News articles on the tyre retail business
With the EU tyre labelling laws effect up on us, the new legislation marks one of the biggest changes to legislation affecting fleet tyre sales in recent years and will impact upon the whole tyre industry.
Heuver Tyrewholesale has established itself as a major European player over the past 45 years, a position it says works to the benefit of customers and end users alike. The Netherlands-based company shared with Tyres & Accessories that the decision to specialise in the truck, earth-moving and agricultural markets has proved to be a strength for Heuver and offers many opportunities. The company deals in all well-known brands and possesses its own comprehensive range of imported brands.
Noting the value of service plans in retaining a customer base, UK automotive business group The Parts Alliance says that the plans it offers through its national garage network of Alliance and Servicesure Autocentres allow independent garages to compete with franchise dealers, national network chains and car supermarkets. Helping to build customer retention and highlighting the high quality service and repair offered by the garages, The Parts Alliance espouses the benefits of monthly payments from the motorist to ensure a steady, guaranteed income for garages.
Tyrenet UK Ltd and Benelux-based Profile Tyrecenter are entering into a joint venture that will see the two companies cooperate in the execution of the ambitious goal of becoming the largest tyre retail network in the UK. The goal is 1000 branches in the UK. And what’s more the partnership of the leading independent tyre dealer network and the award winning tyre retail leader in Benelux is seeking to get a foothold in the lease and fleet services market currently dominated by other leading players, while focusing on service excellence through the deployment of its unique ICT solutions across the new chain.
Japan’s Itochu Corporation, which purchased Kwik Fit Group for £637 million early last year, reportedly plans to adopt the fast-fit network’s name for its Russian operation – a business that may significantly expand. In an interview with The Telegraph, Kwik Fit managing director Kenji Murai explained that Itochu already has a presence in Russia’s tyre retail and wholesale sectors and operates its business there under different brand names. These will adopt the British fast-fit network’s brand name as “Kwik Fit is an Itochu leader brand now.” Murai added that Itochu currently has 15 outlets in Russia but the firm intends to grow this; the company’s network there “could easily” hit the 200 to 250 mark, he said.
"The increase in retail car sales in September exceeded expectations" said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT's new car registration figures.
GiTi Tire has appointed Andrew Brady to the position of Product and Pricing analyst and Ashleigh Warren as European Marketing assistant. The newly filled positions will strengthen the company’s head office team, with both recruits assuming responsibilities across the relevant product portfolios in the company’s four main brands; GT Radial, Primewell, Runway and Dextero. Brady brings more than a decade’s worth of tyre industry experience with him, while Warren is new to the sector, having previously worked for a business software firm.
Ask a leading tyre pressure monitoring system manufacturer what the future is for indirect TPMS and they will probably say there isn’t one. Tyres & Accessories asked this precise question of one of the biggest manufacturers in the business recently and the response was swift and somewhat in line with expectations. Of course direct TMPS makers have economic reasons not to like the solution offered by the competition, but is there more to it than that? As the European legislation mandating TPMS installation in every new vehicle comes into force, Tyres & Accessories engages with both sides of this debate.
Sailun Tyres appointed Chr. Kapodistrias & Sons Limited as its sole distributor of passenger car and radial truck tyres in Cyprus earlier in the year. The company is the largest automotive parts company in Cyprus. Sailun says the companies will pursue a number of brand awareness and marketing communication initiatives to stimulate sales and growth for Sailun in Cyprus. These will include radio commercials; press advertisements; leaflet distribution; participation in a local automotive exhibition; an appearance on rally and racing cars and events; and an event evening in Nicosia with a joint presentation and cocktail party for key, existing and potential new customers.
CAM Systems will return to Brityrex next week, taking a bigger and more prominent stand on the back of interest generated by its tyre labelling solutions. Visitors to Stand 52 will see how the software solutions provider is incorporating tyre labelling into its Cameo and new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms ahead of the 1 November EU legislation deadline – less than three weeks after the show.
Infinity Tyres has announced its autumn promotion, which gives those purchasing a set of Infinity tyres the chance to win a Bentley or the cash alternative of £130,000. The entrant will attempt to win this top prize by selecting the winning envelope from a basket containing 100 envelopes; the remaining choices will all contain splendid consolation prizes.
Stapleton’s became the tyre distribution industry’s first to launch an online ordering system more than a decade ago. More recently the company upgraded this and now the recently revamped ProfitLink2 reportedly remains a leader in the field, putting the leading distributor’s nationwide 1,200,000 units of tyre stocks at its retail customers’ fingertips. The latest development relates to the tyre labelling legislation that will take effect shortly after this article is published in print at the back end of October.
CES (UK) has opened a new branch in Manchester, beginning its planned expansion phase. Located in the south of the city, the new branch will serve customers across the south Manchester belt, linking in with their existing network. The area had previously been served by the company’s Northwich, Cheshire branch. Managing director Steve McCann says local garages will benefit from the company’s new area branch.
UK tyre manufacturers and distributors are risking their long-term sustainability in order to increase sales, according the latest report issued by Plimsoll publishing. Yet while sales have seen an upsurge, the 127 companies continuing with their current business model are said to be “in danger of spiralling out of control and are heading for rocky ground. “
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has announced the resignation of Graham Threlfall as Head of the National Association of Bodyshops (NAB).
Commenting on the announcement, Threlfall said "I have very much enjoyed my time as Head of NAB and having played a lead role in the launch of NAB as an independent association under the RMI umbrella. I look forward to seeing the benefits of the wider initiatives NAB are launching soon.
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