Two of the best-known names in Australian tire retailing have joined forces. JAX Quickfit Tyres and Quick Fit Tyre Service have merged to form JAX Quickfit Tyres.
The resulting company has 72 stores and a combined annual turnover of close to $100 million. When the merger is completed, it will be the second largest privately owned tire franchise group in Australia.
"It's taken 12 months from 'go' to 'whoa,' but we're very confident we are on the right track to a bigger, stronger business and the independent research we have done confirms this," says new CEO Jeff Board.
"At the time the process started, we discovered we had at least a dozen different variations to the franchise agreement. The directors took the decision that we should make a fresh start and began the consultative process to streamline the paperwork. Now we have a uniform agreement and our people rightly feel they have more say in their own future."
Board, formerly general manager of JAX Tyres (Australia), says the new company had its origins in an approach made by Quickfit Tyre Service to JAX Tyres 12 months ago.
Another part of the appeal was research that showed JAX Tyres to have a more mature customer base, whereas Quickfit Tyres, as a relative newcomer on the market, was reaching a younger audience.
"The suggestion was that combining forces would not only make us the strongest regional group in eastern Australia, but one with a very broad customer mix and the power to provide them with even better value," says Board.
"We pride ourselves on being up-to-date with the subjects that concern our customers and our training is constantly being refined to reflect that. Good value and fast efficient service is important to our customers, but they also want answers to questions about safety and fuel economy and the role tires play in those issues.
"Our people have the information and the technology to solve those problems."
In addition to tires and wheels, JAXQuickfit Tyres also offers brake and suspension service, plus associated services such as alignment, balancing and nitrogen fill.
JAX Tyres was established in Sydney in 1949. Quick Fit Tyre Service was established in Brisbane in 1995.
