GPX Tire Launches Online Quote Engine
The GPX Marketing Team recently announced the launch of a unique online quote engine, http://www.gpxtire.com/dealerlogin.aspx, a website tool devoted to dealers and end-users looking for a convenient way to obtain a quote for GPX tyres. “In our continuing efforts to help our dealers, we created the quote engine to also allow end-users to register and generate a request for quote. Our sales staff receives the request and forwards the information to the closest GPX dealer for follow up.” explains Mike Knorr, VP Sales and Marketing for GPX.
Continue ReadingVarga Trading Gets ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation
Dubai-based Varga Trading co LLC has received ISO 9001:2000 accreditation. The 29-year-old company is said to have applied for the accreditation as part of its plans to be become a large scale tyre ditstributor.
Continue ReadingNew Online Tyre Auction
TyreAuctions Network is a venture that the founders believe will help businesses move excess tyre, wheel or equipment stock. David Willmore, manager for TyreAuctions commented: “We have designed the site to try and keep transactions on TyreAuctions Network as anonymous as the user wishes. The design of the site also limits the information the general public can view, but also allows interested businesses to see what we are about before joining up. Joining up with us requires a minimal fee, of which we are currently running a time-limited 75 per cent rebate, available as online listing vouchers.
Continue Reading10 Top Tips for Successful Online Selling
1) If you can’t get big, get niche The web is huge, but you can be successful by being different. Maybe you can offer a range of specialist products that is hard to find elsewhere. 2) Learn from others Absorb the lessons from case studies. Let other people make the mistakes for you. During July and August Tyres & Accessories is giving away 25 copies of Chris Barling’s book “Over 120 Top Tips for Running an E-commerce Web Site.” For your chance to win one send your email address and contact details to theeditor@77.237.250.82. For the other eight top tips we are giving away to subscribers, simply click more
Continue ReadingMaking the Most of the Internet
Online retailing has come of age and UK consumers are leading the way. Conservative calculations suggest UK e-shoppers bought some £6.9 billion worth of products online in 2005. This year IMRG, the professional body representing online retailers, expects sales to increase to around £30 billion because 45 per cent of shoppers are looking to increase their online spending this year. Despite this, government figures suggest that only 15 per cent of tyre related businesses are represented online. And the 2006 NTDA/Trend Tracker Tyre Wholesaler survey found that over half of respondents described the Internet as “not important” when it came to their part of the business. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Internet specialists from both inside and outside of the tyre trade and found out that fresh business is there for the taking.
Continue ReadingIMT Sold to Oshkosh Truck
(Akron/Tire Review) Service truck maker Iowa Mold Tooling Co. Inc. has been acquired by Oshkosh Truck Corp. The all-cash deal was valued at $131 million, and the parties expect to close the deal by Sept. 30. IMT, headquartered in Garner, Iowa, employs about 375 people, and anticipates that it will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corp.
Continue ReadingKumho Reports 2Q Sales of £241 million
Kumho’s second quarter sales amounted to 429 billion won (£241.094 million), lower than the 469 billion won figure that was widely expected. At the same time operating profit of 14 billion won (£7.868 million) was said to be similarly disappointing compared with market estimates of 40 billion won. Operating profit fell by 70.5 per cent year-on-year and 45.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
Continue ReadingConti, BFNAT Announce Price Increases
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire have both announced prices increases. CTNA said it is increasing prices on all Continental, General, Semperit and private brand medium truck tyres by up to 5 per cent, effective 1 August. BFNAT said it will boost prices on its Bridgestone, Firestone, Fuzion, Dayton, associate and private brand tyre lines by up to 4 per cent, effective 1 September. The increase includes OE, replacement and export sales, and covers passenger, light truck/SUV, medium truck, agricultural and OTR tyre lines.
Continue ReadingMichelin Issues ‘Reassuring’ Profit Warning
Michelin has reassured market watchers that it will be able to achieve an operating margin of around 8 per cent for the full year, following the successful achievement of the same figure (equivalent to 644.7 million euros) in the first half of 2006. The company had previously predicted that it would achieve an operating margin of 8.8 per cent. Michelin achieved first half net sales of 8,023 million euros, up 7.1 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Continue ReadingGoodyear on New Dodge Nitro
The 2007 Dodge Nitro will be exclusively equipped with Goodyear tyres. The Nitro is the first mid-size SUV for Dodge, and is recognized for its distinctive style, sporty performance and cargo flexibility. It features five passenger seating and a slide-out cargo floor for extra flexibility. The SLT and R/T models will be equipped with Goodyear Wrangler HP tryes in P245/50R20 size. For the base Nitro models, Goodyear provides tyres in P225/75R16 and P235/65R17 sizes. Export vehicles will be shipped with Goodyear Eagle RS-A tyres.
Continue ReadingSchumacher Closes in on Alonso
Michael Schumacher increased his title chances by winning the German Grand Prix this weekend, leaving title rival Fernando Alonso struggling in fifth place after lumps reportedly fell from his tyres. The Hockenheim crown was Bridgestone’s 100th win of the 165 Grand Prix races it has participated in. “We improved the car so it’s a package which is the reason why we can perform as we do perform. Although I have to say it was a bit of a surprise being that much in front,” said Bridgestone-equipped race-winner Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari of Felipe Massa took second place on Bridgestone tyres.
Continue ReadingContinental Makes 38 million euros Profit in Timisoara
Continental’s Timisoara, Romania subsidiary posted gross profit of 38 million euros (137.8 million Romanian new lei), an increase of approximately per cent in euros from the previous year. At the same time, the turnover of Continental Automotive Products went up by over 33 per cent in euros last year, to approximately 217 million euros (786.6 million lei). According to local newspapers this makes the German company the biggest player in Romania. Michelin Romania posted about 200 million euro (727. 3 million RON) turnover last year. The increase in Michelins business, some 40 per cent exceeded that of Continental in terms of growth rate, but the French have been operating at a loss for a number of years. However Michelin Romania says it expects to get back into the black this year, the news reports added.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Motorsport Gets Green Light For Motorsport Activities
Following achievements in Motorsport activity throughout 2004 and 2005, Italian tyre manufacturer, Marangoni, is now targeting further successes in 2006 with participation in three European championships. Firstly there is the Italian Hillclimb Championship.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Increases Marketing Focus
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited has announced the appointment of Mark Dilks as Brand and Market Planning Manager. Dilks will be responsible for developing the brand and market strategies for the companys wide range of consumer tyre brands, including Goodyear, Dunlop, Fulda, Falken and Sava.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Supply WTCC for Second Year
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced it will continue to supply ‘Advan’ control tyres for the 2007 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). Yokohama began supplying tyres to the WTCC for the current 2006 season.
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