News articles on the tyre retail business
Three hundred and not out – Bridgestone Australia reports its retail network recently scored its third century, with 300 franchise and license stores now operating in the country under the Bridgestone name. The company’s franchise business began in Australia with Bridgestone Tyre Centres in 1986 and expanded in 2006 with the launch of Bridgestone Select franchised stores and licensed Bridgestone Service Centres.
Giti Tire has promoted Ashleigh Warren to marketing manager UK – passenger car and light truck. The company stated that Warren has “excelled in the company’s truck and bus division,” since her appointment in May 2012. She will work closely with distributors on retail, product and media strategies across the manufacturer’s brands – GT Radial, Primewell and Runway – as the company aims to augment its independent dealer network and increase prominence of its expanding tyre portfolios.
Rosneft, Pirelli and the Koleso retail chain have opened the first of many Pirelli tyre centres that are planned for Rosneft service stations in Russia’s capital, Moscow. The Pirelli centre at Mira Avenue 94 has been established under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Rosneft head Igor Sechin and Pirelli & C. S.p.A. chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera on 24 May 2014 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
In its third quarter financial report, Continental shares that as of 27 June this year, its French retail business Continental Holding France SAS acquired 100 per cent of the shares in both MPI SAS and Reparation Pneumatiques Du Sud Est (Répneu) SAS. The group of companies has close to 1,000 employees working at its 114 sites. With this purchase, the network of outlets Continental operates in the French market grew to more than 400 sites.
UK automotive parts distributor The Parts Alliance has announced a new partnership agreement with online servicing and repairs aggregator WhoCanFixMyCar.com. The group says the deal will help to provide motorists nationwide with quality parts and value in their vehicle repairs and servicing through their local independent garage. Within the trade, The Parts Alliance says the partnership will result in increased enquiries for its customer garages, while the ease of quoting and auto parts purchasing processes will be increased.
Online tyre retailing continues to grow in volume and influence – something that has been expected for a long time. However, the proliferation of differing online strategies is something that is proving to be less predictable. Gone are the days when online tyre retailing was simply a price competition, or in other words a race to the bottom. That strategy has resulted in the demise of many here-today-gone-tomorrow startups and has instead led to the development of a considerably more nuanced market place. Still, the online tyre space remains fiercely competitive with the likes of Blackcircles and Tyregiant each signing deals with supermarkets Tesco and Asda respectively; and with National Tyres backing the AA’s tyre offer, as another example, In other words, this market is now about far more than who can offer budget tyres for the lowest price.
Grouptyre UK Ltd reports that it has decided to capitalise on the increasing numbers of tyres bought online with the creation and launch of Tyres Online. According to the wholesale group, the introduction of Tyres Online enables Grouptyre’s 10 members to offer retailers another tool as part of their customer packages.
Huw Lewis, Angus Tyres Ltd, Lindleys Autocentre, Express Tyre Service, Discount Tyres and Tyrecare St Helens Ltd have all joined the Point S retail buying group in the UK. According to the company, the Point S UK membership, continues to grow despite fluctuations on the continent. The growth is said to demonstrates “the confidence that tyre professionals have in our industry expertise and will ensure that we strengthen our position as the leading tyre dealer network” the company said in an internal publication announcing the additions to its network.
A dealership describing itself as “London’s most beautiful Volkswagen garage”, Monaco VW has announced the offer of a comprehensive Winter Vehicle Check. From 15 September, the Kensington garage will offer the service at £29.99. The check offers a technical inspection of tyres, battery, brakes, lights and fluid levels, giving a detailed report to customers on the status of their vehicle ahead of the winter period. Winter checks, both complementary and charged, are an increasingly popular product offered by garages seeking ways to increase the quality of their service, the engagement of motorists, and a way to generate increased revenue streams. Winter checks in particular could help to support growth in seasonal tyre products, which has been palpable, if also rather timid.
In a statement released today, Point S Development has confirmed the March 2014 cancellation of the master franchise contract signed with shareholders in the Netherlands in 2010. A new Dutch headquarters, Point S Holland, has now been created. The statement arrives a day after Wim Reijmerink – managing director of the now defunct Point S Nederland operation – told Tyres & Accessories that a number of former partners were holding discussions to form their own tyre dealer cooperative.
For many years Point S Development has been coated in the glossy sheen of constant growth, but now a scratch has appeared in this growth story – and more than a dab of polish is needed to buff it out. The organisation’s Dutch operation is in acute danger of splitting in two as many local Point S partners consider the return on their master franchise fee too low, they see too little support coming from the company’s international headquarters and no real “European strategy”, and they wish to renegotiate their contracts. But the two shareholders in Point S Development – the national Point S organisations in France and Germany – appear uninterested in revising terms and conditions in the Netherlands, and therefore some Dutch partners are negotiating new franchise contracts elsewhere. Should Point S partners in other markets follow suit, we may see a process that results in no winners, rather only losers.
A female mechanic has spoken out against the “patronising and intimidating” treatment of women in garages and hopes that her new book, the Haynes Women’s Car DIY Manual will help more women to develop an understanding of car maintenance. Caroline Lake runs Caroline’s Cars in Norfolk and delivers regular workshops for men and women. She says: “Women shouldn’t be scared to take their car for a service, but the patronising and intimidating environment of many garages makes them an uncomfortable place for women to be.
ATS Euromaster has opened a new £350,000 flagship service centre in Wrexham, North Wales. The 7,500sqft centre, located on Mold Road directly opposite Wrexham FC, replaces an existing centre on Dolydd Road. It will support all vehicle types, including cars, vans, trucks, industrial equipment and agricultural machinery.
When it comes to choosing a garage, reputation far outweighs price, according to WhoCanFixMyCar.com. To be precise, reputation was the most important factor for 57.5 per cent of people, vs 23 per cent who claimed price was their number one priority, exactly 2.5x higher. It’s a trend WhoCanFixMyCar.com says it sees on a daily basis – as garages with the highest feedback scores close the most business – even if their prices are higher than the other quoting outlets.
A council decision that will force the closure of ATS Euromaster’s Altrincham branch has been described as “madness” by the fast fit network’s group estates manager. The company hopes to convince Trafford Council to either allow the outlet to co-exist alongside the new £70 million development in Oakfield Road, or otherwise invite ATS Euromaster to be a part of the project.
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