marketing Archives - Page 136 of 216

Virtual Margins in the online tyre business

In recent years the online tyre market has swollen in size (as observed in other retailer sectors). Whilst the proportion of the total market controlled by this sector remains limited, the fact that the number of different e-tail platforms is continually proliferating means online sales could already account for as much as 3 per cent of the European replacement market. With this in mind, knowing more about how these businesses operate is of interest to everyone in the tyre trade.

The latest insight is that the average tyre offered for sale online costs consumers around £69.14, meaning the myth that ‘virtual’ margins are too thin to make business sense could be evaporating. However, the most commonly offered tyre online is characterised as a mid-range brand costing around £60. It seems making money online is all a question of business model.

30th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tennis Programme Not Just for Brand Awareness, says Apollo

Product News

In light of accusations that its programme to nurture up and coming tennis talent is little more than another means by which to promote brand awareness, Apollo Tyres has reiterated that its ‘Apollo Tyres Mission 2018’ scheme is a “programme to identify, nurture and create world-class tennis players in India who will challenge, perform and win on the world stage, with at least one becoming a Singles
Grand Slam champion by the year 2018.”

The All India Tennis Association (AITA), however, views the Apollo programme differently. According to AITA secretary Anil Khanna, the company is doing little in the name of tennis development and is instead using the programme as an opportunity to promote its own brand. In a letter to Apollo Tyres the AITA asked the company to be “transparent” and reveal how much it has to date spent on Apollo Tyres Mission 2018, a scheme the tyre maker claims to have earmarked Rs 1 billion (£11.6 million) for. Apollo says it is unable to provide details of any money so far spent.

30th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster Targets Increased Agricultural Tyre Market Share

Product News

Nationwide tyre service provider ATS Euromaster is placing a renewed emphasis on expanding its market share in the agricultural tyre sector, following the appointment of Chris Dolman, to the new position of Category Marketing Executive. The appointment is the first time ATS Euromaster has appointed a Marketing Executive with a specific agricultural remit. ATS Euromaster currently supplies tyres to approximately 15 per cent of this specialist market, supporting farm-based vehicles ranging from wheelbarrows and quad bikes through to combine harvesters and tractors, not to mention cars, vans and larger commercial vehicles often used on farms.

29th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Robin Sharpe Appointed New Goodyear Dunlop Director

Product News

Goodyear Dunlop has appointed Robin Sharpe as its director of sales capability management EU – a newly created role based in Brussels. He will work closely with Hans Vrijsen, sales director consumer tires EU, and Jan-Piet Huylebroeck, director sales truck tires EU, as well as with country sales management teams.

Sharpe joined Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK in 2006 as sales and marketing director truck tyres after a 22-year career with Procter & Gamble in a variety of sales and operational roles. At Goodyear Dunlop he led the team which embarked on the restructuring of the UK truck organisation and in recent months he has acted as interim retail director for the HiQ fast fit centre network.

26th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Appoints New UHP Sales Development Manager

Product News

Continental Tyres has appointed Jason Stephenson as sales development manager for Ultra High Performance tyres. The role looks into all aspects of Continental’s ultra high performance (UHP) business bringing together marketing, supply chain and sales with a view to maximising Continental’s presence in the UHP market.

Prior to taking up this position Stephenson spent over five years as an account manager in the tyre industry having worked across all channels of distribution. Before that, he held sales and marketing positions in other industries including direct marketing and publishing.

26th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Appoints Takagi as New VP, COO

Product News

Yasushi Takagi, a 27-year veteran of Toyo, was recently appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. As EVP and COO, Takagi will work with staff in all departments to continuously evaluate sales and marketing efforts in the U.S. and create plans for the future.

“Mr. Takagi brings with him extensive knowledge and understanding of Toyo’s global vision,” said Masaharu Yoshimoto, president and CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. “This insight and strategic thinking is extremely important as we continue to grow the Toyo brand in the United States. We are very happy to have him join us.”

From January 2006 to August 2008, Takagi served as general manager of Toyo’s corporate planning department. In this role, he coordinated with all entities of Toyo. He outlined strategies and set goals for global expansion by the company’s 70th anniversary in 2015. He also played a key role in negotiating the recent business alliance with Bridgestone Corp. Prior to January 2006, Takagi held several international positions while in Europe for nearly 20 years, including director of Toyo Tyre (U.K.) and president of Toyo Reifen GmbH (Germany). (Tire Review/Akron)

26th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Accuride President Resigns, Company Restructures

Product News

Accuride has announced the resignation of John Murphy as president and CEO and director of Accuride, effective 22 September 2008. Upon acceptance of Murphy’s resignation, Accuride’s board of directors appointed William (Bill) Lasky as interim president and CEO. At the same time, the wheel manufacturer also announced that it is embarking on restructuring programme that will eliminate a total of 392 positions, or 11 per cent the company’s workforce. This includes 159 salaried positions (18% of current level) and 233 hourly employees (9% of current total).

As a result of the restructuring programme, the Company expects to incur a one-time restructuring charge of approximately $14.3 million in the third quarter of 2008 of which a total of $10 million will impact cash during 2008 and 2009. However, the company expects that the restructuring will save an estimated $6 million in 2008 and generate annual cost savings of approximately $27.5 million thereafter.

25th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Firestone Announces Two Key Appointments

Product News

Two key appointments have been made at Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company (BFOR), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). Mike Poirer and Wilhelm Brau have joined BFOR and will work in the areas of marketing, sales and distribution for the Continuum brand of retreading materials.

Mike Poirier, formerly North American OTR sales manager for Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, joins BFOR as general manager Corporate Accounts and Original Equipment. Wilhelm Brau joins BFOR as general manager Continuum Retread and Recycle Solutions. Brau served most recently as vice president of Sales and Operations for RDH Tire & Retread Company.

24th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Extends Its British Profile

Product News

Italian manufacturer Marangoni has ramped up its efforts in increasing its profile in recent weeks. After the highly successful Summer show and event programme – which endeavoured to bring the brand to the forefront of the performance and tuning market – the British International Motorshow provided an opportunity to take the firm’s self-styled ‘Marangoni Brand Experience’ to the record crowds that gathered at Excel in London. The company believes that its name carries the promise of European heritage, all-round performance and value, hoping that this triumvirate of riches resonates strongly with drivers of both performance and everyday cars.

Headlining the Marangoni presence at the British International Motorshow, and very much the draw on the Santa Pod Raceway stand, was the mighty Progetto Marangoni Toyota Yaris; an attraction that has been popular with British crowds all year. With the car on public display for a full week and contrasting with other show exhibits, the company was delighted with the response of motorists. Marangoni report a “huge number of requests for information on the Marangoni product, with visitors clamoring for information and the right Marangoni tyre choice for their cars.” The palpable hit scored by the Yaris helped to further establish Marangoni as a widely-recognised tyre brand amongst the show’s knowledgeable and discerning audience.

24th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

High Ambitions For Sailun Tyre

Product News

Sailun Tyre is a company that epitomises the rapid technological advances made by Chinese industry in recent years. Although it was only established six years ago, Sailun has plans to expand significantly.
The company is situated in the National Economic and Technological Development Zone in Qingdao and manufactures all-steel radial truck tyres. However, its ambition is to build three modern factories to manufacture a range of medium truck radials and bias and radial special tyres, as well as the existing range. These plans also include a dedicated test track to be used in the development and evaluation of new products.

Sailun has already invested heavily in R&D, utilising CAD software to build mathematical models for finite element analysis, refining the design of a tyre and predicting its behaviour and performance while still on the screen. The company boasts a very short development time for new products and has established long-term co-operation in science and research with institutions such as the National university of Defence Technology and the Qindao University of Science and Technology.

24th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Announces Personnel Changes

News

Continental AG has made a number of personnel changes in its Passenger and Light Truck Tires division. On September 1, Nikolai Setzer took over management of the replacement passenger and light truck tyre market for Europe and Africa. He is also responsible for worldwide marketing of the Passenger and Light Truck Tire division. Setzer had been in charge of the worldwide original equipment business for passenger and light truck tyres. In his new position he will report to Continental AG’s vice chairman of the Executive Board, Dr Alan Hippe, who is also responsible for the Passenger and Light Truck Tire division.

23rd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kraiburg Newsletter Proves Popular

Premium, Product News

“A helpful and convenient source of information!” “The most important details in a nutshell.” Comments such as these are currently being received at Kraiburg Austria in response to the first Kraiburg newsletter.

The company sent out information in August for the first time in the form of newsletter both to the business management and to the technical managers of its partner companies. The first edition featured tips and recom¬mendations for winter tyres and running commercial vehicles in winter conditions.

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18th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Supply Aerobatic Pilot’s Tyres

Product News

Goodyear has announced that it has put pen to paper on an agreement to supply Flight Custom III tires for Patty Wagstaff Airshows’ Cirrus Extra 300S aircraft.

Pierre Jambon, the general manager of Goodyear’s Global Aviation business says that, “Patty Wagstaff is widely recognized as the world’s premier female aerobatic pilot. We are thrilled that she has chosen to help promote Goodyear, and we look forward to a long collaboration.”

Wagstaff has been selected for the U.S. Aerobatic Team six times, having won gold, silver and bronze medals in international aerobatic competition. She was the first woman to become U.S. National Aerobatic champion and one of the few people to claim that particular victory on three occasions. Wagstaff regularly amazes audiences with her spectacular routines at airshow events across the U.S. and in Canada.

18th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BFNAT Exec Gets Marketer Honor

Product News

Phil Pacsi, vice president of consumer tyre marketing for Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, was named as one of Brandweek magazine’s “Marketers of the Year.” The award was unveiled in the magazine’s September issue.

“I really view this honor as recognition for the incredible work done this past year by our entire BFNAT marketing team and our agency partners,” said Pacsi. “It’s been a total team effort as we’ve looked for new and creative ways to leverage our new sports marketing partnerships and raise awareness for our Bridgestone brand, drive customers to our dealers and ultimately sell more tyres.”

Pasci was honored for his efforts in aligning the company and its brands with major sports events, such as the NFL and Super Bowl, the NHL, IndyCar racing, PGA golf, team sponsorships and more. (Tire Review/Akron)

18th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Bandag Releases Fuel Economy Guide

Product News

With fuel moving into the lead as a fleet’s top expense, Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) is releasing its fourth comprehensive fuel economy guide for large trucks. “Tires & Truck Fuel Economy – a New Perspective” looks at what BBTS has learned after 25 years of studying the relationship of tires to large truck fuel economy, the company said.

The guide provides fleet customers with practical recommendations that take into consideration the real-world factors affecting fuel economy, according to Singh Ahluwalia, president of sales and marketing for BBTS. “There’s no one single thing you can do to be a financial success in the trucking business, and there’s no one single thing you can do to maximize your fuel economy,” he said. “The good news is, practically everyone can do a better job of getting the most out of a gallon of fuel.”

The guide also addresses how speed affects fuel economy, how to select the best tyre for a fleet operation, and how to balance the cost of tyres over their lifetime with their affect on fuel economy, BBTS said. Fleets who wish to receive a copy can ask their Bridgestone Bandag sales representative, call 1-888-694-0469 or visit bridgestonetrucktires.com. (Tire Review/Akron)

17th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

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