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Kwik-Fit Faces £200,000 Claim for Playing Radio

Kwik-Fit has been before the Court of Session in Edinburgh, where the UK’s largest independent tyre retail chains faces a claim of £200,000 in damages from the Performing Rights Society (PRS). PRS is suing the company because it objects to the volume at which mechanics play the radio while working. PRS say that Kwik-Fit’s technicians have been playing music loudly enough to be heard by colleagues and customers, thus constituting a “performance” and therefore royalties payments. Presiding Judge Lord Emslie refused to dismiss the action, but also said he should not be taken as accepting that the PRS would necessarily succeed in their claims.

For its part Kwik-Fit said that it will fight the case and operates a no-radio policy at its branches. However, PRS reportedly has evidence that music has been played at Kwik-Fit on 250 occasions in and after 2005.

10th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Canadian Tire Announces Aggressive Growth Plans

(Akron/Tire Review) Canadian Tire Corp. says it plans to build between 60 and 70 new retail outlets across Canada each year between 2008 and 2012.

While specifics were not released, Canadian Tire retail stores include Canadian Tire, Mark’s Work Wearhouse, PartSource and Canadian Tire Petroleum.

The company expects the expansion program will bring store network growth of at least 5 per cent, averaged over five years, and retail revenue growth of 6 to 8 per cent over the same time period.

8th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Philippines Plans Factory Upgrade, Seeks Retail Investors

Manufacturing facilities at Goodyear’s operations in the Philippines are likely candidates for an upgrade, according to the president of Goodyear Philippines David Morin. At a press conference on October 4 Morin said that additional equipment would be purchased for the Las Pinas Goodyear factory in Manila, and he outlined plans to introduce a number of new products for export to Asean markets.

Goodyear’s Las Pinas plant exports 50 per cent of its production to Southeast Asian countries, including China and India, however as the facility is already operating at full capacity no new staff will be added to its complement of 700 workers as part of these improvements.

In addition to this planned upgrade, Goodyear Philippines is urging potential Filipino distributors and retailers to invest in the tyre industry. According to Morin the company has plans to expand its retail outlets in 15 to 20 untapped markets throughout the chain of islands.

5th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Micheldever: Focused on Independent Tyre Retailers

Despite broadsheet gossip that Micheldever was bidding to buy National Tyres at the end of the second quarter, Micheldever executives remain clear that their focus is on selling to independent dealers and that any such speculation was completely unfounded. Instead they would much rather that attention fell on pioneering developments such as the release of the first all-terrain 4×4 tyre in the world capable of H-rated performance with an 18-inch diameter – 255/60hr18 General Grabber AT2.

Micheldever Tyre Services’ core strategy remains the same as ever, according to wholesaler director, Alan Baldwin. And the company continues in it clear mandate to provide “the widest possible range of products at the most competitive prices to the independent tyre retailer.” Further significant investment has been made by the company in additional warehouse capacity and delivery vehicles, says Baldwin, explaining that the company runs eight strategically positioned warehouses that hold the largest multi-brand tyre stocks in the UK.

5th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

R H Claydon Ltd: Tyres and Tubes for Today’s Market

Through almost 60 years of trading, the company, a major player in the UK Tyre Wholesale sector, has experienced many changes in this ever-evolving industry, from the early days of crossply tyres, to the now, commonplace radial tyre. Coupled with this the extensive development of the varying aspect ratios now required to meet the many needs and applications of not only road transport, but for all pneumatic tyre equipped vehicles, such as agricultural, industrial, construction, earthmover, open space management, plant & machinery and much more.

In meeting the present day requirements R H Claydon offers tyres for all these requirements and being solely a wholesaler, with no retail outlets, there is no conflict with its customer base. The exclusive brand, BKT, manufactured in India, forms the greater part of this supply for all products outside Car, Van, 4X4 & Truck, The range could be stated as meeting all needs pneumatic, indeed this is signified in BKT’s own advertising strapline “Off-Highway Tyre Solutions”. In this year, there have been many additions to the BKT Range including, 70/65/90&95 Agrimax Radial Tractor, Tele Handler sizes in 460/70R24 (17.5R24) and 19.5R24. BKT Armaturf KV Tyres for the professional ride-on mower, now offer an estimated 90 per cent protection from punctures. The year has also seen the growth in earthmover units; in this sector sizes such as 1800-25 40pr & 1800-33 40pr Rock Grip E4, both sizes also produced for Port & Terminal operations. The BKT range fully justifies Claydon’s own slogan “All- Season All- Reason Agricultural & Industrial Tyres”.

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Partners Corporación de Occidente in Mexican Tyre JV

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has announced the formation of a 50:50 joint venture company in Mexico. The new company, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company de Mexico SA de CV (Cooper Mexico) will be responsible for the marketing, sales and distribution of the Cooper and Pneustone brands, as well as all other associate brand tyres marketed by the two partner companies. Tyre production is expected to begin in the fourth quarter 2007.

Currently, the Pneustone brand is the house brand of Corporación de Occidente, a subsidiary company of Grupo Dexel, a Mexican holding corporation with entities involved in transportation, LP gas distribution, auto parts, and construction equipment.

“This is a great opportunity to grow the Cooper brands in Mexico,” said Phil Caris, vice president, Sales and Marketing, for Cooper Tire’s North American Tire Division. “By partnering with Occidente, we gain access to retail channels in Mexico and leverage existing relationships that Pneustone Brand has established with dealers throughout that country. Our existing customers in Mexico will benefit with the localized warehousing and increased focus on that market.”

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Investing in the Future

The future of the UK tyre industry belongs to those who invest in their staff, believes David Boulton from Entyrety. Boulton, technical sales manager for the Birmingham based supplier of tyre and fleet training and support services, is concerned that a lack of investment in training will not only perpetuate existing bad workplace practices, but also will ultimately drag these businesses down.

“It is well known that in certain areas of retailing there is a shortage of good tyre technician/fitters,” comments Boulton, adding that this problem stems from a lack of investment over many years in the people who carry out this function. As a consequence, he believes, in some areas the ‘interface’ between the tyre industry and the public has been found wanting. “There has been some improvement in recent years,” admits Boulton, “but this is only in the businesses who recognise that to safeguard their future they have to invest in their staff and provide training and development schemes. These will be the companies that survive long-term, and those that do not invest could face a bleaker future.”

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Broadway Tyres Lifts the Lid on New Dealer Training

Several months after unveiling its new corporate identity, Broadway Tyres is making steady progress on the roll out of its rebranding. Depots, vans, staff uniforms and office stationery are now increasingly seen sporting the distinctive new double-tyre Broadway “B” logo. But the company has not stopped at merely sprucing up its image. In late September Broadway Tyres ran the pilot of a new training programme aimed at increasing professionalism amongst the approximately 1,200 independent tyre dealers that purchase from the company – and increasing their ability to generate strong sales.

“I want Broadway Tyres to become a world class company,” stated managing director Jonathan West to an audience of industry representatives – the ‘guinea pig’ audience for this first-ever training session. “And we are committed to our customers’ success as much as our own.” These customers, the smaller independent tyre dealerships that make up 29 per cent of the market, have been the cornerstone of Broadway Tyres’ past success, and West is confident this will continue to be the case.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Volkswagen and Which? Support Tyre Safety Month

As Tyre Safety Month kicks off this week Volkswagen and Which? magazine have shown their support for TyreSafe’s consumer awareness raising campaign. For its part Which? magazine is supporting tyre safety month by making their Best Buy Tyres Report available free to view for all visitors.

Volkswagen has become the first automaker in the UK to support Tyre Safety Month. As part of the initiative, which aims to highlight the road safety dangers of under-inflated tyres, motorists with vehicles of any marque are able to visit a participating Volkswagen dealer in the company’s 250-strong retail network, and receive a free tyre pressure and safety check and tyre safety leaflet during the four weeks of the campaign.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NETE Looks to Boost Turnover by 50%

Further inroads into the retail market are on the cards for North-Eastern Tyre and Exhausts (NETE), and the Middlesbrough based business plans to use growth in this sector as the base for increasing turnover by 50 per cent over the next two years.

The company, founded by Fred and Netta Darcy in 1971 and still family owned, will reportedly recruit about 300 new staff to facilitate this expansion, with many taking up positions in new or upgraded NETE retail outlets throughout the North-East and Yorkshire regions. The past couple of years have seen numerous improvements made to the firm’s existing outlets, including the addition of café facilities. The ninth NETE retail site, a £1.5 million development in Harrogate/Knaresborough, is due to open in January 2008.

NETE brought in revenues of £33m last year, and this figure is anticipated to rise to £40m during 2007 thanks largely to the company’s enhanced retail presence. Recently appointed managing director Gavin Marshall believes now is a “very exciting” time for NETE and sees great potential to gain further ground against the competition through further retail investment.

28th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Service The Key For Stapleton’s

As one of the UK’s largest wholesale distributors of passenger car tyres, Stapleton’s understands the needs of the fast moving tyre retail market and is committed to ensuring customers have a wholesaler they can rely on.

25th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s Tata Looks at Jaguar, Land Rover

(Akron/Tire Review) News reports confirm that Indian automaker Tata Motors is interested in acquiring iconic British auto companies Land Rover and Jaguar, which Ford Motor Co. has put up for sale.

Tata Chairman Ratan Tata told media that his company, a conglomerate active in the steel, software and automobile arenas, plans to place a bid for the two luxury brands, which Ford is auctioning. Several US equity firms have also expressed interest.

Most of Tata’s vehicle experience comes from making work trucks in India, and has only been producing passenger cars for about a decade. Most of its car activity has been in the low-end market, and the company has announced plans to offer an “ultra-cheap” car that would retail for about $2,400.

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Akron Begins Formal Work on New Goodyear HQ, Retail Area

(Akron/Tire Review) Akron City Council took the first steps toward creating a new area for Goodyear’s world headquarters yesterday, approving a measure to acquire 20 properties on the city’s east side to be converted into office and retail space.

Goodyear, which has its world headquarters and other offices in that area, may build a new headquarters there, but has not made a firm commitment, according to reports.

Recently re-elected Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic said that Goodyear wants to keep its headquarters in the city, and that the public financing portion of the redevelopment plan is “90 per cent completed.”

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Rent’N Go Launches Rent-to-Own Wheels and Tyres Franchise

After years of perfecting the Rent’N Go wheels and tyres hire purchase retail concept, RNG President Bob Catino announced the official launching of the company’s franchising programme in the US. “While I always felt our expansion would be through franchising, it has happened a bit faster than I thought it would. The system is ready and the results from operations indicate the time is right to launch our franchising initiative,” says Catino.

Rent’N Go started coming together for Catino after he met Jim Taylor, a veteran of the wheel and tyres business. They became fast friends working on developing the first Rent’N Go store in Tamarac, Florida. Taylor is the company’s vice president of operations.

20th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

National Supports Tyre Safety Month

National Tyres and Autocare has confirmed its support of Tyre Safety Month, planned for October this year. As part of the campaign, National has pledged to offer all customers a free tyre safety and pressure check on all tyres. Tony Neil, Managing Director for Retail commented: “We think the Tyre Safety Campaign is an excellent idea and we are proud to support it.”

“Tyres are one of the most important parts of a vehicle and often are neglected by motorists. By offering a free safety check, we hope to offer a little peace of mind to motorists and do our bit to increase tyre safety awareness.”

20th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors