Halfords has been drawing motorists to a two-minute tyre safety video game to test drivers’ knowledge during Tyre Safety Month. The game, 20,000 Miles in Two Minutes, has condensed a tyre’s 20,000-mile lifespan into two minutes – testing how drivers will react to and overcome road hazards as they make their way along a dual carriageway.
Following the news that Formula One Autocentres can now count 124 garages in its growing network after the addition of its Spalding branch on 13 October 2021, company representatives have confirmed that they are aiming to grow the network to at least 135 autocentres by the end of 2022.
Speaking on behalf of the executive officers of the NTDA, national chairman Martin O’Brien welcomed delegates to the 7th NTDA Tyre Industry Conference (sponsored as it was by GB Tyres (UK) Ltd in association with Linglong Tyres), before updating us all on the continued growth of the association and addressing the subjects of recycling (via a TRA update) and industry training.
BA Bush & Son has continued to progress its expansion plans with the acquisition of Rotherham based tyre company Allround Tyres. As the latest part of the tyre distribution and servicing group, BA Bush said the company will continue to offer tyres, exhausts, and batteries as well as vehicle servicing, repairs, diagnostics, and MOTs. Allround Tyres also offers a mobile fitting service to the local area.
The Office National Statistics (ONS) has reported a record number of job vacancies in July to September 2021 – 1,102 million in total, an increase of 318,000 from its pre-pandemic January to March 2020 level. This was the second consecutive month the three-month average has risen over one million. And what’s more, vacancies for roles related to mechanical repair were amongst the leading sectors.
European Tyre Enterprise Ltd (ETEL), which owns both Kwik Fit and Stapleton’s, will rebrand 60 of its Tyre City retail centres as either Kwik Fit or STS Tyre Pros as the company focuses on those two retail channels. According to the company, the decision follows a strategic review over the last few months, which found that ETEL should “simplify its retail operations and operate under two brands, Kwik Fit and STS Tyre Pros”. The transition of the centres to their new brands has begun and will continue over the coming weeks.
Last year GfK analysts reported that online tyre buying has increased as a consequence of recent lockdowns. Based on the same sources, it has been further predicted that more tyres will be sold online and that the budget tyre sector will benefit the most from the prevailing conditions. In addition, Statista research into online shopping behaviour in the UK shows that British buying habits have changed as a consequence of the pandemic. By February 2021, approximately 75 per cent of UK shoppers said that they have been shopping more online. And a report published in May 2021 found that over 93 per cent of consumers had made a purchase online in the last 30 days. So, we know it is growing in popularity, but is buying tyres online a good idea? Since offline shopping has decreased over the course of time, and as more and more people are turning towards online shopping, Tyres & Accessories took note when retailer Dartford Tyres shares its reasons in favour of buying tyres online.
Bush Tyres have opened a new branch on the Walkerville Industrial Estate in Colburn, Catterick, North Yorkshire. According to the company, the building, which was previously used as an NHS Community Equipment Store, has been fully revamped and equipped to offer a wide range of automotive services to the local community. The new branch will supply and fit car, 4×4, SUV, van, truck and agricultural tyres as well as offering services such as wheel alignments, wheel balancing, exhausts, brakes, suspension, batteries and servicing. The Catterick branch will also offer mobile tyre fitting and on-site farm repairs.
Michelin approved motorcycle dealer FWR has completed a major depot refurbishment, including the installation of a new two-wheel MOT station. One of the longest standing motorcycle partner dealers in the Michelin Quality Centre (MQC) network is now owned by racer Bob Collins. With the company affected severely by the pandemic, Collins and his team used the time wisely, renovating its site in Kennington Road, London.
Halfords Group plc announced a strong trading update on 8 September, with the 20-week figures once again illustrating the rapid growth of the company’s automotive businesses such as Halfords Autocentres and its more recently-acquired tyre wholesale and truck tyre operations.
On Friday 3 September Halfords unveiled its new retail concept at its recently refurbished Colchester branch. The new concept seeks to integrate the differing parts of the Halfords portfolio (including autocentres and mobile experts) and was hailed by CEO Graham Stapleton as “the future of Halfords”. As well as the Colchester pilot, the new concept will be trialled in two other locations.
In April we reported that Eden Tyres & Servicing was planning to open its 19th retail branch in 2021. Roughly five months later, the company which is 40 this year has achieved that target with the opening of a new location in Grantham.
Halfords
Formula One Autocentres
NTDA
Formula One Autocentres
ONS
Eden Tyres
Google Maps; Bluesky, Infoterra Ltd & COWI A/S, Infoterra & Bluesky, Maxar Technologies, The GeoInformation Group
Prideview; ETEL
Andrea Piacquadio
Bush Tyres
Halfords
Halfords
Eden Tyres