News articles on the tyre retail business
Firestone, the mid-range family tyre brand of Bridgestone UK Ltd, has been working with Clear Communications to develop and launch a retail campaign to increase dealer support and loyalty for Firestone as a retail replacement brand.
Online tyre retailer Blackcircles.com says it is on course to achieve a record turnover of at least £10 million after receiving more than 150 enquiries about joining its franchise network, which was launched in January. Blackcircles claims to be leading the revitalisation of local garages, with independents and dealerships throughout the UK joining the network “in a bid to challenge the monopoly of national tyre chains.” With a turnover of £5 million in 2005, and a projected turnover of £10 – £15 million for 2006, Blackcircles is experiencing month on month growth.
Micheldever Tyre Services Ltd (MTS), the UK’s largest independent tyre distribution company, has signed a five-year distribution agreement with the UK arm of the leading Korean manufacturer, Kumho Tires. The distribution deal is the company’s first ever long-term agreement in the UK tyre market and gives MTS exclusive rights over Kumho’s portfolio of car, 4×4 and van products in Great Britain. The announcement marks the culmination of a successful nine-year association between the two companies. Over the last three years, they have been developing the Ecsta Performance Centre (EPC) programme, dedicated to specialist Kumho tyre sales and support.
28 years ago, Mike Furner and Harish Mistry started up TW Tyres & Autocare, which now employs more than 24 people at its site in Rugby and is still a family-run organisation. Mike Furner has always been a firm believer in customer service and, since day one, has striven to offer the best service possible. Now his efforts, and those of his staff, have been recognised, with TW Tyres picking up the Customer Care award in the Rugby Business Awards and Mike himself winning the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
Following the opening of a 600,000 square foot warehouse in Miami, Florida-based wholesaling operation Tire Group International (TGI) is setting its sights on greater international business. TGI has expanded 750 per cent since its foundation in 1992. In addition to its Miami, Florida and Leon, Mexico warehousing space, the company maintains warehousing capacity in Laredo Texas and Hamburg, Germany.
Many tyre retailers will have heard grumblings within in the trade about Bridgestone’s decision to refer owners of the new Toyota Rav4 to Toyota dealership for replacement of its BSR tyres. Tyres & Accessories asked Bridgestone if the company could allay fears that this move signalled a shift towards favouring car dealerships as a distribution channel.
Hi-Q has invested “heavily” in the re-development of its three national training centres. The training facilities in Slough, Leeds and Dudley provide on-going professional training to employees based throughout the UK. Facilities over the three sites include e-learning zones, ramp areas, functioning tyre changing facilities and a fully equipped mock up reception area.
North Hants Tyres has been at the forefront of the Antique and Classic tyre scene for over 50 years, and with its many supply sources, is one of the leading suppliers in this small, but thriving, niche market.
When North Hants Tyres was first starting out just after the Second World war, there was a shortage of new tyres, so many used or ex-War Department tyres were sold to fill the market. As time progressed, the New Old Stock tyres became older and perished, and with the advent of motorways, became unserviceable. Also, by this time, radials were becoming more popular, and the old crossply 16″, 17″ 18″ and 19″ tyres fell out of favour. So it was left to restorers, or tyre retailers who had an interest in the vintage scene, to find and produce the tyres for these vehicles.
On the back of record net profits of 15.6 million Singapore dollars, Stamford Tyres plans to further strengthen its position through European expansion plans. As far as products are concerned, Stamford representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the company will continue strong sales of its “major brands,” (Falken, Dunlop and Continental) but also plans to further develop its range of proprietary tyres (Sumo, Firenza etc), while doubling its alloy wheel production capacity.
“For over 50 years our Group has believed in tyres and has educated its people and developed new technologies to be able to handle every aspect and every phase of a tyre’s life cycle,” Mario Marangoni president of the Italian Marangoni group points out. Today Marangoni belongs to the few companies that are covering all the different aspects of tyres. In the future this is going to be communicated even more. Marangoni now wants to harmonise and internationalise its own brand appearance, says Massimo De Alessandri, managing director of the Marangoni Holding company in an interview with Tyres & Accessories.
(Akron/Tire Review) Treadways Corp. has selected TireWare to provide business software solutions to independent tyre dealers through the company’s Treadmasters marketing program, slated for launch in July. TireWare will provide point-of-sale, wholesale and commercial software solutions to Treadways’ wholesale tyre dealers and associated retail dealers through the marketing program.
A lot has happened for Slovakian tyre manufacturer, Matador, since it first exhibited under its new name back in 1994. Back then a 3×3 metre cubicle sufficed, this year Matador covered about 200 square metres of floor space in Hall 3. It is no coincidence that this is the case because about 10 years ago the Slovakian manufacturer founded its distribution subsidiary on the German market under the leadership of Dr Miroslav Rosina. Since then Germany has become one of the most important markets for Matador.
(Akron/Tire Review) Stamford Tyres Corp. announced record net profit of 15.6 million Singapore dollars for the financial year ended 30 April, an 80.8 per cent growth over the S$8.6 million (£2.957 million) recorded in 2005. Revenue grew 32.4 per cent, to S$253.2 million (£87 million), the company said.
Hankook Tire is stepping up efforts to defend its position in the Chinese tyre market by investing in a new local R&D centre, extending production facilities and expanding its sales network. The company announced detailed plans for China its Jiaxing plant on 29 May.
Hankook Tire recently completed the expansion of its production facilities in Jiaxing, enhancing annual capacity to 2.5 million units. As the main production base for the company in China, the Jiaxing plant will undergo further expansion work in the latter half of this year. Once completed by the end of 2006, Hankook Tire will secure total production capacity of 28 million units per year from its Jiaxing and Jiangsu plants in China.
The partnership between tyre retailer Esher Tyre and Exhaust and Group Tyre (UK) member Broadway tyres is a perfect example of a regional wholesaler and independent retailer working together for mutual advantage. The catalyst in this relationship is the Marangoni tyre brand, as Mr. F. Frost, who manages the outlet and who is the second generation in charge of this family-run business explains:
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
