Tag: Tyre retail
Tyreteam invests in CAM’s fitter-force tablet technology
South-east UK tyre service provider, Tyreteam has invested in systems supplier CAM’s technology for the first time with its new fitter-force digital tablet technology. The new system is designed to remove back office costs and inaccuracies associated with the manual completion of service work. CAM adds that fitter-force will enable the supplier of commercial, passenger van and industrial to improve its customer service through operational responsiveness.
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.
MOT test demand set to spike in 2019
The combination of increasing demand for MOTs and stricter test criteria look likely to create a boom in demand at garages and for tyres in particular. After years of post-financial crisis scrappage schemes and investment, the UK car industry got used to boom times and consecutive year-on-year growth.
Falken specialist Walsall Wood Tyre & Service promotes tyre safety
Walsall Wood Tyre & Service, a Falken Tyre specialist based on Hall Lane Industrial Estate, Walsall, held a tyre safety check in December at The Fairlawns Hotel and Spa, in Aldridge, for all staff and patrons. The event at the award-winning independent hotel was the first in a series of safety initiatives within Walsall Wood’s local community.
Pirelli opens fourth branch of P Zero World tyre boutique concept in Dubai
Pirelli has opened a fourth branch of its tyre boutique retail concept P Zero World on a third continent. The store follows previous openings in Los Angeles, Munich and Monte-Carlo. More than 60 supercars belonging to local collectors formed a parade through the city to mark the Dubai opening. The following day more than 200 cars took to the track at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi for the P Zero Experience: Pirelli’s track day event.
Motokiki tyre price comparison site launches
A new online tyre price comparison service has launched, aiming to provide UK motorists with an online tool to choose their tyres quickly and easily, and bringing together products from a wide variety of retail businesses. Motokiki’s comparison engine is designed to offer an impartial whole of market price comparison of tyres from a broad range of suppliers, as well as tyre label result comparison, and the location in which they can be fitted. The company initially comprises 20 staff in offices a short walk from Port Talbot railway station, working on the technical development and marketing of the website, with other aspects of the business outsourced to teams around the country, such as its London-based communications agency, FWD Consulting. Tyres & Accessories travelled to south Wales in late November to attend the launch, with Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”) and the Development Bank of Wales, which have collectively made an equity investment of £3 million in the company, also represented.
Michelin rejuvenates retail programme
In May Tyres & Accessories reported that Andy Aylward had been appointed as Michelin’s retail programme manager for the UK and Ireland. In this role, the 30-year Michelin veteran is responsible for overseeing the company’s network of over 80 accredited car and motorcycle Michelin Certified Centres, which is now known as the Michelin Automotive Programme. Since then, there has positive feedback from the car tyre retail sign and a number of initiatives have been kick started in the two-wheel as well as car tyre side of things. At the end of November Tyres & Accessories met up with Aylward in order to find out more.
NTDA taking action against false Association membership claims
The NTDA is taking action against a number of UK tyre retailers who are falsely claiming to be members of the association, displaying the NTDA logo on their recovery vehicles, websites and marketing collateral, or who are advertising that repair work carried out at their tyre depots is carried out to “the NTDA standard”.
Just Tyres kiosk opening in Rooksley Centre
Just Tyres is holding a launch party to celebrate the opening of a permanent fitting centre in Rooksley Centre, Milton Keynes on Saturday 1 December 2018. Located in the Deltic Trade Park, the new centre offers a unique tyre service enabling customers to get their tyres checked and fitted whilst shopping - and there’s the opportunity for customers to win prizes.
Service training and online presence key profits, Irish Michelin dealers told
Developing an online identity and regular customer service training for staff are key to boosting profits, Michelin’s Republic of Ireland partner dealers have been told at an annual event. Delegates at the full-day session at Langton House Hotel in Kilkenny were given advice on developing their digital offering through websites and social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.
Bridgestone, German workshop chain pitstop strengthen collaboration
Bridgestone has increased its strategic cooperation with the German workshop chain pitstop. As part of a minority stake in Kulas Holding GmbH, which holds 100 per cent in pitstop.de GmbH, Bridgestone and pitstop plan to cooperate closely in sectors of mobility solutions, tyre and workshop services to open new markets. The targeted investment is subject to German antitrust approval.
First Stop appoints retail business consultant
The First Stop network has appointed Brenden Marais as south region retail business consultant. Marais previously held roles at Euro Car Parts (general manager and operations manager over the past six years) and The Parts Alliance (account manager).
Formula One Autocentres buys Autowise
Formula One Autocentres is continuing its expansion programme with the acquisition of Autowise Tyre and Autocentres Ltd. Comprising of seven branches, Autowise is one of the South East’s leading tyre and autocare specialists, offering tyre, servicing, MOT, exhaust, brake, clutch and air-conditioning services. As a result Formula One Autocentres now has 110 branches in total.
Kerr’s Tyres buys M & S Tyres Enniskillen
Northern Ireland-based Kerr’s Tyres & Auto has acquired M & S Tyres in Enniskillen for an undisclosed sum. According to the company, the acquisition will further strengthen Kerr’s Tyres’ regional coverage. Kerr’s have retained the current staff and are recruiting further so customer service in the region can be maintained and further services introduced.
Do markets dream of electric cars?
Phillip K Dick may well have been thinking far further into the future than the current popularisation of electric cars when he wrote his famous novella “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”, however the rise of big data alongside electric and autonomous vehicles means the most advanced cars of today have an increasing amount in common with the artificial intelligence in the source material for the film Blade Runner.
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