The Tyre Group, which is best known for its Malvern Tyres-branded chain of tyre retail centres, has bought Just Tyres. Financial details have not been released, but Tyres & Accessories understands that the acquisition demonstrates how the top 10 tyre retailer has come of age as a national-level operation and illustrates something of its ongoing plans for development.
There’s no denying that the tyre business has become more digital and connected than ever before, but there are a number of sides to that equation. We know that between 60 and 80 per cent of tyre-buying consumers were doing pre-sale research online before the pandemic. Similarly, industry insiders have been saying that 10 per cent of tyres are bought online for something like a decade now. But anecdotal evidence from tyre retailers themselves reveals that, amongst those working for the large chains at least, many customers walk through the door to receive a tyre change that has already been booked online. Apparently, some of the younger generation just walk in and hold up a QR code on their phone! This month’s Tyres & Accessories looked into these kinds of questions, asking what it means for the tyre business to be digitally native. And it starts with a brand-new ranking of the leading tyre retail, e-tail and tyre comparison websites.
Times have been tough in the last couple of years, but if the growth of the top 25 tyre retailers in the UK is anything to go by, the nation’s leading tyre retail businesses are taking triumph from adversity. Of course, Halfords’ acquisition of National Tyres and Autocare’s parent company at the end of 2021 makes up a big part of the new UK tyre retail landscape, but it is clear that adding branches to existing networks (either by organic growth or by acquisition) is a common theme across the board.
Continuing our 2022 analysis of the leading UK tyre retailers by branch count, Just Tyres is this year’s number 11, having grown via the addition of two new centres which brings its total to 39. At this rate, Just Tyres is likely to overtake Mr Clutch into 10th position during the next year or two.
As can be seen in the top 10 table published yesterday, Halfords Autocentres remains in second place nationally in our 2021 ranking of the UK’s largest retail operations by branch count. Continuing our three-article series on this subject, today’s instalment focuses on places 11 to 20 and finds that the medium to large sized positions are increasingly being taken by autocentre style businesses that make as much money from parts and repairs as they do from tyres (and more than traditional fast fits).
Outside of the top five, there is a certain degree of stability amongst the remaining five companies. Those in sixth, seventh and eighth position (McConechy’s, The Tyre Group and Lodge) appear to have remained stable in terms of branch count, with 61, 58 and 40 branches respectively. However, it is worth considering all this in the context of ULM Services Ltd the fleet-orientated cooperation Universal, Lodge and McConechy’s set up during 2017. Put those three partners together and we have 119 branches and another strong contender for fifth position on the table.
Just Tyres is holding a launch party to celebrate the opening of a permanent fitting centre in Rooksley Centre, Milton Keynes on Saturday 1 December 2018. Located in the Deltic Trade Park, the new centre offers a unique tyre service enabling customers to get their tyres checked and fitted whilst shopping – and there’s the opportunity for customers to win prizes.
New research from Milton Keynes-based Just Tyres reveals drivers’ awareness of 2012’s EU tyre label legislation is low. More than two thirds (67 per cent) of drivers are unaware of EU legislation and only just under a sixth of drivers (15.5 per cent) even knew that the legislation existed.
Back in 2012, the tyre industry experienced a major shake up when EU tyre labelling for all UK tyre manufacturers, distributors and retailers was introduced. From then on, every tyre needed to be tested and measured for three specific ratings; fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise levels.
Milton Keynes-based Just Tyres has launched a new website designed to provide customers with a variety of features at the click of a button. Consumers will be able to find their tyre type and size, test ratings and recommended retail prices more efficiently when purchasing tyres on a PC or mobile, as well as the option of same-day delivery.
Spanish tyre brand Membat returned to Reifen this year with a stand twice as large as its 2014 show presence. The 100 square metre exhibition space not only housed the seven summer and winter tyre lines for cars, SUVs and vans sold under the Membat name, it also contained ample space for meeting current and potential clients.
The managing director of UK tyre retailer Just Tyres has completed the latest leg of a long distance journey to Uganda. Ian Grant, has raised £20,000 for the Kampala Children’s Centre over the last 12 months, which has paved the way for a comprehensive education programme that trains adults how to teach youngsters basic numeracy and literacy skills.
Managing director of Milton Keynes based Just Tyres, Ian Grant has embarked on a journey to bring education and aid to thousands of youngsters in Uganda. Grant hopes to provide a comprehensive education programme that will train adults to teach youngsters basic numeracy and literacy skills in Kampala. Having visited in September, Grant pursued plans to create a partnership between Just Tyres and the Kampala Children’s Centre, which provides clothing, food and housing to disadvantaged children.
Just Tyres has opened a new centre in Newbury, Berkshire on the site formerly run by A&B Tyres. The independent garage reportedly invested more than £500,000 in the new centre, creating six new jobs in the process. This investment, including extensive renovation work and new state-of-the-art machinery, is being backed by Bridgestone, which is offering a series of sales incentives to coincide with discount offers on its range at the store.
Tesco’s 13 million customers will be able to quadruple their Clubcard points for the first time on a single purchase following the launch of Tesco-Tyres.com. Tesco has joined forces with Blackcircles.com to launch the motoring venture that could see customers earn over 2300 Clubcard points on purchases of Pirelli, Yokohama and Hankook tyres. Double Clubcard points are being offered on all other brands.
Bridgestone and Just Tyres have announced the winner of their Formula One promotion. Paul Collis from Cardington, Bedfordshire won a pair of tickets for a three-day weekend at this year’s British Grand Prix after he used a 10 per cent off Bridgestone tyres voucher (and free prize-draw entry) printed in the Bedford Times and Citizen. He was joined by his son Simon, who worked with McLaren as an engineering student, and Ian Grant, managing director of Just Tyres at Silverstone before being given a tour of the Red Bull garage and the opportunity to see the F1 drivers in practice.
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Halfords
Artem Podrez; Pexels
Eden Tyres