First Stop UK is hoping to make 2021 the most successful year in the network’s history, after retail manager Mark Widdows declared: ‘We’re looking forward to our most significant period of growth yet.’
It has been a year of huge change at First Stop with the recent recruitment of two retail consultants to complete its support team for new and existing partners, while new marketing manager Nikki McCluney has overseen a network rebrand with a flagship store in striking corporate identity, which was unveiled in October.
The depot, The Auto Workshop in Birmingham, is one of a number of high-quality new partners to join First Stop in recent months, as the brand makes good progress on its journey to open 220 centres by 2024.
Despite the obvious challenges faced by the global pandemic, First Stop has recorded a successful year in numerous ways, as a new eCommerce site was created, SEO and social media support was ramped up for partners and a greater stock of Bridgestone and Firestone premium products was secured than ever before – wit accompanying sell-out campaign material.
First Stop’s Retail Manager Mark Widdows said: “Our New Year’s Resolution is to grow significantly and attract a high number of partners to the network.
“We know that this is going to be a challenge, but we have the structure in place to make it a really successful year ahead. In many ways, we have put the building blocks in place in 2020, in what has been an extremely challenging year.
“We have recruited some real industry experts to offer support and guidance to our partners, while our all-encompassing customer package is the most comprehensive we have ever been in a position to offer. No stone has been left unturned in our work to offer the solutions that dealers in the aftermarket need, ranging from social media support right through to health and safety and employment law guidance.
“We’re really excited about the future and are confident of further growth on the back of some memorable successes in 2020.”
Caption: Pilgrim Tyres and The Auto Workshop were two high quality retailers to join the First Stop network in 2020.
