MT 7April_15-19:Layout 1 7/4/08 15:08 Page iii
Sponsored by Motor Trader Top 75 Independent Garages Sponsor’s comment The full Fast-fits package for workshops David Bevan Director, Euro Car Parts
uro Car Parts is proud to sponsor the Motor Trader Top 75 dominate Independent Garages Survey. Already the largest supplier of Ecar and van parts to UK independent garages, Euro Car Parts is the UK’s fastest-growing parts distributor, with 2008 sales likely to exceed £150m. We stock 100,000 different part numbers for all marques and provide fast delivery throughout the UK via our growing network, currently numbering 60 branches. ECP has the full package, for both franchised and independent Top 75 workshops. If you want OE equivalent parts, we have an unrivalled range from Bosch, Bilstein, ContiTech, ContiTeves ATe, Motor Trader’s annual review of the Top 75 independent Delphi, Denso, Hengst, LUK, ZF Sachs, Siemens VDO, SNR, Valeo and many others. All are certified to be of original or
garages reveals a sector which continues to polarise matching quality under Block Exemption Regulations,Continued so that on page iv vehicle manufacturers’ warranties are not affected. Why not try Chris Oakham The rate of attrition among us for the electronics, fuelling and emission system parts that ast-fit operators continue independents, as opposed to fast- most of our competitors do not stock? their dominance of the non- fits and autocentres, has been For the cost-sensitive jobs, such as used cars, our high quality Ffranchised service and repair particularly high since the end of budget ranges offer unbeatable value-for-money. Check out our garage sector, according to the the last decade. This is despite the catalytic converters, pads and discs, clutches, rotating electrics, findings of the 2008 Motor Trader fact that the independent sector as headlamps, signal lamps and body panels. Top 75 Independent Garages a whole, including fast-fits and We also have a wide range of garage equipment, including survey. autocentres, has been the main aircon and diagnostic tools, sourced direct from top Last year we carried out a beneficiary of the demise of DIY manufacturers and backed by full training, technical support and complete revamp of our research car maintenance. More than that, aftersales service. into the UK’s top non-franchised the current incarnation of the block G To take a closer look at what Euro Car Parts can do for your workshops. Essentially we exemption promised to provide a business, visit www.eurocarparts.com widened the definition to include level playing field for independents Most work businesses leading on tyres and and yet on average one fast-fit lines, which recognised the independent garage closes every on cars for a particular make of car is MoT testing and our research in increasing range of service and day. probably a barrier for the majority 2006 revealed they carried out 70 maintenance products on offer The reasons for this decline are aged under of independents, but many also per cent of tests compared to 21 from fast-fits. We also focused on many and complex. However a worry about whether all-makes per cent for franchised dealers and businesses where servicing and major contributor has been a fall in three years old customers will be frightened away less than 10 per cent for fast-fits repair was a major revenue the retail demand for service, by a carmaker’s badge over the and autocentres. But MoT testing stream. maintenance and repair work. This is done under door. might not be enough, especially if For this year’s survey, sponsored has come about because of a “ Government proposals for a by Euro Car Parts, we have taken substantial and continuing warranty and USP required 4+2+2 testing regime come to the same approach and the results improvement in vehicle build Every business, including those in fruition. This plan, if it is ever highlight just how far fast-fits have quality, which manifests itself most not accessible to the independent motor trade, introduced, will mean cars are not encroached on the traditional obviously in extended routine needs a unique selling proposition. tested until their fourth birthday independent garage workshop service intervals, reduced service independents” Fast-fits embody this principle and thereafter only every two sector. content and the move to standard more than most. While-u-wait is years. Conservatively if 4+2+2 manufacturer backed three-year their main USP and price MoT testing happens, 20 per cent Independents disappearing fast new car warranties. perception is important too; of independent garage workshops What we have all come to Indeed three-year warranties, features originally possible could close with the loss of 20,000 recognise as independent garage apart from benefiting retention by because of their basic products of jobs. workshops are generally very small franchised dealer service tyres, exhausts, shock absorbers A further threat to the dominance and are disappearing fast. Back in departments, have meant that and batteries. The easy to fit of independents on MoT testing is 1985 we recorded 18,000 most work on two and three year product lines have ensured growth the concerted effort by fast-fits to independents, 4,200 fast-fits and old cars is done under warranty into often substantial groups in a muscle in on this market backed 450 autocentres, which included and not accessible to changing market against a by a broadened technical offer mobile chains and other independents unless they are one background of skills shortages including routine servicing, brake specialists. Today the number of of the small band of authorised which have seriously hampered jobs and even more complex work independents has fallen by 30 per repairers which emerged as a the traditional independent garage like air conditioning repairs. There cent to 12,500 while there are result of the current block workshop in recent years. is no doubt that fast-fits are intent 3,950 fast-fits and 580 exemption rules. The cost of The principal USP for on taking market share off autocentres. becoming an authorised repairer independent garages has been independent garage workshops. Continued on page IV
7E ARE GETTING BIGGER /VER PARTS NOW IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DISPATCH FROM BRANCHES NATIONWIDE
motortrader.com iii MT 7April_15-19:Layout 1 7/4/08 15:08 Page IV
Sponsored By Motor Trader Top 75 Independent Garages
Continued from page iii Researching the MT Top 75 We have worked hard to ensure businesses should fit this criterion. considerably larger in comparison, To appear in the Motor Trader Top the accuracy of the Motor Trader This could, indeed, be the case bolstered as they are by internal 75 Independent Garages groups Top 75 Independent Garages but owners are often reticent to car sales work and warranty work Top 75 Independent Garages and individual garages should be survey , but if you believe your part with financial information – for their carmakers. Top 75 Previous Latest Turnover Latest Profit Latest Previous Turnover Previous Profit Weekly SMR *1 independent as opposed to being information is incorrect, or you and the majority are not obliged to The upper echelons of the Motor Rank Rank Business Location (£000s) (£000s) Employees (£000s) (£000s) Volumes Sites Bays Cars Fuels 1 1 Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd Broxburn 403,441 37,842 4,227 385,347 39,163 144,231(e) 663*2 n/a No No part of a franchised dealership or have been missed out, please let submit full accounts to Companies Trader Top 75 Independent 2 2 Micheldever Tyre Services Plc Winchester 164,330 4,610 587 148,121 5,015 n/a 26 n/a No No tyre company-owned businesses us know and we shall make sure House. There are also many Garages survey are dominated by 3 3 STS Tyre and Exhaust [Stapleton's (Tyre Services) Ltd] Letchworth Garden City 135,519 1,857 667 116,814 -9,441 n/a 53 n/a No No like ATS Euromaster (a wholly- the questionnaire is mailed to you partnerships and sole traders in tyre outlets and fast-fits. Kwik-Fit 4 4 National Tyres/Autocare Stockport 87,723 4,033 1,046 83,933 3,602 n/a 200 n/a No No owned subsidiary of Michelin). We next time. this sector, which do not have to is by far and away the largest at 5 5* Nationwide Autocentres Solihull 87,200 8,600 1,481 82,400 6,800 13,300 216 21,000 No No have also excluded soft franchises record their results publically. number one with a turnover in 6 7 County Tyre (Holdings) Ltd Bristol 42,964 16 226 42,925 12 n/a 12 n/a No No such as Hi-Q and Unipart Car £1m entry level But it could simply be that 2006 of £403m, which is up 4.7 7 9* North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts Ltd Middlesbrough 39,898 1,612 275 33,481 1,098 n/a 7*3 n/a No No Care Centres and carmakers’ fast- Annual turnover is the main arbiter independent garage workshops per cent on 2005. The figures for 8 8 McConechy's Tyre Service Ltd Ayr 33,792 610 356 31,534 -192 n/a 50 n/a No No 9 11 Setyres [Southern Tyre Co Ltd] Hailsham 27,334 1,352 169 26,044 456 n/a 15 n/a No No fits, because none of these are of entry into the Motor Trader Top are generally very small and only a 2007 were not available at the 10 12 Formula One Autocentres Ltd Stevenage 25,456 431 371 21,443 633 n/a 50 n/a No No cohesive business entities. 75 Independent Garages and this handful measure up to the Motor time of writing. 11 15* Bathwick Tyres Ltd Bath 23,507 114 205 21,964 43 n/a 28 n/a No No Those included should be year’s entry point is £1.04m Trader Top 75 Independent Kwik-Fit also had the largest 12 39* Wilco and Motosave (Fastfit Exhausts Ltd) Norwich 22,674 640 401 21,778 -85 n/a 53 n/a No No principally in the business of compared to £1.01m last year. Garages entry level. Our research number of sites at 663 at the end 13 13 Universal Tyre & Autocentres Dartford 21,452 739 144 20,360 231 n/a 17 n/a No No servicing and maintaining cars and There are ten new entrants in this from 2005 indicates that this is of 2006, although its website 14 16 Merityre Specialists Ltd Andover 19,000 482 181 17,208 320 n/a 19 n/a No No light vans. This means businesses year’s ratings. The combined probably the case with 72 per presently quotes 570 sites. 15 19 PTA Motoring Centres (Petrocell Holdings) Croydon 17,604 347 82 14,131 304 n/a 6 26 No Yes where the main activity is turnover of the Motor Trader Top cent of independents interviewed Interestingly the site also 16 14* Mr Tyre Ltd Birmingham 16,929 (e) 331 130 15,049 (e) 372 n/a 21 n/a No No 17 17 Watling Tyres*4 Dartford 16,125 322 131 15,468 291 n/a 15 n/a No No maintaining commercial vehicles 75 Independent Garage survey, in a random survey having four describes Kwik-Fit as: “experts in 18 18 Exhaust Tyres and Batteries (Worcester) Ltd Worcester 15,095 1,003 138 14,368 658 n/a 15 n/a No No are excluded. Inevitably, though, including estimated turnovers, is service bays or less. Other automotive repair including tyres, 19 20 Dexel Tyre Company Ltd Sheffield 14,019 (e) 94 147 13,600 (e) 994 n/a 13 n/a No No there are many businesses which £1,421m compared to £1,322m surveys suggest that the average exhausts, brakes, MoT testing, car 20 10* Elite Garages Horsham 13,000 (e) n/a 90 n/a n/a n/a 4 n/a No Yes operate across a range of activities last year on a re-calculated basis. independent employs less than servicing and air-con.” Clearly a 21 22 Malvern Tyres [Malvern Tyres (wholesale) Ltd] Droitwich 11,676 -116 95 9,601 62 n/a 14 n/a No No including wholesaling, petrol An entry level of £1m would three productive members of staff. reference to just how far this 22 32* BA Bush and Son Ltd Horncastle 11,100 332 126 10,000 (e) 310 n/a 12 n/a No No *5 retailing, car sales, recovery, re- appear to be quite low and you Certainly franchised dealership dynamic company has moved into 23 23 Four Elms Service Station Rochester 9,212 154 43 8,438 172 60 5 6 No Yes manufacturing, body repairs and would think that many more SMR service departments are 24 24 Tyre Spot Ltd Chester-le-Street 8,465 (e) 268 90 8,220 (e) 262 n/a 10 n/a n/a n/a Continued on page VI 25 31* RSR Tyres & Wheels Ltd Coulsdon 7,702 (e) 30 74 8,100 (e) 31 n/a 9 n/a No No auto electrics. In fact one or more 26 28* Lodge Tyre Company Ltd Birmingham 7,467 (e) 290 110 6,097 (e) 194 n/a 9 n/a No No of these activities is almost a 27 26* Britannia Tyres Ltd Hinckley 7,236 296 84 6,727 308 n/a 5 n/a No No prerequisite of entry because it Top 30 by growth in turnover 28 New Universal Tyres and Spares Ltd Hayes 7,205 23 27 7,733 77 n/a 1 n/a No No seems to be the only way to 29 29 Westbridge Motors (Northampton)*6 Northampton 7,200 (e) 36 35 7,400 (e) n/a 20 1 6 No Yes achieve growth and scale. Top 30 Top 75 Latest Turnover Previous Turnover 30 34 Boarhunt Garage*7 Fareham 6,451 409 103 5,980 363 n/a 2 12 No No However as far as possible we Rank Rank Business (£000s) (£000s) % Gain 31 33 Guildford Tyre Company Ltd Guildford 6,358 126 n/a 5,788 238 n/a 5 n/a No No 32 37 Mr Clutch Autocentres Ltd Rochester 5,402 167 80 4,733 179 n/a 28 n/a No No have sought to exclude 1 46 Halls Auto Electrical Ltd 2,600 1,900 36.8% 33 38 Selecta Tyre Ltd Kettering 5,165 (e) 443 72 4,630 (e) 293 n/a 12 n/a No No businesses with too many non- 2 15 PTA Motoring Centres (Petrocell Holdings) 17,603 14,130 24.6% 34 35 Suthers (Star Garage) Ltd Preston 4,974 n/a 22 5,175 n/a 38 1 4 No Yes aftersales activities. 35 36 Eden Tyre Sales Ltd Ripley 4,753 (e) 84 73 4,786 (e) n/a n/a 6 n/a No No The research for the Motor 3 21 Malvern Tyres [Malvern Tyres (wholesale) Ltd] 11,675 9,601 21.6% 36 New Lea Motors Ltd*8 Cheshunt 4,000 (e) 40 n/a 3,000 (e) -5 n/a 3 n/a No No Trader Top 75 Independent 4 7 North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts Ltd 39,898 33,480 19.2% 37 41 Theale Motor Works Theale 3,750 (e) 18 36 3,750 n/a n/a 1 10 Yes No Garages survey started with a 38 40 Hadleigh Tyre Services Ipswich 3,700 (e) 29 n/a 3,890 (e) n/a n/a 6 n/a No No 5 10 Formula One Autocentres Ltd 25,456 21,442 18.7% questionnaire mailed out to 200 39 42 Gordon's Tyres (Leeds) Ltd Wakefield 3,500 (e) 55 100 3,510 (e) n/a n/a 5 n/a No No 6 3 STS Tyre and Exhaust 135,518 116,813 16.0% 40 43 Kavanagh Motor Group Croydon 3,275 (e) 223 n/a 3,275 (e) n/a n/a 1 n/a No No contenders asking for financial and 41 46 Woodley Autos Group Reading 3,175 220 47 3,025 194 220 5 13 No No performance data about their 7 59 Heatons Garage Ltd 1,570 1,360 15.4% 42 45 Plume Tyres [The Plume of Feathers Garage Ltd] Solihull 3,050 (e) 455 n/a 3,045 (e) n/a n/a 6 n/a No No businesses. We would like to 8 32 Mr Clutch Autocentres Ltd 5,401 4,733 14.1% 43= 47 Strathclyde Tyre Services Ltd Johnstone 3,000 (e) 38 n/a 3,000 (e) n/a n/a 3 n/a No No thank everyone who returned the 43= 30* BS Motors Birmingham 3,000 (e) 291 n/a 3,100 (e) -37 n/a 1 n/a Yes No questionnaire and supplied us with 9 2 Micheldever Tyre Services Plc 164,330 148,121 10.9% 43= New ABC Services & CSS Cheltenham Cheltenham 3,000 (e) n/a 25 n/a n/a 150 1 20 No No quite often very detailed 10 14 Merityre Specialists Ltd 18,999 17,207 10.4% 46 59 Halls Auto Electrical Ltd Bristol 2,600 100 33 1,900 63 80 2 15 No No information and commentaries. 47 50 Peter Watson (Skipton) Skipton 2,500 (e) -17 21 2,450 (e) n/a 70 2 16 Yes Yes 11 71 County Motors Services Ltd 1,110 1,007 10.2% 48 6* Allied Vehicles Ltd*9 Glasgow 2,460 (e) n/a n/a 2,310 n/a 250 1 14 No No Where we did not receive a 49 54= Cole & Day (Bridge End Garage Somersham Ltd) Huntingdon 2,328 46 16 2,203 39 80 1 4 No Yes 12 31 Guildford Tyre Company Ltd 6,357 5,787 9.9% response we completed our 50 51 Colchester Fuel Injection Ltd Colchester 2,300 (e) -54 n/a 2,410 (e) n/a n/a 1 n/a No No research using a number of 13 23 Four Elms Service Station 9,212 8,438 9.2% 51 44 South Eastern Auto Electrical Services Ltd Maidstone 2,294 1 n/a 2,199 5 170 2 7 No No sources. These included business 52 52 District Garage Ltd Bolton 2,259 n/a 11 2,387 n/a 90 1 10 Yes No 14 30 Boarhunt Garage 6,451 5,980 7.9% directories, websites, press 53 56 AB Butt Ltd Leicester 2,000 (e) -87 35 2,100 (e) -18 n/a 1 n/a No No releases, material in the public 15 27 Britannia Tyres Ltd 7,236 6,726 7.6% 54= New GW Martin (Motor Engineers) Ltd Edinburgh 1,900 (e) 20 11 2,000 (e) 29 n/a 1 13 No No 54= 60 Alpha & Yapps Garages Ltd Cardiff 1,900 2 17 2,053 90 100 1 8 Yes No domain and, of course, 16 8 McConechy's Tyre Service Ltd 33,791 31,533 7.2% 56 61 Wayne Connolly Motors Ltd Stockport 1,800 (e) 28 46 1,800 (e) n/a 323 4 42 No No Companies House data. However *10 17 11 Bathwick Tyres Ltd 23,506 21,964 7.0% 57 New Roy Humphrey Group Eye 1,760 (e) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 n/a Yes Yes many potential entrants for the 58 63 Black Diamond Power Products Ltd*11 Warrington 1,600 (e) 41 30 1,500 n/a 52 1 10 No No Motor Trader Top 75 Independent 18 74 Beaufort Motor Company Ltd 1,051 987 6.5% 59 66 Heatons Garage Ltd Ormskirk 1,570 277 7 1,360 195 50 1 4 Yes No Garages study are medium-sized 19 5 Nationwide Autocentres 87,200 82,400 5.8% 60= New Village Motor Company Wallasey 1,500 (e) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 n/a Yes No 60= New Jet Tyres Ltd Basildon 1,500 (e) -20 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 n/a No No and are only obliged to submit 20 49 Cole & Day (Bridge End Garage Somersham Ltd) 2,327 2,203 5.6% abbreviated accounts to 62 62 Treble B Tyres & Exhausts Ltd Caterham 1,498 73 13 1,535 75 n/a 6 n/a No No 63 64 JZ Machtech Kings Langley 1,420 n/a 17 1,470 n/a 45 1 8 No No Companies House and so we had 21 13 Universal Tyre & Autocentres 21,451 20,360 5.4% 64 65 Harish's Auto Services Ltd London 1,400 (e) n/a 9 1,400 (e) n/a n/a 1 12 No No to estimate turnover and other 22 18 Exhaust Tyres and Batteries (Worcester) Ltd 15,095 14,368 5.1% 65 68 Mercury Motors Twickenham 1,350 (e) 7 n/a 1,340 (e) n/a n/a 1 7 No No data. Where estimates are 23 9 Setyres [Southern Tyre Co Ltd] 27,334 26,044 5.0% 66= New Camberley MOT Testing and Repair Centre Ltd Camberley 1,300 (e) 76 n/a 1,500 (e) 88 n/a 1 n/a No No involved, we have marked this 66= 69 Freeway Exhaust & Tyre Tunbridge Wells 1,300 (e) n/a 11 1,300 (e) n/a 240 1 8 No No clearly by appending the 24 41 Woodley Autos Group 3,174 3,025 4.9% 68 70 Ferris Garage Ltd Truro 1,260 (e) 44 19 1,250 n/a 40 2 6 Yes No annotation ‘e’ to the turnover 25 1 Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd 403,441 385,347 4.7% 69= 67 Gimber Motors Penarth 1,250 (e) n/a n/a 1,350 (e) n/a n/a 1 n/a No No figure in the main table. In some 69= 71 John Roberts Motor Services Wrexham 1,250 (e) n/a 20 1,200 90 30 2 10 No No 26 4 National Tyres/Autocare 87,723 83,933 4.5% 71 75 County Motors Services Ltd Cardiff 1,111 34 20 1,007 32 65 (e) 2 10 No No cases we also re-estimated the 27 51 South Eastern Auto Electrical Services Ltd 2,293 2,198 4.3% 72 New Grove Garage (Woodford) Ltd Hornchurch 1,100 (e) 44 n/a 900 (e) 33 n/a 1 n/a No No results from last year in the light of 73 New Lavender Motors Ltd Haywards Heath 1,060 179 15 748 113 100 2 11 No No better information, however we 28 17 Watling Tyres 16,125 15,467 4.3% 74 73 Beaufort Motor Company Ltd Bristol 1,051 38 9 987 37 n/a 1 5 No No 75 74 Autowise Tyre and Autocentres Ltd Burgess Hill 1,040 (e) 123 n/a 1,040 138 n/a 3 n/a No No have not re-calculated last year’s 29 12 Wilco and Motosave (Fastfit Exhausts Ltd) 22,673 21,777 4.1% positions in the Top 75 and this Table notes: (e) Estimated data are denoted by (e) in the 'latest turnover' column. 1. The 'previous rank' column is per last year and not re-calculated for re-estimated or better data on previous turnovers - marked * 2.The number of sites listed for Kwik-Fit corresponds to the latest accounts however their website lists 530 3.North Eastern Tyre & 30 6 County Tyre (Holdings) Ltd 42,963 42,925 0.1% Exhausts has opened an eigth branch since last published accounts 4.Watling Tyres is 49% owned by Universal Tyre & Autocentres 5.As well as service and repair, Four Elms Service Station has three forecourts, a bodyshop and a drive-thru fast food outlet 6.Westbridge Motors (Northampton) includes taxis and fuel 7.Boarhunt Garage includes has been noted where it is the road haulage, and has five sites with two operating garages 8.Lea Motors includes body repairs 9.In previous surveys the whole Allied Vehicles operation was included; but this year we made an estimate for the car workshop only 10.The Roy Humphrey Group is a huge operation on one site, but here we have made an estimate for the car case. Note: This table is based solely on those businesses included in this year's and last year's Top 75 for which figures were available excluding estimates workshop only 11.Black Diamond Power Products includes sales of re-manufactured gearboxes
5NPARALLELED DELIVERY SERVICE SALES ADVISORS NATIONWIDE -ASSIVE STOCK CHOICE INCLUDING A FANTASTIC /%- RANGE 7HY WAIT #ALL ONE OF OUR EXPERTS AND GET THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE BRANCHES NATIONWIDE
IV motortrader.com motortrader.com V MT 7April_15-19:Layout 1 7/4/08 15:08 Page VI
Sponsored by Motor Trader Top 75 Independent Garages
fast-fits and autocentres has with highly developed wholesaling Top 30 by sales per employee become less distinct. operations, car sales or fuel sales Top 30 by profit per employee Top 30 by territorial Either diversify or specialise dominate this table. Lavender Top 30 Top 75 Latest Turnover Latest Sales per Something else we learn from an Motors and Formula One Top 40 Top 75 Latest Profit Latest Profit per Rank Rank Business (£000s) Employees Employee inspection of the players which Autocentres just make it in at Rank Rank Business (£000s) Employees Employee representation 1 2 Micheldever Tyre Services PLC 164,330 587 279,949 can best be described as ‘garage numbers 29 and 30 respectively – 1 59 Heatons Garage Ltd 277 7 39,571 Top 20 Top 75 workshops’ in the Motor Trader the only businesses on this list that Rank Rank Business Sites 2 28 Universal Tyres and Spares Ltd 7,205 27 266,859 Top 75 Independent Garages major on selling labour and can 2 73 Lavender Motors Ltd 179 15 11,946 1 1 Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd 663 3 34 Suthers (Star Garage) Ltd 4,974 22 226,108 survey is how it is necessary to therefore be described as garage 3 1 Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd 37,842 4,227 8,952 either diversify or specialise to workshops. Nationwide 2 5 Nationwide Autocentres 216 4 59 Heatons Garage Ltd 1,570 7 224,286 4 9 Setyres [Southern Tyre Co Ltd] 1,352 169 8,000 achieve and sustain higher levels Autocentres is just outside this 3 4 National Tyres/Autocare 200 5 15 PTA Motoring Centres (Petrocell Holdings) 17,604 82 214,681 5 2 Micheldever Tyre Services Plc 4,610 587 7,853 of turnover. We have just seen Top 30 with a turnover of £58,879 4 3 STS Tyre and Exhaust [Stapleton's (Tyre Services) Ltd] 53 6 23 Four Elms Service Station 9,212 43 214,240 how PTA Motoring Centres per employee. 6 18 Exhaust Tyres and Batteries (Worcester) Ltd 1,003 138 7,271 5 12 Wilco and Motosave (Fastfit Exhausts Ltd) 53 includes fuel and Elite includes Thinking about the turnover per 7 52 District Garage Ltd 2,259 11 205,342 wholesaling and export/import. In employee of the Motor Trader Top 7 7 North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts Ltd 1,612 275 5,862 6 8 McConechy's Tyre Service Ltd 50 8 3 STS Tyre and Exhaust [Stapleton's (Tyre Services) Ltd] 135,519 667 203,177 the same way, the next ‘garage 75 Independent Garages survey as 8 5 Nationwide Autocentres 8,600 1,481 5,807 7 10 Formula One Autocentres Ltd 50 workshop’ in the Top 75 – Four a whole, we calculated an average 9 6 County Tyre (Holdings) Ltd 42,964 226 190,105 9 62 Treble B Tyres & Exhausts Ltd 73 13 5,591 8 11 Bathwick Tyres Ltd 28 Elms in 23rd place – has grown to including estimated turnovers and 10 9 Setyres [Southern Tyre Co Ltd] 27,334 169 161,740 consist of three petrol stations, an projections where the number of 10 13 Universal Tyre & Autocentres 739 144 5,135 9 32 Mr Clutch Autocentres Ltd 28 11 13 Universal Tyre & Autocentres 21,452 144 148,970 accident repair bodyshop, a employees was unknown. This 11 41 Woodley Autos Group 220 47 4,672 10 2 Micheldever Tyre Services Plc 26 mechanical workshop and a fast worked out as £108,747 per 12 49 Cole & Day (Bridge End Garage Somersham Ltd) 2,328 16 145,471 11 16 Mr Tyre Ltd 21 food drive-through. employee, although clearly this 12 15 PTA Motoring Centres (Petrocell Holdings) 347 82 4,233 12 14 Merityre Specialists Ltd 19 13 7 North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts Ltd 39,898 275 145,085 Further down the Motor Trader includes Motor Trader Top 75 13 74 Beaufort Motor Company Ltd 38 9 4,222 Top 75 Independent Garages in Independent Garages entrants 13 13 Universal Tyre & Autocentres 17 14 17 Watling Tyres 16,125 131 123,094 14 30 Boarhunt Garage 409 103 3,971 46th place is Hall's Auto Electrical with often diverse activities 14 9 Setyres [Southern Tyre Co Ltd] 15 15 21 Malvern Tyres [Malvern Tyres (wholesale) Ltd] 11,676 95 122,903 15 4 National Tyres/Autocare 4,033 1,046 3,856 Ltd. It is a typical specialist and including wholesaling, car sales 15 17 Watling Tyres 15 16 74 Beaufort Motor Company Ltd 1,051 9 116,778 supplies a complete auto electrical and fuel sales. 16 23 Four Elms Service Station 154 43 3,571 service. With depots in Bristol and 16 18 Exhaust Tyres and Batteries (Worcester) Ltd 15 17 62 Treble B Tyres & Exhausts Ltd 1,498 13 115,251 Swindon, it covers the South West Profit per employee 17 27 Britannia Tyres Ltd 296 84 3,521 17 21 Malvern Tyres [Malvern Tyres (wholesale) Ltd] 14 18 11 Bathwick Tyres Ltd 23,507 205 114,668 and its customers include Avon The Top 30 table of profit per 18 46 Halls Auto Electrical Ltd 100 33 3,024 18 19 Dexel Tyre Company Ltd 13 Fire and Rescue, Avon Ambulance employee (strictly pre-tax net profit) 19 54= Alpha & Yapps Garages Ltd 1,900 17 111,765 19 49 Cole & Day (Bridge End Garage Somersham Ltd) 46 16 2,896 19 6 County Tyre (Holdings) Ltd 12 Service and the police. is based solely on those 20 18 Exhaust Tyres and Batteries (Worcester) Ltd 15,095 138 109,384 businesses for which figures were 20 3 STS Tyre and Exhaust [Stapleton's (Tyre Services) Ltd] 1,857 667 2,784 20 22 BA Bush and Son Ltd 12 21 14 Merityre Specialists Ltd 19,000 181 104,970 Growth in sales available excluding estimates. 21 14 Merityre Specialists Ltd 482 181 2,661 21 33 Selecta Tyre Ltd 12 The year-on-year growth in Topping this table is Heatons 22 1 Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd 403,441 4,227 95,444 22 24 Tyre Spot Ltd 10 turnover of the Motor Trader Top Garage whose position is probably 22 22 BA Bush and Son Ltd 332 126 2,638 23 25 RSR Tyres & Wheels Ltd 9 23 8 McConechy's Tyre Service Ltd 33,792 356 94,921 75 Independent Garages survey as attributable to car sales. But in 23 17 Watling Tyres 322 131 2,459 a whole from £1,322m to £1,421m second place is a Motor Trader 24 26 Lodge Tyre Company Ltd 9 24 22 BA Bush and Son Ltd 11,100 126 88,095 24 32 Mr Clutch Autocentres Ltd 167 80 2,083 is a little misleading because of Top 75 Independent Garages 25 7 North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts Ltd 7 25 27 Britannia Tyres Ltd 7,236 84 86,144 estimated turnovers. Also new survey new entry, Lavender 25 8 McConechy's Tyre Service Ltd 610 356 1,713 26 15 PTA Motoring Centres (Petrocell Holdings) 6 26 4 National Tyres/Autocare 87,723 1,046 83,865 entrants and re-estimates of Motors. This company is a genuine 26 71 County Motors Services Ltd 34 20 1,684 previous turnovers make this independent garage workshop 27 35 Eden Tyre Sales Ltd 6 27 63 JZ Machtech 1,420 17 83,529 comparison less than robust. established in Haywards Heath for 27 12 Wilco and Motosave (Fastfit Exhausts Ltd) 640 401 1,597 28 38 Hadleigh Tyre Services 6 28 46 Halls Auto Electrical Ltd 2,600 33 78,788 However our Top 30 by growth in over 50 years. 28 10 Formula One Autocentres Ltd 431 371 1,161 29 42 Plume Tyres [The Plume of Feathers Garage Ltd] 6 29 73 Lavender Motors Ltd 1,060 15 70,677 turnover table only includes To put profit per employee into 29 28 Universal Tyres and Spares Ltd 23 27 867 30 62 Treble B Tyres & Exhausts Ltd 6 businesses present in this year's context, we calculated averages 30 10 Formula One Autocentres Ltd 25,456 371 68,615 and last year's Top 75 for which for pre-tax profit and profit as a 30 11 Bathwick Tyres Ltd 114 205 558 Note: This table is based solely on those businesses for which figures were available excluding estimates figures were available excluding percentage of turnover – including Note: This table is based solely on those businesses for which figures were available excluding estimates on growth and scale. They are and the effect on small, Continued from page V estimates. estimates in both cases. The lifestyle businesses where the independent garages could be as the independent garage workshop Garages survey of what could be cannot really be defined as a fast- This sample demonstrates an averages were un-weighted, that is easily the largest with 663 sites performances in terms of profit and repairs, the average job value owners often make a good living devastating as 4+2+2 MoT arena. described as a “garage workshop” fit or autocentre – Elite Garages of overall growth in turnover of eight ‘straight averages’ across all the reported in its latest accounts per employee. is known to be considerably but have neither the desire to testing. In second and third places are as opposed to a fast-fit or Horsham. Its website describes per cent. Thus it seems very likely businesses. The average pre-tax (year-end 2006), and still biggest if higher. expand nor the financial means to Another threat is the growing two more companies leading on autocentre is PTA Motoring Elite as: “…. one of the South's that the businesses in the profit per employee worked out as their website figure of 530 sites is Repairs and repair values do so. The independent garage electronic complexity of new cars, tyres – Micheldever and Centres (Petrocell Holdings) at leading independent car service independent sector as a whole £3,684 per annum or 3.5 per cent taken as current. From the details provided by Threats and opportunities model leading on labour sales is which will be accelerated by the Stapleton’s – but as both have number 15. providers with a turnover in could have achieved an average of turnover. This does not seem an Nationwide Autocentres is next twenty-three entrants, we have The performance of the Motor another constraint. Selling labour drive to meet lower EU carbon extremely large wholesaling Three of PTA’s six outlets are excess of £13 million and 90 year-on-year growth of this order. unreasonable return, although as with 216 sites followed by calculated numbers of repairs Trader Top 75 Independent means buying labour in the first emissions limits. However this operations their turnovers are based at petrol filling stations – employees at our four locations in However this does not mean that the table records some businesses National Tyres with 200. These and repair values – and projected Garages is robust, albeit due to place and with an ongoing skills could also be construed as an distorted in this respect. ostensibly garages with MoT Sussex and Surrey.” So Elite is a the SMR market share held by exceed this comfortably including three companies are the only ones these to the whole Motor Trader either diversification or shortage, technicians appear to opportunity for the more astute Nationwide Autocentres appears testing but even then the lines are garage workshop, or is it? Its independents has grown too well know names like Kwik-Fit, which can claim true national Top 75 Independent Garages. specialisation, or sheer scale for find the franchised sector, or large independent garage workshop in fifth place and Formula One blurred because their website website goes on to say: “We offer because of the number of Micheldever and Nationwide. coverage. The next step down is The average repairs per the larger tyre-led companies. But independent fast-fits and owners who will pursue Autocentres in tenth. In many presents a fast-fit image leading a comprehensive automotive retail businesses that have closed and Indeed it is a tribute to all of the Stapleton’s and Wilco/Motosave employee per annum worked out the future for the smaller players in autocentres, more attractive and specialisation through soft ways these businesses are much on tyres, exhausts, shock service covering tyres, exhausts, because of inflation across a Top 75 entrants that only four out both on 53 sites – the latter as 1,360, with an average value the independent garage workshop perhaps better paid. franchises such as that offered by closer to what we think of as the absorbers, batteries and servicing. petrol, convenience goods, MoTs mixture of activities particularly fuel, of the 63 for which we had profit including a large number of of £80. This means that the Top sector as a whole is far from rosy Externally there are numerous Bosch. traditional garage workshop Also with three petrol filling and fixed price servicing. which has increased in price by figures, including estimates, motorists’ accessory shops. 75 are completing something like because it is subject to so many threats to independent garages. Indeed soft franchises, such as model, which majors on selling stations, its 15th position in the Meanwhile, our Tyres Direct twenty per cent in the last 12 recorded a loss in their latest Motor Trader’s Top 200 18 million repairs per year. internal and external factors - and Two of the biggest are the market Hi-Q, and distance retailing labour unlike fast-fits that turnover-based Motor Trader Top specialist distribution service months. financial year. franchised dealer groups However these figures are very growing competition from for SMR falling in real terms and programmes, like Unipart Car effectively sell ‘parts’. Nationwide 75 Independent Garages is likely provides a reliable tyre and demonstrates how regionally- approximate because of the franchised dealers, which have the possibility of 4+2+2 MoT Care Centres, where suppliers tie with 216 branches offers near to be inflated by fuel sales. exhaust delivery service to retailers Sales per employee Territorial representation based groups are often more diverse nature of many been clawing back business from testing. A further threat is the garages loosely to their brand to national representation. A further example of how the in the South-East as well as Our Top 30 table of sales per In total the Motor Trader Top 75 successful than those with businesses in the Top 75 and, no owners of older cars. possibility of consumer legislation take their products to market, are lines have blurred between export/import facilities.” employee is based solely on those Independent Garages operate national reach. The same does doubt, the inclusion by The fact that the vast majority of if voluntary initiatives like the BSI’s probably the best hope for smaller Blurring of the lines independents, fast-fits and These examples demonstrate businesses for which figures were 1,683 sites in the UK, which is not, though, seem to be true for respondents of individual jobs of independent garages are PAS 80 car servicing Kitemark fail independent garages. The first appearance in the autocentres is the next just how the difference between available excluding estimates. around ten per cent of all UK SMR because the three national relatively low value like tyres standalone sites run by an owner- to reach critical mass. This could G Chris Oakham is an independent Motor Trader Top 75 Independent appearance of a business which independent garage workshops, Unsurprisingly those businesses independent sites. Kwik-Fit is companies all return excellent and MoTs. In terms of servicing driver is a major internal constraint mean statutory garage licensing analyst at Trend Tracker
7ITH 3UPPLIERS LIKE THESE YOU ARE GUARANTEED THE BEST /UR SPECIALIST GARAGE EQUIPMENT DIVISION CAN SUPPLY A BESPOKE SERVICE TO ALL GARAGES INCLUDING !4, EQUIPMENT CUSTOMER SUPPORT INSTALLATION
VI motortrader.com motortrader.com VII