With a number of restrictions now in place for retailers, tyre stores are still trading and adjusting their internal processes to ensure staff and customers remain safe.
The obvious change is to provide pickup services to fleet customers where possible so they can have their vehicle maintained while working from home. It’s something many tyre retailers do for trade customers everyday and have been providing to customers working from business parks or large corporate offices. Though with COVID-19 the risk of transmission continues long after someone has been in your car.
Chris Beattie, National Fleet Manager at Bob Jane T-Marts, has been working with their network to implement a number of procedures to allow then to continue providing services and reducing the risks.
“We’ve sent guidelines to all T-Marts to ensure they are following the advice from the governments and added additional steps that are unique to our industry”, says Beattie.
“A lot of our fleet customers would be considered essential services so we need to keep them moving. They are keeping the economy going and tyres need maintenance and replacement at regular intervals.”
Some of the advice given to T-Marts includes sanitising vehicles after the work has been completed paying attention to doors and door handles, steering wheels and keys. It’s recommended that counter sales staff only use one computer and regularly clean the keyboard and mouse.
Magazines and tyre brochures have been eliminated from waiting rooms and chairs have been removed to enforce social distancing. SMS is being used for work conformation and other customers notifications to promote contactless transactions. And hand sanitiser is every where.
“It’s a changing environment for our franchisees so we are trying to support them in every way. Fleet customers are a large part of our business so we want them to feel safe when they enter a T-Mart and stay safe on the road with proper tyre maintenance.”
