Johor-based Speed Tire and Car Service Centre started selling Hankook tyres in October 2017. Its relationship with Hankook grew and flourished leading the company into the Hankook Masters programme early this year.
Hankook Masters Programme Joined by Speed Tire and Car Service Centre
“We heard a lot of positive feedback from our friends who are also in the tyre servicing industry regarding Hankook; Not only about product quality but also the strong support from Hankook Tire Malaysia. I would say we made the right decision to sell Hankook tyres as this enables us to provide wider options for our customers,” said owner Kiyu Yok Huat.
Kiyu admitted that his decision was somehow influenced by friends. “Many industry friends have become Hankook’s brand ambassadors; they shared with me the various benefits of joining the Hankook Masters programme. Healthy margins and strong marketing support are the two key attractions that convinced us. Furthermore, there were no other Hankook Masters outlets in our area and being the only Hankook Masters in Kota Tinggi is surely an advantage.”
After putting up the Hankook Masters signage, he noticed an increasing number of young drivers visiting the company’s centre.
“Apart from budget constraint, the younger consumers are more receptive and open to new tyre brands. Hankook is considered quite new compared to the major brands in the market. These consumers are increasingly looking at the value proposition and performance of the tyre. With good quality and performance as well as reasonable pricing, Hankook tyres have drawn considerable attention from the younger motorists.”
Other benefits that the company enjoyed were the marketing and promotion activities by Hankook Malaysia to increase brand awareness. He said these investments from Hankook helped Speed Tire sell its tyres and services better.
“We also benefited from the various training sessions. From these sessions, we know Hankook products better as well as the company’s developments and directions,” he added.
Kiyu has been in the tyre industry since 2004 and started by selling second-hand tyres.
Unlike the majority of tyre centres that cover various vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair, Kiyu takes pride in Speed Tire being a tyre fast-fit specialist with 6 employees. “We are a ‘Hankook Masters’ that concentrate solely on tyres, from retail, fitting, balancing, alignment, rotate to repair.”
Moving ahead, he hopes that Hankook Malaysia would bring in more products and organise more roadshows to promote its latest products.
Kiyu also revealed plans to open a new centre for his son. “We are committed to further grow the brand and look forward to continued support from Hankook Malaysia.”
Speed 轮胎及汽车服务中心成为Hankook Masters专门店
新山Speed 轮胎及汽车服务中心从2017年10月开始销售韩泰轮胎。随着该公司与韩泰的关系益发密切，该公司在今年初加入了Hankook Masters的大家庭。
“我们从许多同行里听到了很多有关韩泰的正面反馈。不仅只是产品的品质，还有马来西亚韩泰为代理提供的强大支持。 我认为我们的决定是对的，因为加入了他们之后，我们能够为客户提供更广泛的选择。”东主丘玉发表示。
他承认自己的这个决定在某种程度上的确受到了同行的影响。“我的许多同行朋友都成了韩泰的品牌大使。他们与我分享成为Hankook Masters专门店的许多好处。最吸引我们的两点是稳健的盈利和强大的行销支援。再加上Kota Tinggi除了我们之外没有其它的Hankook Masters专门店也是个肯定的优势。”
在挂上了Hankook Masters的招牌后，他发现前来光顾的年轻驾驶人明显增多了。
“年轻的驾驶人除了预算有限外，他们比较开放，也比较能够接受新的轮胎品牌。比起市场上的其它主要轮胎品牌，韩泰算是个新牌子。这些消费者不断在寻求性价比高的轮胎。良好的品质和性能，再加上合理的价格，韩泰成功引起了许多年轻车主的注意。”
此外，大马韩泰为提升品牌知名度所主办的各种促销和宣传活动，也是该公司所享有的好处之一。他说韩泰的这些投资，助力了该公司销售其轮胎和服务。
“我们也从各种培训课程中获益。 从这些培训中，我们对韩泰公司的发展和方向，以及产品有了更深的了解。”
丘玉发于2004年投身于轮胎行业， 从销售二手轮胎起家。有别于目前大多数包揽各种汽车服务、养护及修理的轮胎服务中心，他非常自豪于将Speed 轮胎发展成为拥有6名员工的快速轮胎更换专家。 “我们是家专注于零售轮胎， 为轮胎进行安装、平衡、定位、对调及修补的Hankook Masters专门店。”
迈向未来，他希望大马韩泰能够引进更多的产品和主办更多的路秀来推广新产品。
他也透露为其儿子设立新服务中心的计划。“我们立志进一步增长韩泰品牌，并期待大马韩泰会持续支持我们。”
