Labelling
Tyre Shopper has just been awarded an Experian Hitwise Top 10 Award for the 10th time in the 5 years since its launch. Experian Hitwise monitors over 8 million online consumers in the UK to provide independent data about the websites they interact with.
Galway based tyre wholesaler Kevin Burke Tyres has become the latest Irish based tyre company to appoint Team Systems as its IT partner.
The fruits of Hankook’s DTM involvement can now be seen by all – the Korean tyre maker has released its first ultra high performance tyre to employ engineering drawn from DTM racing technology, the Ventus S1 evo². This flagship of Hankook’s UHP portfolio is said to benefit from expertise the company has gained as exclusive tyre supplier to the DTM – Hankook states a “multitude of technical innovations and design features” has enabled its engineers to arrive at the “best balance” between wet and dry performance. The Ventus S1 evo² has also been developed to meet next year’s EU-labelling requirements.
In anticipation of the introduction of the EU’s tyre labelling legislation in 2012, Cam Systems has announced that it will introduce Cameo V24 in September 2011; the system will allow customers to access the software upgrade within their support contract entitlement in time to plan their legal compliance. Cam says the system has been designed to allow its customers “to present a professional, high quality image to motorists, providing retailers with the opportunity to up-sell to higher margin brands”.
Slovenian tyre brand Sava Tyres – a Goodyear Dunlop brand – launched its new range of 22.5” truck tyres in an event in Ljubljana, including a visit to the Goodyear Dunlop manufacturing facility in Kranj, earlier in the year. The new range, which comprises the Avant 4 steer tyre and the Orjak 4 drive tyre, has been developed to provide enhanced performance and lower cost per mile on both long and short haul transport operations. Goodyear Dunlop also suggested that an upswing in the European truck tyre market would be experienced in the eastern half of the continent.
There is no question that winter 2010/2011 was a great success when it came to the sales of cold weather tyres. Many wholesalers and distributors found that their projections were far too low; some wholesalers reported that they sold three to four times more than they expected, while tyre manufacturers said they would have supplied more if their factories could produce them fast enough.
The fact that it was the second consecutive “severe” winter in the UK really helped drive home the issue. And the combined efforts of retail chains; car dealerships and the industry mean that there is still momentum in this pre-season before the mercury drops. ATS Euromaster for example bought in £3 million of winter tyre stock last season and are doubling it this year, (see separate article for more details). Meanwhile Mercedes and BMW began promoting tyre hotels, making the two-sets-of-wheels model a reality. But what about this winter and the winters to come? Tyres & Accessories asked Bridgestone North Region sales and marketing director Andy Lane, who has the unique responsibility of overseeing sales in the classic winter markets of the Nordic countries and the more complex and temperate conditions of the UK.
While winter conditions in many of our neighbouring European countries are much more severe than here in the UK, Hankook representatives point out that some of these boast lower accident rates. Why? A major factor in this is down to tyre choice. Hankook therefore believes it is essential that “we educate our customers on winter tyres and contribute towards a reduction in motoring accidents during winter.”
The latest edition of Tyres & Accessories (August 2011) is now available to subscribers online. To read 116 pages of tyre news and information relating to our special features on the forthcoming TAFF Awards, Truck Tyres and Brakes simply click more.
Dave Brydon Tyres Ltd, an independent garage in the Scottish Borders has joined the HiQ network, rebranding as HiQ Galashiels. The centre has been established for more than 30 years – HiQ says the centre will receive significant investment in re-branding, but will also maintain its community friendly focus and experienced staff. It will offer a complete vehicle maintenance and repair service. Franchisee Graeme McGauchrane said that joining the HiQ fast fit network was an exciting business investment, as it brought the support and experience of a national brand to the centre: “Becoming part of a national franchise is beneficial us because it adds credibility to the services we already offer.
Cam Systems has announced the appointment of former Michelin employee Richard Stainsby as its new business development manager. He will be responsible for managing and developing client relationships to director level. Stainsby has over 12 years’ experience in the tyre industry, instrumental in implementing marketing strategies, winning new business, renegotiating contracts and developing innovative customer service tools.
No I am not referring to the IT skills of the tyre business at large. To be fair, in recent years our industry has taken giant steps towards the optimization of its processes using computers and better use of the Internet to reach customers. Just look at the continuing proliferation of tyre information and retails sources online, not to mention the trade’s increasing presence on social networking sites and latterly the emergence of a number tyre price comparison sites. The, of course, there’s EDIWheel but that’s all another article (see October’s e-commerce feature for more on this). No, on this occasion I am talking about the UK government policy, metrocentricity and online tyre browsing – or rather the lack of it in Westminster.
It's that time of the year again, when the tyre industry casts its votes to pick the winners of the NTDA's Tyre & Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards. A voting form is included in this magazine (and in our July issue) with the names of those companies that made the final shortlist or votes can be cast via the NTDA website. The final shortlist was compiled from nominations from NTDA members.
The winners will be announced at the NTDA's Annual Dinner, which this year is being held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel at the NEC, Birmingham on 20th October.
The categories are the same as in previous years, but there is also a new award for 2011 – that of "Tyre Centre of the Year". Retailers are invited to propose a depot or garage for consideration and those centres nominated will be the subject of a "mystery shopping" exercise, carried out by Encircle Marketing, who have extensive experience in this area.
Midlands fast fitter Easy Tyre and Autocentres – a HiQ franchise – has announced an upgrade to its website, with a major new online tyre ordering facility. Easy managing director Chris Kisby is HiQ’s largest franchisee, and the new update, with a fresh design and new functionality, is reflective of the network’s retail strategy discussed recently with Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com (see related news link below). The site also allows customers to research tyre prices and book a fitting at the touch of a button.
The Radar tyre brand, alongside exclusive UK distributor Universal Tyres & Spares, has launched Mobilizing Hope in the UK following the breast cancer research fund raising initiative’s US launch in May. A brand belonging to Omni United, the Singapore-based tyre designer and marketer, Radar has committed a minimum annual donation of $250,000 to the BCRF, with the goal of raising $1 million over the next 12 months. The brand will donate $1 for each set of Radar tyres purchased by its distributors and tyre wholesalers. In addition to this incentive, Radar encourages dealers and wholesalers to establish matching donation programs; telling customers about Mobilizing Hope; displaying and distributing Mobilizing Hope marketing materials; and becoming Facebook friends of Radar Tyres and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. All of the brand’s tyres will have distinct labelling identifying the product as supportive of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Easy Tyres & Autocentres, the largest of HiQ’s franchisees, has invested £40,000 on extensive refurbishments to its Peterborough and Stratford branches. The stores, based in Bourges Boulevard and Western Road respectively, have seen considerable increases in footfall, according to Easy managing director Chris Kisby, having implemented HiQ’s network-wide strategies for improving the retail environment.
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