44 www.aftermarketonline.net JUNE 2024 is sustained but sustainable growth. What that means is finding the right garages to work with. We’re serious about sharing success and building businesses of all shapes and sizes, not selling a dream and disappearing. Our membership is varied and full of interesting businesses. There’s no one-size-fits-all, so our approach must be tailored and people-first. One of our centres north of the border, for example, is a great case in point. The owner there has bought and restored a Merlin engine, which he has on display. He’s planning a substantial growth programme that will take them from two ramps to six, and he wants Eurorepar to join him on that journey. At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve currently got 40 authorised repairer businesses in the network, many of whom work with Eurorepar to diversify their aftersales offering. Each member is unique in their set-up and their ambitions. That is what makes my job so rewarding! What are the requirements — and benefits — of joining the network? At a basic level, the minimum requirements are two bays, two technicians and a clean and tidy customer waiting area. Ultimately, we are open to working with a wide spectrum of aftermarket businesses, so we are always open to a conversation. Whether it’s a small independent looking to be more competitive in the local area, or a multi-site operation looking for marginal gains, we can support. The benefits of joining Eurorepar Car Service are myriad. It’s important to note that all members remain fully independent and in control of their destiny — they just gain the security and strength that comes with big-brand backing. Our members benefit from a suite of marketing and business support, our 360° parts offering, discounted access to Stellantis training and complimentary membership of the IGA, Trust My Garage and WhoCanFixMyCar, as well as being able to leverage customer promotions and initiatives such as our service plans and Drive Now Pay Later scheme. What companies does Eurorepar work with to support its parts distribution services? Our parts distribution service is underpinned by our Distrigo Parts Brand. Members of Eurorepar Car Service receive unrivalled access to Distrigo and its 360° parts offering. This offering includes genuine parts for all Stellantis brands, Eurorepar’s all-makes aftermarket range, which includes more than 17,000 references in 60 product families, and our SUSTAINera range of remanufactured components. To meet the growing needs of the UK car parc, Eurorepar has also developed a range of body and collision parts, starting with the launch of the front and rear bumpers for Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall vehicles with other brands to follow. It is planned that our range will exceed 100 references. We also support our members with OE-quality aftermarket parts from a variety of leading supplier brands such as ZF, LuK, Bosch and Delphi. Eurorepar centres receive access to our parts ordering platform, ‘Service Box Multi-Brand’, which gives them a simple, fast and reliable way to order parts from their local Distrigo site. The Distrigo network is made up of 19 hubs and 43 ‘relays’, serving the length and breadth of the UK. The network is constantly developing, but today, 85% of the UK is within a 30-minute drive of a Distrigo hub. In terms of the supply chain, have geopolitical issues and disruptions had a knock-on effect for UK imports — and what is Eurorepar doing to help alleviate any challenges? What I can tell you is that Eurorepar’s parent company, Stellantis, has invested heavily in the UK to alleviate any challenges in the wider global market. Stellantis is due to open a brand-new, multi-million-pound warehouse in Ellesmere Port, which will serve as a storage and distribution hub for the Distrigo network and Eurorepar Car Service. The facility is 60,000m2 and will stock parts for every Stellantis brand under one roof, alongside our all range of makes and models. It means that garages can rely on greater convenience, efficiency, and shorter delivery times. It’s difficult to predict what the geopolitical landscape will look like tomorrow, let alone next year, but this type of investment here in the UK is an important step in securing reliable supply for our garages. Training and tooling are investments in your future – don’t look at it as a cost Business
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