News articles on the tyre retail business
The Tyrespot autocentre chain in the north east has upgraded its website with a new look, also offering a new online tyre ordering facility and MOT booking service. The updated website features increased functionality, including a tyre price check and the ability to book a fitting. Johnathon Shaw, retail director of Tyrespot comments: “The updated site offers a very polished look, is much easier to navigate and offers visitors many key benefits.
Portland-based independent tyre dealer group Tire Factory has announced record comparable-store sales growth through the third quarter of 2011, reports Tire Review. According to CEO John Kreidel, comparable-store (those stores that have been a member for at last one year) sales were up more than 15 per cent and member purchases were up some 37 per cent year-over-year through three quarters.
Nationwide Accident Repair Services has opened a new Nationwide Fast Fit Plus centre in Redruth, Cornwall. It follows the company’s two Fast Fit Plus pilot centres in Kettering and Leicester. Fast Fit Plus centres offer tyres, MOTs, servicing and all other traditional fast fit options alongside the automotive body and glass repairs for which Nationwide says it is the UK’s market leader.
"The motor industry is now in a vacuum which deters investment both in premises and employment. The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) urges Government to provide the industry with clarification of their intentions under the MOT review as soon as possible" said RMI chairman Colin Parlett, speaking at the RMI’s Annual Dinner, held at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London on October 20th.
Plymouth HiQ franchisee Pilgrim Tyres Ltd claimed the inaugural Tyre Retailer of the Year TAFF Award at this year’s ceremony last week; an achievement the fast fit network is calling its “biggest success story of 2011”. The victory was the result of its performance in an assessment programme including a 30-point mystery telephone call, and a clandestine branch visit designed to observe how the branch operates in real-life conditions. The award was supported by Encircle Marketing. HiQ Plymouth’s franchisee Bob Saunders said: “I am absolutely over the moon. I am delighted to win this award and it is with great thanks to the team I have around me.
On 16 October ETRMA (European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association) announced the results of its second round of tyre testing examining REACH compliance of tyres found within Europe. ETRMA’s results show that roughly 10 per cent of the sample failed to comply with the clean oil legislation, around the same proportion as failed the last set of tests held earlier this year. However while ETRMA raised concerns about both compliance and enforcement of REACH regulations, some of the companies named in the report have already responded to accusations of compliance failure by raising questions of their own about the way in which the sample was selected.
ETRMA’s second testing campaign was carried out between April and September 2011 on a sample of 94 tyres available for sale to EU consumers in several of the largest national tyre markets. These tyres were all produced in late 2010 and 2011 in 50 factories located in 11 countries, and are being sold in the EU under 51 brand names (these include 31 brands not tested in the first round). The first round of tyre compliance tests the ETRMA conducted took place in March 2011 and followed a similar approach.
Kwik Fit Group has confirmed its intention to sell Speedy, the group’s French automotive fast-fit company. The announcement confirms earlier reports tyrepress.com published in September that suggested that the business’s suitors included president Jacques Le Foll, his predecessor Giles Chauveau, backed by investment fund Butler Capital, plus automotive centre operator Feu Vert, who previously had its eye on Speedy some four years ago. (Feu Vert is a French workshop and automotive specialty shop chain that operates more than 400 outlets, around three-quarters of which are located in France).
Following up the May launch of the Singapore tyre brand Radar’s “Mobilizing Hope” breast cancer campaign, its UK distributor joined dealers, president of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Myra Biblowit and top breast cancer research doctors at an exclusive gallery showing of Evelyn Lauder’s photographs. Universal Tyres and Spares director Michael Jackson said: “The event was very enjoyable and it was great for us and the dealers to see how the money raised is being used in research and development, the doctors explained the progress they are making and improving communication and preventing Breast Cancer before it’s too late.“ The event was hosted by Elizabeth Hurley and Larry Gagosian, the gallery owner. Following the activities at the gallery the distributor, dealers and guests attended a dinner at Massimo restaurant where the chef patron Massimo Riccioli had created a fantastic “anti-cancer” menu.
Alec Murray has been appointed as the new chairman of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) with effect from 1 October 2011.
The HiQ fast fit network says it is “well and truly tickled pink” with Dunlop British Touring Car Championship fans, whose clamour for official memorabilia helped raise £6,000 for Breast Cancer Care at Silverstone. For the third time this season, the Teams' Championship sponsor set up its pink stand and did a brisk trade in HiQ hats, large foam spanners and all number of T-shirts and goody bags. Through their efforts the HiQ team, together with the pink ladies Beverley Edwards, who won this year’s national grid girl competition, managed to boost the amount raised this season past the £15,000 mark. In total, HiQ has raised more than £80,000 for Breast Cancer Care since partnering with the charity in 2009.
On October 1 independent tyre wholesaler Grouptyre launched a new trade promotion in conjunction with Pirelli, giving independent tyre retailers the chance to stock up on the premium brand’s latest merchandise.
The initiative runs from 1 October to 30 November 2011 inclusive and retailers will automatically collect points based on their purchases of Pirelli tyres during the promotion period. Points relate to tyre speed rating, so dealers will collect one point for every S or T rated Pirelli tyre they buy, rising to five points for each W/Y/Z rated or 4×4 tyre purchased.
US based private equity fund Transportation Resource Partners, who focuses on investing in growth-oriented businesses in the transportation sector, has entered into a partnership with Tire Group International, Inc. and the McLarty Companies, who are active in the transportation and automotive retail and distribution sectors. While financial details of the deal between the tyre wholesaler, McCarty and the $245 million private equity fund have not yet been disclosed, Tire Group International CEO Tony Gonzalez says he is positive about his company’s joint future with its new partners.
HiQ branch Raw Tyres in Pontefract has won a Hunter HawkEye ‘Special’ imaging aligner worth £8,995 in a competition organised by wheel alignment specialists Pro-Align. The winning workshop was one of 251 from across the UK that entered Pro-Align’s online competition as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.
On 18 October 2011 Goodgrip.co.uk will weigh into the UK online tyre and wheel retail business. Goodgrip.co.uk is the UK name for Nordic firm Bythjul Norden AB, which is purportedly one of the largest online tyre retailers in Europe. The company reports that it will offer the UK motorist an “unrivalled range of products, level of experience and competitive pricing.”
Tyre manufacturer Mitas Tyres Ltd and distributor B.A. Bush have developed a close working relationship which has helped to create benefits for both parties, with both companies reporting recession-beating performances as Tyres & Accessories found out.
With the recession biting hard, there has been a significant amount of turmoil in the tyre market. However, for two companies in the business, tyre manufacturer Mitas Tyres and tyre distributor B.A. Bush Ltd, the business outlook is apparently very positive.
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