Want to promote a tyre brand? Not too fussed about being paid for your efforts? Nitto Tire U.S.A. may have just what you’ve been looking for. The tyre maker has launched its ‘Ambassador’ programme, a scheme aimed at its “most loyal enthusiasts” and described as being “the latest extension of its dynamic community building efforts.”
Maxxis has announced its plans to increase its presence on social networking platforms. New Maxxis marketing manager Amy Colbourne explains that the company’s increased activity on social networks will allow it to offer better customer support, as well as allowing customers to speak directly to the company more easily. The brand has recently launched a new Maxxis Babes website and currently has Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest and Google+ accounts.
Maxxis International has promoted Amy Colbourne to the role of marketing manager. Colbourne started with Maxxis International in 2010, when Maxxis made the decision to invest heavily in marketing communications in order to boost its brand profile. She is now responsible for all aspects of marketing in the UK, including activity to support Maxxis distributors and as such the new role will see her take direct control of the marketing budget.
Pirelli has a tweet or two in store for motorsport fans. The Formula One tyre supplier has launched a new Twitter page where Pirelli motorsport aficionados can share and receive news on the company’s worldwide events.
Falcon and sister company Milltek are celebrating 30 years in business, with plans to commemorate the landmark in the companies’ marketing activities. Started by Phil Millington, who trained in one of UK’s first dedicated exhaust centres in 1970s Devon, both companies are still run by the founder. Making the move from retail to manufacturing suited Millington, and following the foundation of Falcon, the team grew, becoming one of the leading names in the Classic Car market.
March is said to be the peak month for MoTs, and with this in mind Halfords Autocentres has produced viral film to promote its MOT offer to consumers via social media. In homage to the film Grease, ten Halfords team members perform their own unique interpretation of the film’s ‘Go Greased Lightning’ garage scene – complete with a classic American car and all-new lyrics.
Kwik-Fit has confirmed it will sponsor one of the award categories in the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2013 and also serve as an associate sponsor. The fast fitter is sponsoring the Reader Award for the most exciting car of 2013.
As of next year, the Bridgestone brand will be title sponsor of the Copa Libertadores, or Libertadores Cup. This annual international football competition, which is arguably the most prestigious club competition in South America, will thus be known as the Bridgestone Libertadores Cup through to 2017.
Contestants in the popular ITV show Dancing On Ice display an impressive level of control on a slippery, cold surface, so the show is perhaps a logical sponsorship choice for winter tyre champion Continental. The tyre maker says it has signed up as headline sponsor for the latest series as part of a seven-figure deal that also includes ITV’s coverage of the England football team next year.
Wheel supplier, Wheelwright said that its expectations had been exceeded at Brityrex, having chosen to demonstrate the features of its new website and the benefits of premium quality wheels. The company also took the show as an opportunity to communicate its current corporate logo and branding, having removed the “Alcar” portion of its name in 2011. Speaking with Tyres & Accessories, Wheelwright managing director, Kevin Greer said it was important to get out in the market to do this because of the residual “old-style marketing” still present in the UK, but mainly to emphasise Wheelwright’s “differentiation from other brands” with what he described as a “modern, clinical” CI strategy.
Facebook has just announced that its membership has passed the one billion mark. A smaller, but nevertheless significant, milestone has also been reached by Nitto Tire – on 8 October the company announced that two million Facebook users are now fans of its facebook.com/nittotire page.
Pirelli has upgraded its Apple and Android Diablo Super Biker app, allowing routes travelled to be downloaded and viewed directly on computers and tablets. This, the company says, will make it easy to compare them and facilitate sharing on social networks. The upgrade represents a continuation of the company’s digital and social media strategy. The app has been downloaded more than 100,000 times, averaging 328 downloads per day in the last two months, the company says. The Pirelli Moto Facebook page, launched at the beginning of 2012, has grown to more than 140,000 fans. The Italian manufacturer believes increased social networking leads to greater proactive interaction from customers and end-users on a daily basis.
A large proportion of tyre buyers now begin their pre-purchase research with a browse online, and when doing so they increasingly use phones and other mobile devices rather than the trusty desktop computer. Recognising these two changes in consumer behaviour, Cooper Tire & Rubber has launched a mobile-optimised version of its website. The new site is currently only accessible by users in the US – by entering the usual coopertire.com address into the browser – and it offers advice on service, replacement tyres, retail locations and safety information.
Now with more than 100,000 fans on Facebook, brake manufacturer Brembo says it can boast “absolute leader status as a social networker among automotive component manufacturers worldwide”, having reached the milestone of more than 100,000 fans on Facebook. In reaching six figures, the group joins the world's top exponents of digital communication in its sector of interest — namely automotive components — as well as gaining a high profile among brands associated with other categories of merchandise.
Kumho Tyres has launched a summer campaign ‘Cash for Causes’, supported by the Korean brand’s UK dealers and a new website. The company says that it will donate £100,000 to deserving causes, charities, local groups and projects across the country via the network of ECSTA Performance Centre (EPC) independent retailers it supports in the UK through its national distributor Micheldever Tyre Services. So far, Kumho says that over 200 EPC dealers have signed up to take part in the ‘Cash for Causes’ campaign, each selecting two local community projects they feel deserve a donation. Nominated causes then go head to head in a public vote to see which one the community feels should receive the larger share.
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