News articles on the tyre retail business
Kwik-Fit and Michelin have teamed up this autumn to give away around 300,000 litres of fuel. Motorists who purchase four Michelin tyres at any Kwik-Fit centre before 28th November 2009 can claim a £40 fuel voucher redeemable at any Sainsbury’s filling stations. In addition to free petrol, motorists will also benefit from a 25 per cent discount on the price of four tyres.
Asian retail tyre portal Tyrepac has announced the soft launch of its China operations, in Guangzhou, China. The company reported on October 8 that consumers can now purchase tyres online via its www.tyrepac.com.cn website.
Family-owned tyre retail group, BA Bush & Son and its wholesale arm B.A.B. Distribution – a member of Grouptyre – has invested in a new, purpose-built retail centre in Spalding, South Lincolnshire. The fifteenth Bush Tyres retail outlet is located off the Peterborough to Boston road and is just a minute from Spalding town centre. The site is opposite the Springfields Shopping Outlet and Festival Gardens, which is one of Lincolnshire’s busiest shopping centres, incorporating over 60 stores selling famous fashion and homewares brands at discounted prices all year round and attracting in excess of 30,000 visitors a day. The store was opened on 21 September.
With sales reaching 9,772 in September, Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. has hit a new record for the brand in any European market. No Kia subsidiary or distributor in Europe has ever sold so many new cars in one month throughout the brand's history and with total sales for the year passing 34,700, the UK performance has overtaken Kia Motors Deutschland – traditionally the biggest market in Europe.
The result gives Kia a 2.66 per cent market share in the UK – and a 3.73 per cent share of the retail market in September – both new records for Kia. Kia's Picanto was the runaway leader in terms of sales, with 3,395 registered during the month. Rio was hot on its heels with 2,066 sales followed by the cee'd family at 1,592 – before the new model introduction from 1 October and Sportage at 792.
Michael Cole, managing director said: "It would be wrong to say that the Government's scrappage scheme hasn't helped us and in particular Picanto has proved very popular amongst those trading in 10 year old cars. But our September performance and our year-to-date result cannot be attributed to scrappage alone.
Bridgestone will help its partner, tyre retail group BA Bush & Son celebrate the opening of its latest depot with a weekend of events designed to entertain the whole family. BA Bush will be showcasing a replica Ferrari Formula One car – supplied by F1 tyre supplier, Bridgestone – this weekend (3 and 4 October) at Springfields Outlet Shopping & Festival Gardens in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Visitors will be able to have their picture taken next to the F1 car in exchange for a small donation to local charities.
For the eighth time in a decade Toyo Tire & Rubber has been rated the top overall consumer tyre brand in Tire Review’s annual Tire Brand Study of North American Tire Dealers. The company has also taken the number one slot for medium truck tyres – the sixth time in the last eight years.
National Tyre and Autocare (NTA), in association with Bridgestone Tyres, recently awarded Margaret Beattie of New Elgin with free fuel for a year after she won first prize in a national competition. Margaret entered the competition at her local NTA depot, in New Elgin. Margaret’s name was chosen at random from the hundreds of entries received.
Andy Dingley, advertising and promotion manager for Bridgestone, commented: “Motorists are being put under pressure as the costs of running a car increase with fuel duty rising by 2p next month, along with the environmental concerns of motoring and the sheer volume of traffic on the nation’s roads, so it is no surprise that driving has lost some of its joy. We wanted to give something back to drivers at a much needed time.”
Although recent years have been challenging for the UK automotive industry, Birmingham remains a city steeped in automotive heritage. And, in the midst of some high profile casualties in recent years, BMTR says it is going from strength to strength and this year celebrates its 90th anniversary. The company clearly has some history, but is it the oldest in Britain? In order to find out, and in celebration of BMTR’s 90th anniversary, Pirelli Tyres UK exclusively through Tyres & Accessories is offering a case (that’s 12 bottles) of fine wine to any tyre dealer or wholesaler that can prove they are the oldest in the business.
Protyre has invested more than £700,000 in upgrading its Portsmouth branch – with the new look officially launched by TV motoring presenter Mike Brewer. Protyre area manager Darren Godwin said Protyre has more than doubled the size of the operation with 12 people now working at Portsmouth Protyre. Investment has been focused on increased service bays at the London Road facility with the very latest technology for motorbikes, cars and commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
There’s also a larger tyre storage area, dedicated motorbike area and larger customer reception. The company, part of Micheldever Tyre Services, has been operating in the south for more than 50 years.
Mike Brewer is known for presenting Driven on Channel 4, Pulling Power and Wheeler Dealers.
Vauxhall MasterFit is not only offering to price match any local area tyre quote – customers making tyre purchases will also receive a free 25-point vehicle health check and a tyre pressure gauge. Commenting on the offer, David Elder from Vauxhall Aftersales noted: “Motorists don’t always think about taking their car back to their franchised retailer when looking for replacement parts such as tyres. We’re delighted therefore to introduce our tyre price promise campaign this autumn to demonstrate to our customers that we not only provide quality parts as you’d expect with a vehicle manufacturer, but also at an unbeatable price.
Maxxis reports that it is working hard to synergise its sponsorship and advertising links with Premier League football clubs and its major fleet business customers, treating the latter to VIP hospitality with the former. Four Maxxis customers enjoyed a Yossi Benayoun hat-trick – his third in two years – courtesy of the manufacturer, when Liverpool beat Burnley 4-0 at Anfield on 12 September.
Seeking to establish the name in the USA, Continental has awarded exclusive West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska distribution rights of its racing motorcycle tyres to California-based dealer, Superbike Tires.
Thai news source, The Nation has reported that the country’s sole distributor of Toyo-manufactured tyres is to begin a process of aggressive penetration in the domestic market via a change of segment emphasis from premium to the wider market and the opening of more shops in 2009. The company may also build a new manufacturing facility in Thailand, according to the report.
Tire Review has compiled a variety of news stories based around the introduction of tariffs on imported China-made passenger tyres. Here is a sampling of the most relevant items from the past day:
Ten people were elected to the TIA Board of Directors in its recent elections, each gaining three-year terms on the board. An 11th member was named to the board to fill an unexpired term. Gaining seats on the TIA board were: Russell Belcher, QMI/Ever-Wear, Lakeland, Florida; Dean Bray Jr., Bray's Recapping Service, Mt. Airy, North Carolina; Eddie Burleson, Central Marketing Inc., Colonial Heights, Virginia; Dick Gust, Liberty/Lakin National Tire Recycling, Chicago, Illinois; Keith Jarman, AME International, Brooksville, Florida; Jim Melvin, Tire Pros of R.I. Inc., North Kingstown, Rhode Island; Glen Nicholson, TBC Retail, Juno Beach, Florida; Jim Pangle, Fountain Tire, Edmonton, Alberta; Freda Pratt-Boyer, Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., Potosi, Misouri; Mike Wolfe, Southeastern Wholesale Tire, Raleigh, North Carolina. Roy Bromfield of Q Tires Inc., of Greenville, South Carolina, was named to fill a one-year vacancy that was created by the election of Larry Brandt, MSB Tires of Lakeville, Minnesota, to the position of secretary. The new TIA board will take office on 2 November, during the SEMA Show, at TIA's Annual Meeting at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (Tire Review)
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