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News articles on the tyre retail business

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Retail and buying groups require high quality service

In the highly competitive automotive market, many workshops including tyre dealerships rely on a high quality service from their suppliers in order to provide an efficient and competitive service to their customer, which increases customer retention and maximises profit. These suppliers must therefore ensure they are at the cutting edge of service. That’s the view of Mike Curry, sales director, The Parts Alliance, who recently commented on his opinion in correspondence with Tyres & Accessories.

19th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Online tyre retail still a growing market, says Delticom report

Over in Germany, online tyre retailer Delticom commissioned research company Forsa to study consumer attitudes to buying tyres online. Forsa surveyed 1,000 German potential tyre purchasers, aged 18 to 65 years, and noted that acceptance towards online tyre purchases is still growing.

17th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli introduces social media Moto competition

Pirelli is offering the chance for followers of its Moto Facebook page to compete in an online “social game” with the top prize of a trip to Los Angeles. The complete content of the brand’s “Ride Like an Angel” contest will become available to users promoting Pirelli’s Moto page within their own social groups and purchasing a set of Pirelli Angel ST tyres in April or May 2012, helping to promote the brand both online and in retail stores. The game involves scoring points by completing four tracks set in Los Angeles districts such as Downtown and Santa Monica.

17th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli increases Performance Centres by 25%

Pirelli has announced that the number of its UK Performance Centres (PPCs) has increased by 25 per cent over the past two years. Pirelli presented the information at a PPC meeting the headquarters of reigning FIA Formula One Constructors' World Champions Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes last month. In August 2010, there were 66 PPC branches but this figure has “steadily grown over the past 20 months” to reach 83 in the UK and Ireland. PPCs are audited for quality, helping the manufacturer to direct high performance car drivers to the outlets that will best suit their needs.

17th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

TPMS opportunities on show at Brityrex 2012

Tyre retailers will soon have a major new profit opportunity as legislation covering the fitment and testing of TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) comes into force later this year. And suppliers including Apaseal/Tyresure, Autogem and Rema Tip Top will be exhibiting at Brityrex International to demonstrate the technical aspects of the systems and the commercial potential available.

17th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli acquires majority share in Brazilian distributor

Pirelli has signed an agreement to acquire 60 per cent of the company equity in Campneus, one of Brazil’s major tyre distribution networks for approximately 54 million real (£17.1 million), subject to adjustment on the basis of the asset situation on the closing date. The share has been obtained from the Faria da Silva family, who established Campneus in 1975 with assistance from Pirelli’s Brazilian subsidiary. The agreement is subject to approval by CADE, the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica brasiliano, and finalisation is expected at the end of the first half of 2012.

17th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

The longest serving member of the tyre business?

Ralph Sutton could be the longest serving member of the tyre business in the UK, perhaps even the world. Having just completed 54 years associated with the round black things we all know and love, he is still going strong and rapidly approaching six decades in the business. Sutton’s career started at the beginning of April 1958 and those 54 years certainly represent uncommon loyalty to tyres, but how many more can claim to have been serving the industry almost as long as Queen Elizabeth II has been sat on the throne? And has anyone been serving longer?

16th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Momo releases new Quantum alloy wheel

The Quantum is the latest alloy wheel from Italian tuning and style specialists, Momo. It carries on the Momo tradition of sharp design and good looks, featuring a 10-spoke design and a modern, all-over, anthracite finish, with a twin spoke design drawing the eye into the famous Momo logo on the centre cap.

16th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres launches Apollo Super Zone outlet in Dubai

Apollo Tyres has launched the first of its self-branded Super Zone outlets outside India in Dubai. Designed to provide customers with a feel for the brand and its products, the Apollo Super Zone is located in Al Qiyada, near the Dubai Police General Headquarters and is operated by Middle East Tyres LLC, Apollo Tyres’ business partners. The Apollo Super Zone was inaugurated by chairman of Apollo Tyres, Onkar S Kanwar.

10th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre specialists make strong showing in UK’s top 100 garages

Motor Codes has revealed the nation’s 50 most trusted garages, following six weeks of voting by thousands of motorists. Motor Codes, an OFT approved code of practice for car service and repair and new car sales, in invited satisfied customers to nominate their local garage through its annual Garage of the Year contest. This year around 10 per cent of the top performers were tyre specialists despite strong competition from general garages, MOT centres, and franchised vehicle dealerships.

Micheldever Tyres Services will no doubt be particularly pleased with the results, as four of these branches belong to the group, which is know for its Micheldever and Southam wholesale brands as well as its famous Micheldever Station retail outlet and Protyre chain. This year Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services, Winchester as well as Protyre Plymouth, Protyre Gloucester and Protyre Poole were the ones to make it into the top 100.

10th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheelwright improves e-Commerce Calibre

Kent-based wheel distributor Wheelwright launched its Calibre Couture range onto the UK market and made substantial upgrades to its website, including an improved e-Commerce platform, in the first quarter of 2012. Tyrepress.com spoke to Wheelwright managing director, Kevin Greer, who presented details on why the Calibre range has been “a real success story” following its introduction. Since its launch the distributor has introduced retro, utility and the Couture prestige ranges to its private wheel range, making Calibre its “umbrella brand”. Greer also talked Tyrepress.com through the upgraded website, which aims to serve modern shopping habits, without treading on the toes of the retail businesses it supplies.

5th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

March car sales point to stable market

"The increase in retail car sales highlights the early signs of a more stable market" 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.

New car sales figures show month on month sales were up 1.8 per cent compared to March last year. Private registrations showed one of the best monthly increases in the past two years, up 7.4 per cent in March.

5th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Editorial comment: Its show time

Those in Scotland and particularly Aberdeenshire may not agree, but normally April marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. In tyre markets across Europe this often means the re-introduction and re-fitting of summer tyres that have been nestled in “hotels” during the cold months. In fact those running Goodyear Dunlop’s HiQ retail franchise twitter account began prompting consumers to change back to summer tyres on 26 March. There’s not room to get into a discussion on the whys and wherefores of this particular approach here. Instead let’s highlight something else the seasonal change brings with it – trade shows.

4th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Amalgamated US Bridgestone dealer programme launched

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has combined its current Affiliated Dealer, TireStarz and Family Retail Dealer programmes under one umbrella for the United States market. This new independent retail dealer programme has been named the Bridgestone Affiliated Retailer Nationwide Network and will encompass over 2,500 points of sale nationwide.

4th April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin develops its retail position and Certified Centre Network

Michelin already has one of the most recognised brands in the market. Now the company is taking steps to ensure the distribution part of the business operates at the same level. At the end of February Tyres & Accessories met with Oliver Gros, head of ‘go to market’ distribution development within UK and Eire, who – you may remember from previous interviews in these pages – was previously head of two-wheel at Michelin Tyres Plc. At the same time we spoke with Mark Coleman, partnership and certification programme (part of what Michelin calls its distribution team, itself an extension of the sales and marketing team), with a brief contribution from sales director Malcolm Scovell who was en route to another meeting. The focus of conversation was on the development of Michelin’s position in the retail distribution of its various product lines and specifically on the effort Michelin is putting into its certified centre valued added scheme in order to re-develop its links with small and medium sized tyre retail businesses.

2nd April 2012/by Tyrepress Editors