News articles on the tyre retail business
HiQ has been nominated as a finalist in the Retail Website or Campaign category of the prestigious DADI Awards (The Drum Awards for the Digital Industries), which take place at the Emirates Stadium London on 8 November.
Pirelli reports that the company closed the first half of 2012 with revenues of 3,021.8 million euros, an increase of 8.3 per cent compared with the 2,789.3 million euros published for the same period in 2011.
The start of this year’s Brityrex International is still more than two months’ away, yet organiser ECI International Ltd reports the show is heading for a sell-out and the amount of exhibitor floorspace still available at Manchester’s EventCity has dropped to under ten per cent.
Last year's Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year winners (at their first attempt) Autogem Motor Concepts are joined this year by regular finalists Apaseal and Rema Tip Top Automotive. A new name is that of Pang UK and the final company in the shortlist is that of CAM Systems – very different from the others in that it provides software solutions as opposed to machinery and consumables.
After completing a three-year course, 24 apprentices recently entered permanent employment at Halfords Autocentres. Each apprentice has gained NVQ Level 3 in light vehicle technology and a full-time job at Halfords Autocentres after successfully completing the course. This is good news for them, but also points to the fast rate of growth in the network.
Guangzhou, China-based newspaper Yangcheng Evening News reports that Kumho intends to capture 15 per cent of China’s high-end tyre market. The newspaper quoted an unknown company source as saying Kumho is increasing its activities in this area, and as part of this it intends to open 350 new retail outlets in China by the end of the year.
Last year we had six finalists in this category and five of them have made it through to the 2012 shortlist. In recent years, the award has been shared between B.I.T.S. and Stapleton's and this year B.I.T.S. is looking to make it double figures, while Stapleton's will be trying for three wins on the trot. Can the other three finalists – Bond International, Grouptyre and Micheldever – improve on their 2011 performances?
ATS Euromaster is placing a major emphasis on growing its service, maintenance and repair sector skills for cars and light commercial vehicle technicians. Partnering with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) – a professional association for individuals working in the automotive sector – ATS-E’s technical services team has designed a range of new courses in the sector. The IMI has fully accredited the new courses, which cover subjects such as car and van tyre fitment, air conditioning servicing, vehicle diagnostics, battery fitment, wheel alignment, scheduled maintenance servicing, brakes, steering, suspension and exhausts.
On 16 July the BBC’s Panorama prime-time documentary series reported on the subject of illegal tyre dumping. It’s always good to see the BBC talking about tyres in a high profile slot, but questions will be asked about whether everything reported was either representative or wholly accurate.
The programme, entitled ‘Britain’s Biggest Waste Dumpers’, looked at what it described as “fly-tipping on an industrial scale” and highlighted three key issues: The perceived lack of transparency and clarity relating to retail tyre disposal charges; illegal dumping in the UK; and the negative effects of exporting end of life tyres. This last point referred to both the effects this practice has on the domestic tyre recycling market and on the destination country and referred to both legal exports of tyres for use as fuel to countries that control their emissions, such as South Korea, and illegal exports to unrestricted countries like China and Vietnam.
Bridgestone has announced an overhaul of its consumer focused point of sale material. The action comes following an “extensive review of all collateral”, Bridgestone said. The manufacturer has also formed an independent focus group of drivers, who Bridgestone says have “helped shape the new look and feel as well as content”. The new product posters and leaflets are designed to “position the product with the relevant audience” instantly, with “a plain English explanation of what the main features of the product are, closing with bullet points summarising the main benefits,” Bridgestone states
The top three UK tyre retailers have presented their views how TPMS will be implemented in the market following questions from Michelin’s Fleet Panel at the end of June. Their answers, which are the most comprehensive response to this topic yet, show that the while all three market leaders report they are ready for TPMS, their views on what this may mean for fleet customers and indeed consumers varies.
"The suggestion that independent garages having access to vehicle manufacturer technical information is the cause of a rise in car crime is entirely false and unfounded" said Stuart James, Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) Independent Garage Association (IGA) Director, commenting on a recent press article.
The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company’s ‘Quick Reifendiscount’ stores in Germany have given e-paper manufacturer ZBD a “significant contract” to roll out its large format displays. Working alongside installation partner Aha Trade Marketing Concepts, ZBD will provide its e-paper displays to Quick stores over the next few months. With tyre labelling mandatory in November, tyre retail stores continue to search for the best ways to display information. It seems that a flexible system such as e-paper could allow companies to integrate the new label into current product pricing displays effectively.
Ceat Ltd says it has “aggressive growth plans” for its Indian retail network, and as part of this the tyre maker opened its first outlet in the country’s largest city yesterday. The first Ceat Shoppe to enter operation in Mumbai was officially inaugurated by controversial politician Abu Azmi, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party state president, along with Ceat executive director Arnab Banerjee.
Stamford Tyres Corporation Limited recently announced its financials for the year ended 30 April 2012. They reveal that the company experienced a 6.7 per cent increase in sales to S$364.1 million growth across all key markets.
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