HiQ – join the revolution

HiQ parent company Goodyear Dunlop has today announced that it will be unveiling its nationwide franchising programme on March 31st, and expects a high level of interest from retail specialists and investors seeking to ‘join the revolution’ and invest in Britain’s fastest expanding vehicle servicing network.

Goodyear Dunlop Managing Director Mark Brickhill stated: “The HiQ business is a core part of Goodyear Dunlop’s plan for profitable growth and today’s HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship launch is evidence that we are continuing to invest to build HiQ as a vital channel to market for us. The HiQ network growth will be through franchising. Our existing franchises have been tremendously successful and there is significant interest from existing and potential new franchises in joining us to invest in HiQ.”

The company’s accelerated franchise growth model will involve the transfer of existing company owned stores into 15 regional zones where Goodyear Dunlop are looking for larger franchise partners to invest and grow HiQ regionally as well as nationally.

Already this year, HiQ has outlined ambitious plans to increase top line growth and replicate the successes of Goodyear Dunlop’s franchise model in the German tyre retailing market and the growing success of established HiQ franchises in the UK.

“There are huge opportunities in the vehicle servicing market due to the lifting of restrictions on who can carry out servicing work on vehicles without affecting warranties. This, coupled with aggressive new product development plans from Goodyear and Dunlop, means that HiQ is in a strong position to grow significantly over the coming years,” stated Brickhill.

The company is inviting potential franchisees to apply between March 31st and May 16th, and will announce the definitive network structure later this summer.

During this time Neil Burrows, HiQ Managing Director, and three members of his management group will be assigned to special projects in the Goodyear Dunlop group. Burrows and his management team have already signalled their desire to personally invest in HiQ. Robin Sharpe, former Goodyear Dunlop Commercial Director, will manage the HiQ team until the summer announcement.

“The fact that Neil and his team wish to invest in HiQ is a signal of the confidence that management have in the future success of HiQ. However, it is vital that we have complete independence and transparency during the franchise application period, which is why we have appointed Robin to lead the HiQ team during the next few weeks,” added Brickhill.