Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto has named its 2024 National Store of the Year as well as the top stores in each region, based on the company’s store benchmarking program called DRIVE.
Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Tapping, owned and run by Dale and Angela Barclay, claimed the Store of Year title in their first full year of operation having joined the network in October 2023 with a perfect 5.00 score in the DRIVE program.
Since 2020, Bridgestone’s DRIVE program has benchmarked its network on customer service, operational excellence, and store presentation in line with the network’s emphasis on trust and transparency.
“This is a massive achievement. We didn’t set out to get this award, but when we heard we were right up there in the national rankings, we made sure that we continued to follow the DRIVE program, reinforcing our focus on treating customers as we would want to be treated,” Dale Barclay said.
According to Angela Barclay, the team’s commitment to a great experience and building trust with their growing customer base helped cement their victory.
“It solidifies all the hard work the team has put in, especially Dale and our first employee in the business, Shaun. Our whole team: Josh, Katrina, and Sarah all put in to make sure the customer is looked after. We have a lot of recurring customers here, and they are always coming back, saying how much they enjoy the customer experience and how they trust us with their car,” she says.
The Barclays took possession of a brand-new Toyota Hilux, complete with a Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Tapping vehicle wrap, as part of their prize provided by DRIVE store of the year program partner Burson Auto Parts.
“We’re pinching ourselves, now we just need to work out who’s going to drive it,” the couple says.
Joining them on 2024 DRIVE program honours list is Queensland winner Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Karalee, owned by Mark Wallace, and Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Belconnen run by Andrew James, who claimed back-to-back NSW/ACT Store of the Year titles.
Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Coolaroo owned by Abdul Basit claimed the top spot in VIC/TAS, and SA/NT was won by Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Kidman Park owned by Andrew Andrawos.
In addition the Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network received double accolades in last year’s Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards, taking out gold in the Independent Car Servicing, and silver in the tyre retailer category.
Bridgestone Australia’s sales director, Claudio Sodano, says that the DRIVE program showcases the best of the best.
“The Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto network had an exceptional year in 2024, and together we have a lot to celebrate. As a network, we increased our net promoter score from 83 to 87. We also won awards, and opened our 200th Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto store in Werribee, Victoria,” Sodano says.
“But, there can only be one store of the year, and there is no denying that Dale and Angela Barclay and the Bridgestone Select Tyre & Auto Tapping team live up to our values of customer service, trust, and transparency. They are deserving of the title.
“This latest list of possible DRIVE program winners was tighter than ever, with only a few points separating the top stores. The team at Tapping did everything right and managed to score a perfect result for the year – made even more impressive that it was their first year of operation,” he says.
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