Blackcircles.com introduces buy now, pay later tyre finance
Buying tyres on tick is nothing new across the pond, but a newly-announced deferred finance scheme from Blackcircles.com is said to be a UK first. The online tyre retailer says its ‘buy now pay later’ offering will enable motorists “feeling the pinch in the lead up to Christmas” to avoid the risk of driving on worn, potentially dangerous tyres. Tyres can be obtained now, with payments deferred for six months.
Continue ReadingBlackcircles.com achieves one of highest Net Promoter Scores of 2014
Blackcircles.com has received one of the highest Net Promoter Scores (NPS) of 2014, best-of-class against its industry peers and also ahead of well-known international brands like Amazon, Apple, Mercedes-Benz and Aldi. The company’s NPS of 84 is based on customers’ likelihood to recommend a brand to others and is calculated as the percentage of customers who are ‘Promoters’, rating the business 9 or 10 on a zero-to-ten point scale, minus the percentage who are ‘Detractors’, rating 6 or lower. It is viewed as the leading customer experience metric and provides a strong indication of a company’s relationship with its customers.
Continue ReadingFirestone launches musical promotion, with iTunes vouchers and Fiat 500s
Bridgestone is continuing its youthful “reinvigoration” of the Firestone brand through a musical retail promotion. The ‘Rock On Then Roll Out’ sales campaign runs until November 30, with more than £100,000 in iTunes vouchers and a chance to win a trip to The Brit Awards on the table. Firestone increased European activity has so far […]
Continue ReadingOctober – Warmer weather chokes winter tyre sales; OE truck market weakness continues
Mild weather is responsible for far fewer winter tyres being sold in the European market in October, reports Michelin. Statistics released by the tyre maker show a seven per cent year-on-year decline in replacement market passenger car and light truck tyres in Europe (including Russia and Turkey). This drop in sales follows year-on-year growth of one per cent in the third quarter of the 2014 and was not reflected in the original equipment market, which enjoyed a three per cent year-on-year increase in November. Between the start of the year and 31 October, the original equipment and replacement markets are respectively four per cent and two per cent higher year-on-year.
Continue ReadingSouth Wales tyre centres celebrate a decade of charity support
The three Harris Brothers Tyres retail centres in Swansea, part of the Protyre network, are celebrating a decade of support for the Cash for Kids charity by raising more than £330,000 in sponsorship funds in the course of just over a decade. The charity, which is supported by radio stations Swansea Sound and The Wave, […]
Continue ReadingSecond UK distributor for Gemballa
Vehicle tuner Gemballa has increased its presence in the UK through the signing of a second distribution partner. Under the name Gemballa Liverpool, independent Porsche specialist OCD will engage in sales, fitting and service roles for the German tuner. “A decisive factor in our choice of partner, alongside high-quality technical equipment, was the experience of its workforce. Almost every employee has a background with the Porsche brand or in the Porsche tuning sector,” commented Gemballa CEO Andreas Schwarz. “Therefore we have found the optimal complement to our existing representation in London, which is operated by the renowned Porsche specialist Charles Ivey Ltd.”
Continue ReadingTecalemit wins business at Euro Bus
Tecalemit Garage Equipment reports taking more than £100,000 worth of business during the first two days of the Euro Bus exhibition at the Birmingham NEC. Commenting on the brisk trade the company experienced, sales and marketing director Phil Cledwyn commented: “We don’t really see events like this as a sales opportunity, it’s about making contact with customers and generating a more receptive sales environment, but it’s nice when you do take substantive orders right there on the stand.”
Continue ReadingModern Tyres named Northern Ireland tyre retailer of the year
Family-run business Modern Tyres has been named Northern Ireland tyre retailer of the year. Northern Irelands largest independent tyre retail chain, which is also the ninth largest in the UK, employs over 200 people in 30 depots across the province, and also has 10 depots in the Republic, after acquiring Hanover Tyres in July last year.The company will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.
Continue ReadingGT Radial makes debut Euro Bus Expo appearance
Giti Tire’s GT Radial brand is continuing to establish itself in the UK’s commercial vehicle market, and part of this process is its visibility at important trade shows. Having taken part in the CV Show in April, the brand was back at the Birmingham NEC to make its Euro Bus Expo debut, displaying recently launched […]
Continue ReadingIAM launches road safety manifesto
The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has published its road safety manifesto for the upcoming general election, calling for urgent support from all political parties to promote driver and rider improvement on UK roads. One of the more radical ideas in the IAM manifesto, which is designed to cut the unacceptable number of road deaths […]
Continue ReadingContinental opens UK automotive research and development centre
Yesterday, tyre and automotive component manufacturer Continental celebrated the grand opening of its new automotive research and development centre in Lewes, East Sussex. In Lewes, Continental develops Surround View systems that provide 360-degree detection of what is happening around a vehicle. The new ‘Pannett’s Building’ provides additional offices, meeting rooms and a workshop, as well as a showroom for vehicles with Surround View systems.
Continue ReadingVipal Rubber opens UK distribution centre in Felixstowe
Brazilian tyre retreading specialist Vipal Rubber is further strengthening its presence in Europe with the opening of a new distribution centre in Felixstowe, the largest container port in the United Kingdom. The new 2,000 square metre Vipal centre has the capacity to store up to 500 tonnes of products, and was opened to cater to demand in Britain and Ireland; these markets were previously served by Vipal’s distribution centre in Germany.
Continue ReadingEuropcar helps ease exhibition fatigue
Exhibitions can be a great way to see the latest offerings in your particular industry, but traipsing round the larger shows can be tiring. But car hire services company Europcar has come up with an answer to exhibition fatigue with its latest initiative for ExCeL London. The Europcar Golf Buggy service at ExCeL London offers […]
Continue Reading‘No autumn fuel duty increase’ – FairFuelUK
An article in The Scotsman says that there are warnings that the UK Government might restore the unpopular fuel duty escalator system due to falling oil prices and falling North Sea tax revenue. Three years ago George Osborne introduced a fuel stabiliser system as oil prices surged above $115 a barrel. He said “the escalator […]
Continue ReadingGroupauto launch national garage survey
Groupauto, purportedly the UK’s largest aftermarket trading group, is encouraging garages to take part in what it hopes will be the most comprehensive survey of independent garages ever held in the UK. From now until the end of November it is asking garages to take part in its National Garage Survey and answer six straightforward questions that will allow it to better understand the needs of garages, in order to assist them develop their businesses, for the long term benefit of the entire aftermarket.
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