News articles on the tyre retail business
"Although the new car market was down last month, it is positive to see an increase in private registrations highlighting that consumers are slowly coming back to the 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.
Estonia has become the first Baltic country to join the point S organisation. The network will be represented in Estonia by Rehvid24, which has set up Punkt S Eesti, a specially dedicated company for this project. Point S Development describes Tallinn-based as being “a major player on the Estonian tyre market having retail, wholesale and fleet operations.”
ECI International, the organiser of Brityrex, has confirmed that a series of technical seminars and demonstrations by industry experts will take place for visitors to Brityrex International 2012 in Manchester this October, providing a practical, hands-on environment. Organised by the National Tyre Distributors Association in conjunction with the Tyre Industry Federation, seminar topics will include: tyre pressure monitoring systems, tyre labelling legislation, the new tyre repair standard, BSAU159G, returning tyres under complaint and other highly topical issues at the three-day exhibition on 9-11 October, 2012.
HiQ is aiming to “reassure customers that they are receiving the best technical and professional service,” according to fast fit manager, Stuart Carr, and to that end it is encouraging its technicians to complete Automotive Technician Accreditation training. Now two of its technicians at the Berwick upon Tweed and Blyth franchises have completed the Level 3 ATA Diagnostic assessment – the first in the network to achieve this level, regulated by the Institute of Motor Industry. Paul Dugid of HiQ Berwick upon Tweed and John Parker of HiQ Blyth are now registered as diagnostic technicians through the programme.
The UK replacement motorcycle tyre market has been in the doldrums for a couple of years now, which is a shame because, as Bike Tyrestore managing director Peter Smith opines, this past year has been punctuated by outstanding products from all manufacturers. And despite the promise of key new introductions, such as the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S20, Smith notes that opinions are mixed as to which way the market will go in 2012.
Two Tyrespot customers have enjoyed an all expenses paid trip to Milan, thanks to a joint promotion run with Pirelli. Graham and Sheila Patterson from Chester-le-Street, County Durham won the prize, including flights, hotel, transfers and tickets to Pirelli-sponsored Inter Milan, having entered the competition by buying Pirelli’s premium tyres at the largest independent tyre supplier in North East England.
Canadian Tire Corp has mad four new appointments as it alters its core retail operations, reports Tire Review. All of the appointments are effective on 5 March. Marco Marrone, who joined the company in 2009 as executive vice president and CFO, was promoted to COO of Canadian Tire Retail.
Consumer voting for the 2012 Motor Codes Garage of the Year opened today (Friday 24 February) with a four-page special published in The Sun. The award has changed slightly in 2012, with the addition of award categories reflecting large and small garages. Motor Codes has also gained support from a headline competition sponsor, Havoline.
Fast fit retailer, HiQ has announced that it will invest £500,000 into a national advertising campaign, re-entering mainstream advertising as a network after an eight-year absence. The network made “a conscious and strategic decision” to delay this scale of mainstream advertising in order to develop the full HiQ Franchise programme say company sources, with investment funnelled into customer service initiatives and training. The newly announced spending will be part of a seven figure investment in HiQ Programmes in 2012.
National Fleet has appointed James Barrington as local account telesales manager. Barrington took on the role late last year which involves him developing relationships with a number of key accounts, promoting products and services to ensure that customer needs are met and the highest level of customer service is achieved.
Bad news for hauliers, as the price of diesel has hit a record high having rocketed by 10 pence per litre (ppl) in just 12 months – an inflation-busting 7 per cent rise – reports RMI Petrol.
The increase leaves diesel at 143.05 pence per litre (ppl), a level that could derail Government plans to curb inflation, is a disaster for motorists, and puts the livelihoods of hundreds of fuel retailers at further risk says RMI Petrol Chairman Brian Madderson.
Cam Systems’ Cameo suite will provide the platform for Wigan car and commercial tyre operator Ashton Tyres’ retail operation. The company says adopting the system will aid the expansion of the operation currently taking place, having completed a new building to house its commercial operation adjacent to its existing site. Director John Philbin sought advice from industry peers on software systems to suit his purposes: “Everyone I spoke to recommended Cameo. “Cam Systems is constantly developing the platform and is the market leader in innovation in the industry. The efficiencies Cameo delivers will enable our team to be more productive and we will save on hard costs.”
ATS Euromaster will launch its new high-tech service centre in Brighton on 24-25 February. Previously a car showroom, the UK’s second-largest tyre retailer has spent around £320,000 renovating the site over the past six months. During the launch weekend, visitors to the Church Road centre will offer a range of exclusive discounts and promotions, including four Michelin tyres at a 50 per cent discount for the first five purchasers, the chance to try a state of the art Formula One simulator, and to see the Lotus Evora – a 162mph British GT racing car, which will be parked on the forecourt.
The Japanese trading company behind both Kwik-Fit and Stapleton’s here in the UK (Itochu) sold Reifen Gundlach (Raubach) to Dutch group Pon effective 1 January 2012. In a news article published at reifenpresse.de last month, Gundlach CEO Gebhard Jansen confirmed the news to Tyres & Accessories' sister magazine Neue Reifenzeitung by phone. No further details of the transaction have yet been made public.
Automotive business group, The Parts Alliance used the event of National Apprentice Week (6-13 February) to call for the UK automotive aftermarket to increase its support of training and apprenticeships. “The best investment our industry can commit to, alongside the best equipment, is training,” said Mike Smallbone, The Parts Alliance, garage programme manager.
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