Tyre fitter treads new ground with garage deal

Added : ( Sun Jun 15 2003 )

BLACK Circles, the Peebles-based online tyre fitter, has signed a deal with a major garage chain that it claims extends its national network of centres beyond that of one of its main rivals - Kwik-Fit.

Black Circles can save motorists between 20% and 40% off high street prices with a speed of service comparable and exceeding what is currently available from high street dealers.

The deal means motorists calling the call centre or visiting the company’s website can buy new tyres and arrange to have them fitted at almost 650 outlets across the UK giving Black Circles the largest tyre fitting network in the country.

Welch will hear on Tuesday if he has been named young entrepreneur of the year at the Shell Livewire awards after scooping the top prize in the Scottish heats last month.

He said: "As long the business is doing well, the award is pretty much garnish. It would be a great pat on the back for the whole team but as far as exposure for the business goes it is pretty much invaluable."

Welch was lured to Scotland by a job offer from Farmer who was impressed by an earlier tyre business he set up while at university in his native Liverpool. He founded Black Circles in November 2001 after Kwik-Fit’s sale to Ford and now employs eight staff at a centre in Peebles.

Welch said: "As long as we have contact with our customers on the phone and on the web we can be anywhere. The first thing you look for is support from the local enterprise councils and staff resources. Peebles was an obvious choice because there is less competition with other companies just starting out."
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