Blackcircles.com has announced a growth in revenue of 20 per cent to £27.8 million (versus £23.2 million in 2012). The online tyre retailer said that the latest full year results mean its revenues have a compound annual growth rate of 22 per cent since 2008. EBITDA increased to £1 million. The results follow the announcement of former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy’s appointment to the Blackcircles.com board.
Former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has been appointed to the board of Blackcircles.com. Leahy has been a shareholder in the online tyre business for around six years and his stake in Blackcircles is now said to be 25 per cent. In his new role, Leahy will work with company founder and chief executive Mike Welch and chairman Graeme Bisset to identify and implement new means of financing ongoing growth within the business. One option that Leahy may be closely involved in is an IPO.
The Renault Retail Group has extended its online aftersales service, mandating online tyre purchasing across its 19 outlets. The national network’s implementation of online tyre retail facilities, including fitment appointment bookings, shows the growing importance of digital sales within the automotive retail sector. Renault Retail calls the move part of “an ongoing strategy to improve customer experience through the digital interface.”
Tyre and vehicle service provider ATS Euromaster says that an increasing number of UK holidaymakers choosing to stay in the British Isles means that the demand for caravan and motorhome maintenance and services has risen. This rise has also led to an upward trend in one of ATS-E’s supplementary product lines.
On 1 February 2014 legislation came into effect within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to allow for euro transactions to be processed more easily across all European Union member states. Software systems supplier to the tyre industry, CAM (formerly Cam Systems) future proofed its Cameo system in preparation for the business payment transfer system, with an integrated module option helping to smooth the transition after the SEPA legislation’s introduction.
US-based retreading advocate the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) launched its redesigned website at www.retread.org. TRIB says that enhancements to the site will continue to be rolled out in 2014, including additional features for the benefit of TRIB members.
With acres of Somerset still underwater following one of the wettest Januarys ever, tyre bales are now being deployed in order to create makeshift roadways. According to a recent BBC news online report, Parts of the area have been flooded throughout January and many residents have to resort to using boats to get around.
On 1 February, Michelin took the wraps off a reference tool that targets classic car fans and industry professionals. The tyre maker says its new www.michelinclassic.com website is unique in Europe; rather than merely inaugurating a conventional website to provide tyre information for historic vehicles, Michelin says it is introducing a “complete” global service, from Michelin expert advice right the way through to online sales.
On 27 January, Point S Development, the Lyon, France-based international headquarters of the Point S network, launched a new version of its “eios” European online ordering system. The new version was developed after analysing member purchasing behaviour over a period of several months; Point S Development says the latest eios website is more intuitive than the previous version.
Ford Retail’s UK parts division, @first Parts, has reported an annual turnover of over £100 million in 2013, the first time since its launch in 2004. According to the company, overall parts sales saw an increase of 14 per cent year-on-year, whist the Trade, Bodyshop and Ford Dealers divisions reported an annual growth of 13 per cent, 22 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
Autogem is offering a TPMS training courses in order to help specialist get the most out of their equipment investments. With garage supplier Autogem reporting the widespread take up of its i-sensor solution (launched almost one year ago), there are now said to be hundreds of TPMS installations across the country. According to the company, i-sensors are being fitted at single owner operator sites, regional multi sites and also at some of the national chains. Some sites are said to be having “tremendous success” in selling i-sensors with a couple of sites crossing the 25 replacement sensors a month mark.
During the course of last year more than a million new customers purchased tyres through Delticom’s online portals. And for the first time in the company’s history, the number of repeat purchasers also passed the half-million mark.
Valeo Service UK has reached an agreement with GROUPAUTO to have a strong product presence in the group’s national distribution centre (NDC), used to supply the membership of motor factors nationwide. Initially, Valeo’s top 250 clutch references will go into GROUPAUTO’s NDC, based in Bradford.
Rainer Binder, one of the two founders of online tyre dealer Delticom AG, was appointed to the company’s Supervisory Board, effective 1 January 2014, by the district court (Amtsgericht) in Hanover, Germany. At its meeting on the following day, the Delticom Supervisory Board elected Binder its chairman. He has swapped roles with Andreas Prüfer, who on 1 January 2014 rejoined the company’s Management Board and was appointed co-CEO.
ATS Euromaster has introduced a £1 mobile tyre fitting service on the back of increased demand. The tyre specialist says that longer working hours during the week are a contributing factor to drivers putting off fitting new tyres, making the option of booking a tyre change at the office an attractive proposition. ATS-E said that its market research suggests growth in this service is sustainable, as customers often move permanently to the convenience of such a service.
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