MEDIA RELEASE
21/10/14
Sales growth leads to new flagship Bridgestone commercial store opened this month in Christchurch
Bridgestone executives, senior management and key customers attend grand opening at relocated store
After almost two decades in the same location, Bridgestone Tyre Centre Christchurch has relocated and reopened at much
larger premises on 652 Halswell Junction Rd, Hornby South. It was growth in sales which prompted the need for a bigger
space to facilitate the servicing of commercial and residential vehicles. This new store will be a flagship for the
company in Christchurch. NZ Group General Manager John Staples was joined by international dignitaries as well other
company executives, staff and customers at the official opening of the store earlier this month on 8th October.
Geoff Brain, the Commercial Business Manager NZ for Bridgestone New Zealand, says the new store represents an enormous
upgrade for facilities in Christchurch. “The design of the new facility will be what we use moving forward for all our
commercial centres,” he says. “The new store has three lanes as opposed to one, which means that there will be a faster
turnaround on vehicles being serviced and customers will not need to wait as long.”
Jeremy Mackintosh, the National Stores Manager – Commercial for Bridgestone New Zealand, says the larger premises has
been fitted out with new technology and equipment that will lead to faster turnaround times for customers. “It also
provides an excellent operational base for the team to provide offsite servicing, allowing up to 16 of our fleet service
vehicles to go out to commercial premises, servicing a wide range of customers around the greater Christchurch region.
The facilities at this new location allow our 30 staff to service tyres on anything from a wheelbarrow to a large earth
moving vehicle.”
Around 200 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility. The feedback from staff and customers was
overwhelming with manager Stuart Clough saying that the larger facility is something that Christchurch has been in need
of for some time.
Among the guests was Mr Kunitoshi Takeda from Bridgestone China Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd in Singapore who was presented
with an All Blacks jersey.
About Bridgestone New Zealand Limited
Bridgestone New Zealand Limited was formed in September 1998, following the merger of two of the world’s premier tyre
companies: Bridgestone and Firestone. Today the Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s leading tyre manufacturer,
supplying quality tyres for cars, trucks, buses, construction and mining vehicles, industrial machinery, agricultural
machinery, aircraft, motorcycles and others. In New Zealand, Bridgestone, Firestone and Supercat branded tyres are
available throughout the country at a number of retailers, including Firestone, Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Tyre
Centre and other Bridgestone stockists. These retailers also provide a comprehensive range of tyre and automotive
related services. Bridgestone New Zealand Limited has been awarded the internationally recognised carboNZero
certification since 2010. www.bridgestone.co.nz/
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