Garage Buying Group grows equipment range

Garage Buying Group Ltd (GBG) is seeing more interest in its enhanced range of garage workshop equipment.

Since launching in April 2021, Garage Buying Group has added ranges from major manufacturers to form a product programme covering vehicle lifts, wheel alignment, carbon cleaning, tyre equipment, air conditioning and more.

“We know that when it comes to garage equipment, it’s a ‘big ticket’ purchase so customers often have questions or need to understand the buying process as well as the support and options available,” said Peter Lloyd, Operations Director at Garage Buying Group.

GBG are keen to emphasise they’re not a ‘web only’ operation. In fact, a team with over 35 years garage equipment experience is only a phone call away during office hours.

“We are getting more calls and generally when we get enquiries, customers are pleased to find we can provide the quick service and skilled attention they need,” said Peter.

When it comes to aftersales support, the GBG model is no different to most other UK sellers of garage equipment. If the in-house team can’t answer the question, they coordinate support from manufacturers and arrange any service work as needed.

“As a smaller operation, we’re not chasing sales targets,” said Peter. “Our ethos is all about providing competitive prices back up with first-class service.

“We can arrange the supply, delivery and installation of all types of garage equipment and brands, meaning customers can be assured of a hassle-free process from start to finish.”

Payment options include card, bank transfer or PayPal’s ‘Pay in 3 months’ service for short-term credit. GBG can also arrange provide leasing options too.

Garages can browse the range onsite. Telephone enquiries are welcome on 03300 244518.

Garage Buying Group reaches records at the double

Garage Buying Group Ltd (GBG) has announced record sales months for both October and November 2022.

The digital platform, which promises easy online ordering and ‘direct from supplier savings’ as the UK’s first buying group for garages believes that the growth in business is down to several factors.

“We’ve been adding more suppliers and more products in the last few months,” said Lee Corfield, Managing Director of GBG. “It’s taken some time to become recognised but we’re now seeing encouraging levels of repeat business too.”

Garage Buying Group already has over 750 garage members; joining is free and enables members to buy on the site anytime at reduced prices.

“Our exclusive Autonoe consumable ranges are performing particularly strongly,” said Lee. “They cover multi-fleet engine oils, antifreezes and TFR with AdBlue starting to sell for us too.”

The growth rates are eye-catching for an emerging business that launched in April 2021. October saw revenues finish 31% higher than in their previous best month in May 2022. Having just finished November, monthly trading was 55% higher than October’s very brief record high.

“Not every month is going to set records but a lot of work has gone in to develop the web platform, to help garages find us online and to understand the concept so it’s pleasing to see more traction.”

GBG believe increased order volumes will be essential in paving the way towards further enhancing the suppliers listed, the product and service ranges available as well as ensuring competitive price points for members.

Garages can join for free here whilst suppliers can also register their interest.

New company structure for Garage Buying Group

Garage Buying Group (GBG) will trade from 1st October as new company Garage Buying Group Ltd.

Since launching in early April 2021 GBG has generated significant interest with hundreds of garages joining the group. There is also a huge pipeline of interest from suppliers, with Sealey Ltd the most recent to list.

As part of the changes Managing Director James Onions leaves the business with immediate effect.

“I’m sure GBG will grow and deliver business benefits to all parties,” said James. “My thanks go to our customers and suppliers for the support, along with best wishes to the new management team.”

Garage Buying Group Ltd will now operate from larger premises supported with greater staff resources and specialist advisors that will enable greater support for the development of the buying group.

Having been involved with GBG since the start, Lee Corfield, Managing Director of Staffordshire-based air con specialist Autocooling Ltd will now assume overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of Garage Buying Group Ltd.

“I’m excited to be getting much more closely involved with Garage Buying Group and look forward to accelerating our plans and broadening the product ranges available,” said Lee. “It’s very much business as usual!”

Garages can join GBG for free at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/product/membership-of-gbg/. Suppliers can also register their interest at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/become-a-supplier/.

Garage Buying Group reaches 100 members

Garage Buying Group (GBG) has reached a milestone just 7 weeks after launching. Everything Auto of Dudley, West Midlands became the 100^th garage to join the group on Monday 7^th June.

Everything Auto undertake a wide range of work including MOT, service, repairs, bodywork and trim repairs as well as offering ‘our place or yours’ mobile air con servicing.

Owner / Director Spencer Crannage discovered GBG via Facebook.

“I saw some great prices on air con refrigerant and visited the site,” said Spencer. “It looks a good idea so I joined.”

Joining Garage Buying Group is free to trade and all garages are welcome. The first hundred members already includes fast-fit tyre specialists, bodyshops and commercial vehicle workshops alongside the majority of independent garage workshops.

“We’re excited to see our concept appealing to a range of garages,” said James Onions, Director of Garage Buying Group. “We know building up the garage membership, the product programme and establishing the brand is going to take some time so it’s great to be able to recognise these milestones as we go.”

GBG anticipate a busy June. Email member communications are ramping up during the month and a concerted effort to engage more suppliers is planned too.

“We’ve identified a first group of suppliers and brands we want to invite to join,” said James. “We’re hopeful of getting the support we need to keep growing.”

Garages can join GBG at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/product/membership-of-gbg/. Suppliers can also register their interest at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/become-a-supplier/.

Garage Buying Group offering Champion compressors

Garage Buying Group (GBG) has added Champion air compressors to its fast-growing trade website for garages.

Champion air compressors offer complete compressed air solutions for garages. The GBG site will list the most popular oil-injected screw, piston, rotary vane, rotary scroll and portable compressors, along with a complete air treatment range.

Champion air compressor options include space-saving, low noise and energy efficient models. High levels of durability and reliability, alongside strong aftersales support are common values throughout the portfolio.

Vince Blower, Sales Director at Champion, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Garage Buying Group and believe that the potential exists for a successful working relationship.”

The full Champion range can be viewed or purchased now at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/product-brands/champion/. Members of Garage Buying Group will benefit from exceptionally competitive prices on this direct-from-supplier programme of air compressors, backed up with UK stockholding.

Garages can join GBG for free at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/product/membership-of-gbg/

Bartec Auto ID lists TPMS solutions with GBG

Garage Buying Group (GBG) has added Bartec Auto ID’s core range of TPMS sensor solutions to its ‘direct to garage’ e-commerce website.

Bartec enquired days after the GBG site went live and following an initial discussion, the product range was soon listed.

“We were interested to find out more,” said Tony Pizii, Group Sales Manager at Bartec. “For us, it’s really useful to have a website where garages can click and buy the tools and particularly our RITE-SENSOR® replacement TPMS sensors.”

GBG are listing Bartec’s Wireless TECH600 TPMS Tool, the TAP100 Electronic Type Tread Depth and Pressure Testing Tool as well as the Diesel Particulate Filter Tester DPF100.

The RITE-SENSOR® replacement TPMS sensors meanwhile, can be purchased individually or in packs of tens. RITE-SENSOR® comes assembled, with instructions and needs to be programmed before use.

Members of GBG – which is free to join for all UK garages – benefit from low prices and easy online ordering for Bartec’s range.

“We’re happy to support this initiative to make our products more easily and widely available,” said Tony.

The demand for TPMS sensors within the aftermarket is set to boom. The technology has been fitted to all vehicles since 2014 and generally the life expectancy of non-replaceable sensor batteries is 5 to 10 years.

“It’s not a product we’d immediately thought of,” said James Onions, Managing Director of Garage Buying Group. “However, it was clear very quickly that there was clear potential and we look forward to working with Bartec.”

The full Bartec range can be viewed or purchased now at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/product-brands/bartec/.

Garages interested in keeping up to date on developments and new product ranges can join for free at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/register-to-buy-or-become-a-member/.

Garage Buying Group adds Autonoe engine oils

Garage Buying Group (GBG) has introduced Autonoe engine oils, the second major product launch in as many weeks.

Nineteen ultra-popular grades are each available in both 199 litre and 20 litre pack sizes. Delivery is free to UK mainland garages on all orders of 199 litres and over.

Autonoe oils are exclusive to GBG and compete on specification and price with the private label brands that have been gaining share in the market in recent years. The ‘everyday grades’ cover the OEM specifications most commonly used in workshops, with 5w30 C3, VW 504/507 and 5w30 C2/C3 oil being big sellers.

Other grades include 5w30 fully synthetic PSA, 5w20 Ford and Jaguar fully synthetic, along with 0w20 and 0w30 fully synthetic grades. 5w30 multi-fleet manual and auto synthetic gear oils complete the line up.

“We’re excited to have exclusivity on the Autonoe trade brand to compete at the entry level price point on these faster selling oils,” said Managing Director, James Onions. “Autonoe oils can be used with confidence due to quality base stocks and additives.”

The oils are listed with comprehensive information at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/product-category/engine-oil/. For easy reference the most popular are listed at the top, with the remainder in viscosity order. The website includes specification sheets so garages can check the formulations against what they currently use most frequently.

UK workshops will have noticed oil prices have been subject to sharp increases recently with global demand exceeding supply, due to pressure on refineries and reduced demand for aviation fuel due to the pandemic.

“We’ve launched just when prices are rising from all suppliers,” said James. “Garages shopping around will see our ‘direct from supplier’ prices are extremely competitive.”

GBG hopes to introduce other brands to enhance its oil programme further in the months ahead.

Garages interested in keeping up to date on developments and new product ranges can register free at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/register-to-buy-or-become-a-member/. Suppliers can enquire at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/become-a-supplier/.

Garage Buying Group launches with new website

Garage Buying Group has launched a new e-commerce trade website for garages, to spearhead its novel business concept.

After going live 20^th April 2021, the initial focus of the UK buying group for garages will be selling Harp International’s range of refrigerants during the summer season. New suppliers are expected to be added every 1 to 2 weeks over the coming months.

“We’ve had a universally positive reception from our few selective conversations with suppliers,” said Managing Director, James Onions.

“Starting out, we’ve got two distinct challenges: the first is to quickly grow an attractive product portfolio whilst the second is to communicate the potential of the buying group concept.”

One clear intention is to run a lean business, focusing on using technology to connect garage buyers and supplier sellers closely and seamlessly, without introducing excessive operating costs.

“In some ways our concept of engaging and involving garages runs directly opposite to the current aftermarket conventions,” said James. “The opportunity exists because lots of suppliers who’ve invested extensively to build agile supply chains and sophisticated logistics capabilities are now finding a diminished number of routes to market, with margin pressures, so we’re looking to flex these capabilities in a slightly different way.”

Longer term Garage Buying Group will operate split level pricing with only members accessing very low ‘Member Price’ levels. However, to simplify things initially, all garages can buy everything at member price until at least the end of June.

“We’re realistic enough to know we’re at the start of a long road so we want to make it attractive for garages to do some business with us as we begin the process of communicating our concept’s benefits and growing our range to make the proposition more compelling,” said James.

Garages interested in keeping up to date on developments, new product ranges and special offers can opt in by email from the homepage of the website or register at https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/register-to-buy-or-become-a-member/.

Garage Buying Group also welcomes suppliers to get in touch. Interest can be registered from https://garagebuyinggroup.co.uk/become-a-supplier/.