Oak Tyres outlines brand strategy in new Davanti era
Oak Tyres has undergone some dynamic changes this year as it adapts its business to a shifting wholesale landscape. The most radical of the company’s developments in 2015 has been the launch of its fully owned private brand Davanti, which Oak’s management most recently supported at CITExpo 2015 in Shanghai. To accommodate operations associated with the new brand, Oak Group Holdings was formed, with the Oak Tyres 100 per cent wholesale business now under this umbrella alongside Davanti Tyres, and promotional merchandise producer Davanti World. With the Davanti product designed as “an opportunity for margin”, in the words of general manager Larry Cross, Oak Tyres’ brand portfolio has increased its scope. Stating that “we have a very clear, defined brand strategy at Oak, which we have refined continuously over the past five years,” Peter Cross, commercial manager at Oak Tyres, told Tyres & Accessories a bit more about the company’s current outlook, and how the second tier “exclusive brand programmes” are offering customers the opportunity “to maximise their profits”.
Continue ReadingExol general manager appointment
Exol Lubricants has appointed Joe O’Shea as general manager of its Wednesbury production facility. O’Shea has more than 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry, having begun his career at Land Rover serving an engineering apprenticeship. After 12 successful years, he then moved to Birmingham-based van maker LDV and occupied various managerial positions. In 2010, he enjoyed his first role at Exol Lubricants as operations manager before leaving two years later to join pressing supplier Sertec in a directorship position.
Continue ReadingIGA helps raise funds for BEN
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) will be taking part in this year’s Bangers 4 BEN charity challenge in aid of BEN. The event which kicks off on 10 -13 October will see Ian Ramsden and Terry Gibson driving the course of the UK, France, Germany and Belgium in an Audi A4 – donated by In Town Automotive in Northampton, which will then be auctioned off at the end of the event.
Continue ReadingOak Tyres: 35 years of serving the trade
Oak Tyres, the independent distributor for tyres and tyre accessories based in the North West, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this month. Delivering to the fast fit industry, Oak Tyres started trading in 1980 and over the course of three and a half decades has established itself as a leading, independently-run tyre wholesale distributor. Oak has built its reputation on carrying an unrivalled stock of all premium brands, whilst also becoming exclusive UK agents for leading high quality import brands such as Evergreen, Landsail and Headway.
Continue ReadingProduct of the Year award for TRICO
Leading wiper blade company TRICO recently scooped the A1 Motor Stores Product of the Year Award, voted by the A1 members for its Exact Fit range.
Continue ReadingGrouptyre turnover ‘approaching £310m’
Grouptyre says that “continued investment” by its members is one of the primary reasons for its 2015 growth following a period of consolidation. With a turnover fast approaching £310m, Grouptyre, which comprises 10 strong regional wholesalers, has seen further investment in warehousing, delivery vehicles and therefore availability of product and an increase in delivery drops to its retail customers. Currently Grouptyre has 40 strategically located distribution points, with more expected to be added, and 440 delivery vehicles nationwide.
Continue ReadingTyre Industry Awards 2015: Winners
The winners of the 2015 Tyre Industry Awards were announced during the 86th NTDA Annual Dinner on 1 October following the new one-day Tyre Industry Conference at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Birmingham. Attendance at the dinner set a new record, with 60 tables sold out. The speaker and presenter of the awards was former England Rugby Union international, amateur dancer and current television pundit, Austin Healey, who added some trademark irreverence to proceedings. The Awards were also live-tweeted as they were announced on the @Tyrepress Twitter feed. The awards were sponsored this year by Sailun Tyres.
Continue ReadingCam team race in Devil Mud Run
On Saturday 26 September a team of four from CAM took part in the Devil Mud Run in Cheltenham, overcoming the arduous, eight kilometre course across open, rugged, muddy countryside featuring 31 obstacles to raise £800 for the company’s three chosen charities: The Galley in Gloucester, Ruskin Mill College near Stroud and Dursley Youth Rugby.
Continue ReadingWhen did you last do it?
When did you last do it? That’s probably a question you didn’t expect to encounter here, and we beg you not to don your angry hat and express your disgust. The question is tongue-in-cheek, and is being posed by TyreSafe to mark today’s start of Tyre Safety Month.
Continue ReadingVW trade values have fallen 3%
Trade values of Volkswagen vehicles have fallen 3 per cent following news of the emissions scandal, according to figures from Glasss. The figures may be marginal when considered in detail, but they go against the flow of the market. Trade values of all Volkswagen used cars in the Glasss database are currently the same as they were at the beginning of September. However, the overall used car market has seen an increase of 2.1 per cent during the same period - meaning that the value of the VWs have effectively fallen by 2.1 per cent.
Continue ReadingTerraClean welcomes government vehicle emissions investigation
TerraClean has become the first aftermarket firm, perhaps even the first company to publically welcome the UK government’s plans to invest vehicle emissions in light of the VW scandal.
Continue ReadingMotorway tyre pressure checking scheme extended
A safer roads service that allows car, van and lorry drivers to quickly check their vehicle’s tyre pressures before resuming motorway journeys has been extended until the end of the year. The project was launched in April 2015 for an initial three month trial period, but was so successful – with more than 1,000 vehicles being tested a week – that the decision was taken to continue the scheme through to Thursday 31 December.
Continue ReadingCountrywide switches CV fleet to ATS Euromaster
Rural community retailer Countrywide has appointed ATS Euromaster to provide its tyre maintenance and checks across all 14 of its operating centres in the South West, Cotswolds, Midlands and Wales. The 80-strong Countrywide commercial vehicle fleet ranges from vans to articulated trucks and was previously serviced through a range of independent dealers.
Continue ReadingPACT into finals for UK IT Industry awards
PACT – the electronic trading initiative from eparts and TecAlliance – has become a finalist in the BCS & Computing UK IT Industry Awards. As the only automotive IT solutions provider in the awards, PACT is in the running for Services Company of the Year, which is awarded to recognise excellence in the provision of IT systems.
Continue ReadingRHA and Dunlop launch transport industry campaign at Silverstone
Dunlop and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) are partnering to raise awareness of what they say is a looming transport crisis, which threatens to bring industries such as manufacturing, retail and logistics to a grinding halt in the UK. The HGV Heroes campaign highlights the impact that HGV driver shortage is going to have across the country.
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