Pilgrim Tyres joins First Stop
First Stop, BridgestonePilgrim Tyres Plymouth is rebranding its premises after leaving the HiQ network and joining First Stop Tyres & Car Services. Describing the transition as “an ambitious decision”, company representatives said:
Tag Archive for: HiQ
Nikki McCluney joins First Stop as marketing manager
Nikki McCluneyFirst Stop Tyre & Car Services has appointed Nikki McCluney as its new marketing manager.
Formerly HiQ’s marketing manager, McCluney brings with her over 25 years marketing experience across automotive, fast fit and retail brands having previously worked for Goodyear Dunlop, Maxxis Tyres and Halfords. Indeed, she played a key role at the HiQ rebrand while at Goodyear Dunlop in 2007 and launched the chain’s concept store while in the role.
Mobile tyre fitting: the new normal for tyre retailers?
John Stone; Stone Tyres; Gorilla tyresWe’ve all had to adapt during the corona-crisis and lockdown. For many tyre retailers it has meant agonising decisions relating to either staying opening or shutting down. But some have found a middle way – mobile tyre fitting.
During our recent “Kick-starting your tyre business” Tyrepress webinar, Craig Sprigmore, retail director of HiQ; Graham Mitchell, wholesale director of Micheldever Tyre Services; Noel Pope, managing director of Merityre; and John Stone, founder and managing director of Stone Tyres discussed the role of mobile fitting in helping tyre businesses adapt to the new normal.
Kent Police are the most tyre-hungry
Statista; Tyre Industry Publications LtdContinuing our series investigating UK Police fleet tyre demand, we looked a little closer at the differences between the various regional forces tyre preferences. Despite the fact that, as we have seen, tyre purchasing is based on a national framework agreement, there was a surprising amount of variety in both tyre policy and what actually happened when the rubber hit the road, so to speak.
Investigating the national Police fleet’s tyre demands
Goodyear; HiQ [@HiQAutocare] via Twitter)During recent weeks and months, the coronavirus lockdown has seen miles-driven figures fall through the floor. However, some fleets don’t stop moving. And, as anyone who has clapped for our carers will tell you, the blue-light services have been as busy as ever. Of course, the medics, police and firefighters rely on tyre technicians to keep them mobile. So, with this in mind, and as part our June magazine’s Fleet Tyre feature, we have been investigating what the blue light fleet’s tyre demand really looks like.
Tyre distributors come together for ‘Kick-starting your business’ webinar
Tyre distributors from across the country have come together to support the restarting of the tyre trade. Large and small retailers from St Helens to the South East worked together to produce the inaugural Tyrepress webinar entitled “Kick-starting your tyre business’.
First Stop aiming for 220 branches in four years
When Mark Widdows left HiQ to head up the First Stop project as UK retail network manager, Bridgestone EMIA in October 2019, it was a fair guess that the revamped First Stop would end up competing with HiQ for the role of leading UK tyre retail franchise operation. However, six months into the role, Tyres & Accessories met up with Widdows and learnt that the new First Stop retail proposition has both ambitious plans and a comprehensive franchise offer.
Goodyear not looking to buy back all HiQs
Following the news that Goodyear has bought one of its largest and longest-established HiQ franchisees, Easy Tyre and Autocare, Tyrepress got in touch with executives in order to find out more. For example, how much money changed hands? And, considering the latest purchase is the second acquisition of its kind, is Goodyear planning to go full-circle with retail ownership? The short answer is no. But a Goodyear/HiQ spokesperson did say “the acquisition of Easy Tyre and Autocentres further strengthens the competitive advantage of Goodyear and HiQ”, adding:
Goodyear buys Easy Tyre and Autocentres
Goodyear Tyres UK Limited has acquired Easy Tyre and Autocentres, which runs 17 HiQ branches as a franchisee.
Easy Tyre and Autocentres’ branches span from Telford to Kettering, in a geographical area with a high value car parc and, according to Goodyear, represent the “second step” in the company’s ongoing retail strategy. All sites will become Goodyear’s equity operating under the HiQ brand going forward.
First Stop names Mark Widdows as retail manager
First Stop has recruited Mark Widdows to the senior position of UK retail network manager after working with Goodyear Dunlop for 20 years, where he latterly served as national franchise manager for the HiQ network. The recruitment is seen as a statement of intent, as First Stop aims to grow its network and position itself as a major player in the fast-fit sector.
ETEL continues to lead top 20 UK tyre retailers 2019
After years of expansion amongst the top 20 UK tyre retailers, the latest data shows that this trend peaked in 2017/2018 when the top 20 accounted for 2014 branches. The same 20 tyre retailers had 1980 branches between them in 2018/2019. And what’s more, the reorganisation of one retailer alone accounted for a 40-centre decline in branch count, with the overall figure remaining positive due to growth at other chains. Here Tyres & Accessories analyses the branch count data in the context of 10 years of comparable research.
HiQ: 47% of centres achieve Gold Standard
Via its Standards Programme, HiQ Tyres and Autocare aims to drive a high level of attention to detail in every aspect of the fast fit and automotive business. In order to verify the standards achieved by its franchisees, the fast-fit network audits all centres and awards top performers accordingly. This year, HiQ has awarded Gold Standards Awards to 47 per cent of its franchise centres throughout the UK.
Goodyear acquires HiQ network south-east tyre retailer Weeting Tyres
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has acquired Weeting Tyres, a leading tyre retail company based in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, UK. The company operates four branches as a franchisee in Goodyear’s HiQ autocare network – in Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Ipswich & Kings Lynn – as well as one independent branch in Brandon, Suffolk, which also functions as its head office. The area served by the latter branch is described as having a high value car parc. All sites will become Goodyear’s equity operating under the HiQ brand following the completion of the acquisition.
Goodyear, HiQ support Tyre Safety Month at Birmingham Business Park
Goodyear supported October’s Tyre Safety Month by checking the tyre treads of more than 850 vehicles on Birmingham Business Park, supported by local tyre and autocare centre, HiQ Easy Autos. A team of eight trained Goodyear and HiQ Easy Autos employees took to the car parks of several businesses on the park including Rolls Royce, Arval, Adecco and SSP to measure the tread depths on vehicles, leaving an advice leaflet on every car checked.
HiQ nominated for Tyre Retailer of the Year
HiQ Tyres and Autocare has been nominated for the 2018 Tyre Retailer of the Year award at the annual NTDA Tyre Industry Awards on 4 October.
According to the company, key reasons for the nomination include the retailer’s strong digital strategy in 2018, levels of support functions available to all franchisees, community engagement and integration, and the ongoing charitable efforts supported by the entire network.
