends to launch high quality short films through several media channels. The films will centre on stage and screen stars’ interpretations of the famous Pirelli claim – “Power is nothing without control” – in a different way each year. This extraordinary project, which has been in the planning for several years, is intended to support the Pirelli image and positioning and to maintain brand leadership.
Pirelli has chosen the Web as the main channel for these films. The Internet, with its endless possibilities, has evolved to become an entertainment channel and, in this case, also a movie theatre. As the long-term experience of the Calendar has shown, Pirelli has always been able to attract up-and-coming talents, to communicate in a more effective and original way, and to go beyond traditional advertising channels.
On 1 February Harvie/Prema will ‘go live’ with its new website (www.tyretools.co.uk). The company’s B2B online presence will provide a complete virtual catalogue initially covering the majority of Harvie/Prema’s product range and primarily concentrating on the fast moving consumer items. According to the company, the target market for this concept will be those customers that have a genuine desire to purchase products online which will be rewarded by an additional discount. This is an additional service and existing customers that continue to require direct service calls and account status will be maintained with a high level of customer care.
Automotive Waste Solutions, a market leader in the field of automotive waste collection and disposal, has picked up the prestigious Motor Trader Environment Award.
The Motor Trader awards have been held for 15 years and this year there were 19 winners, chosen from more than 60 shortlisted companies and individuals. They were presented at a ceremony, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, attended by over 1,000 leading industry figures.
Performance Alloys.com has introduced three new alloy wheels designs, the SC-18, SC-22 and the SC-33. When asked about the latest alloy wheels and tyres sales manager Garry Higgins said: “We are continually asked by our customers for an ever increasing range of larger and more unique alloy wheels for their cars. Some companies would not look at supplying such high performance vehicles with after market wheels but our company is leading the way in supplying exclusive and custom wheels for the more discerning customer.”
The Internet’s largest compilation of Tyres Tests is now available online. The tests, which cover more than 940 tyres from across the UK and Europe have been collated and published on the Tyres & Accessories for the first time. Each entry contains a brief profile, review and a reference to the original source.
In order to navigate this huge database, products can be searched in terms of brand, model, year, width, height, diameter or speed index.
The test database is regularly kept up-to-date and will include the results of the new winter tyre tests when they come out in early October.
To visit the tyre test database click here or look out for the ‘tyre tests online’ animation.
MAM Software has developed new e-business links with Bridgestone UK. The manufacturer’s account holders will now be able to order stock directly over the Internet, without the need for faxes, telephones or third-party software.
Black Circles is using the Internet as a tool to market tyres in what is a unique route to market. Black Circles is a rapidly growing Internet and mail order tyre operation that carries very little stock and has no in-house retail outlets or warehouses to speak of. It takes on the cost to sell tyres and pays its fitter partners in advance. It offers everyone a better deal from the client buying the tyre, to the retailer getting paid in advance and taking a greater margin. Even the UK tyre wholesalers and manufacturers win for Black Circles has a policy of supporting local suppliers who can offer them repeated standards of high service.
Whilst most tyre purchases remain distress purchases, Black Circles recognise that there is a growing sector of the market where planned replacement of tyres is the norm. Where performance is the key requirement, and we all know that means sales of UHP and higher margin tyres.
Which is where we come to Michael Welch’s Black Circles – the Internet tyre supplier. In actual fact it isn’t quite correct to call Black Circles an Internet Tyre supplier, for the business is as likely to be carried out on the telephone as it is over the Internet. Perhaps a better description would be a remote tyre supply service. People call or use the Internet to request information, obtain a quote, and book a fitting for their tyres.
Now, this is where things start to get interesting. A number of players in the tyre market hold the traditional view that if you don’t buy your tyre from them, they either don’t fit it, or they charge you a premium for fitting the tyre. Which is in some respects short sighted.
Let’s look at this from a consumer’s point of view. He has decided to buy a pair of, or a set of tyres. He has chosen the brand, the size, the pattern and agreed a price. He knows that wherever he goes to collect his tyres they will be what he wants. He books a fitting time and in due course arrives at the appointed time, whereupon the dealer mounts and balances his tyres and sends him merrily on his way. Exeunt one very happy customer.
At this stage in the process the retailer is also a very happy customer because he has gained from the business without having to worry about ordering, about the customer not paying or not arriving, and what is more, he was paid for the job before the client brought his car in.
Let’s look at that from a traditional point of view. The customer wants a set of tyres for a BMW M5 – he has to call in, find out that the retailer doesn’t hold stock of the two sizes required, he has to have them ordered, perhaps pay a deposit, and then return when the tyres are in stock – perhaps the next day. Not an ideal scenario for the client.
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