PMM pays a visit to Runcorn to find out how one of the British tyre sector’s most prominent suppliers continues to keep the wheels of the tyre servicing market turning.
This year will see Grouptyre blow the candles out on a very significant birthday cake. 2016 marks the company’s 20th anniversary and, as it heads into its twenties, the firm is looking in fine fettle. Recognising the need for better supply into the tyre distribution and servicing markets, Grouptyre was formed in 1996 when a group of like-minded individuals came together to service the UK market.
The organisation now consists of ten independent members around the UK and Irelan
d. The function and aims of the organisation is similar to that of the ‘buying group’ culture that we see in the motor factoring sector, with independent members (wholesalers) coming together to represent a national identity – Grouptyre UK.
Although each member company operates independently, under the Grouptyre umbrella they’re able to negotiate supply terms with tyre manufacturers while benefiting from the investment that Grouptyre makes in its sales, distribution and marketing services at a national level.
40 warehouses are now in operation nationwide and the 450 delivery vans that are seen whizzing around on any given day allows Grouptyre to comprehensively support its customer base throughout the whole of the UK & Ireland. Further investment in more warehousing sites are in the pipeline, which can only be a good thing for retailers. Additionally, 39 highly skilled and knowledgeable Business Development Managers are stationed geographically around the UK & Ireland, and these are supported by three Regional Sales Managers.
Overseeing the whole operation is Grouptyre’s head office in Runcorn, which is primarily responsible for servicing major national accounts while acting as a central point for the whole national business through its purchasing, sales and marketing departments.
This structure is fundamental in helping Grouptyre and its members to realise the ambition of delivering a local service with national strength, something that is given further encouragement by the fact that members are always looking to invest in new facilities and improve their service offering to the retailer.
Some outlets are even taking as many as six deliveries per day. Grouptyre offers a range of exclusive brands and each of these provides re-sellers the chance to make a good margin, with merchandise, point of sale material and online support offering retailers a better chance to further realise the opportunity.
Knowing their own local area and customers well is key to the service that Grouptyre’s members provide, and the fact that they’re able to work independently truly enforces Grouptyre’s virtues of national strength with local service.
