Banner has launched an updated version of its online battery finder portal at bannerbatteryfinder.co.uk. According to the company, updates include:
Tools such as comprehensive information relating to a battery’s exact location on the vehicle, detailed fitting instructions and battery diagnostics. In addition, it offers enhanced technical information. Full technical data is on hand in an easy-to-understand and clearly presented format.
On 3 September Amazon said it will create an extra 7,000 UK jobs this year to meet growing demand. Prior to this, the online retail giant had already added 3,000 roles in 2020. So, by the end of the year, it will have created a total of 10,000 new jobs. At the same time, the company has increased its involvement with the tyre market. While online tyre retail is about far more than Amazon, the news reflects increased demand both for online ordering in general and for online tyre sales in particular. But it is not just Amazon that has noticed this trend. Speaking during a webinar in June, GfK analysts highlighted how online tyre buying is increasing as a function of lockdown and the increased take-up of online shopping in general. Their thesis? More tyres will be sold online and the budget tyre sector will be the beneficiary.
This article, including three charts support the analysis, appears in full in the October edition of Tyres & Accessories. Not yet a subscriber? You can change that here.
Martins Industries released a new website in early September. The company now hopes to attract more first-time buyers on it so they can experience purchasing their tyre equipment online.
Snap-on has devised a way of making it easier for professional technicians to find the right Snap-On Intelligent Diagnostics-enabled platform for their needs with the addition of a tool matcher feature on its website.
The European car parc comprises more than 40,000 different models, which means – according to battery maker Varta – that not even workshop experts are able to identify the right battery for every single one of them. This is where the Varta Partner Portal comes in and provides assistance with finding the right fit. Varta has now updated its reference application database with an additional 7,176 vehicle models from 165 brands, representing 19.8 million additional vehicles on Europe’s roads. The database now covers 94 per cent of the models in the European market and no fewer than 99.6 per cent or 381 million of the registered vehicles. Customers and workshops can now search for 38,000 car models and their batteries on the industry leading Varta Partner Portal (www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/business-portal).
Hella has launched a battery finder tool to easily source a replacement battery. The free tool can be accessed at: http://hellabatteryfinder.com where users can search for a battery using the registration number, vehicle model details or VIN number and can be used for motorcycles, cars and light commercial vehicles.
GRI has launched a new website featuring improved menu functionality and a responsive layout, making it easier to navigate on a wide range of web browsers and multiple devices.
Cooper Tire Europe has launched a new Cooper Brand Portal, providing online access to a host of digital assets for media and brand partner use. Product photography, event images and video content are now all readily available for download.
Michelin has launched Click2Sell – a website solution the company refers to as “a flexible ‘website in a box’ that helps dealers build their online presence and attract new customers with ease”.
While wholesalers have done similar things, Click2Sell is believed to be the only tyre manufacturer-backed website-building package to allow dealerships in the UK and Ireland the freedom to promote their chosen tyre range online. And, what’s more, the range can be either primarily Michelin tyres or a premium competitor. Click2Sell is open to any dealership.
Nexen Tire has redesigned its global website, nexentire.com. The revised site offers information on Nexen Tire products, services, general tyre information, news and campaigns, and corporate information in a format that fits PCs, tablets and smartphones.
Micheldever Tyre Services has launched 4site4x4tyres.co.uk – a new website designed to help the firm’s customers sell more 4×4 tyres as well as provide expert advice and guidance to 4×4 and SUV owners. The site follows in the footsteps of Micheldever’s successful TyreClick venture, which in many ways is the passenger car orientated equivalent. However, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the 4×4/SUV tyre sector demanded a greater emphasis on quality impartial technical advice.
Last January at its annual dealer conference, Goodyear unveiled plans to launch direct-to-consumer online sales across the US through its Goodyear.com website. Since then, Michelin has bought into two large European e-tailers and Apollo has acquired another. Clearly 2015 has been the year that tyre majors have allowed their online retail strategies surface. And while approaches differ between manufacturers and markets, Goodyear’s US approach is by far the most direct. At the moment, this approach centres on North America, however what we learn from Goodyear’s case is valuable in any market. In mid-November Tire Review editor Jim Smith met with Goodyear’s Mike Dauberman, senior director of marketing and interactive, and Bill Friel, general manager of consumer dealer retail, and here gives Tyres per cent Accessories readers access to their conversation.
Bosch has revamped its website offering, delivering two websites for parts and workshops. According to the company, the move reflects Bosch’s continual approach for “parts, bytes and services for the automotive aftermarket”.
Bosch Auto Parts (www.boschautoparts.co.uk) is aimed at both trade and consumers, recognising the desire for both workshops and the public to find out more about the comprehensive range of quality parts such as wiper blades and batteries.
TyreSafe has launched partworn-tyres.co.uk, a website detailing “the dangers, real cost and legal regulations on the sale of part worn tyres”. Visitors to partworn-tyres.co.uk will find examples of tyres offered for sale by unscrupulous dealers and discovered during such investigations. The description of the sometimes horrifying faults includes tyres which would have been likely to suffer catastrophic failure on fitment, while unsafe repairs, cuts and objects in the tread are also revealed.
Autoparts UK has launched a brand-new website (www.workshopexpert.co.uk) to promote its ‘Workshop Expert Online’ management software to independent garages. Workshop Expert Online is a web-based tool that allows garages to complete key business functions that will help their business to run smoothly. Functions include accountancy tasks, managing workshop schedules, vehicle look up, parts ordering and customer relationship management (CRM).
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Martins Industries
Snap-On
Varta