EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Blackcircles.com sees 80% of new customers buying tyres online for first time 

High percentage of visits and purchases made during working hours 

Fitting centre network tops 2,000 locations for UK's number one online tyre retailer 

blackcircles.com, the UK's number one online tyre retailer with the largest network of garages and fitting centres across the nation, is experiencing a steep increase in sales from new customers including 80% who have never previously bought tyres online. The metrics indicate that tyre retailing, which has traditionally lagged online adoption in other sectors like banking and travel, is going through something of a transformation.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160601/374272LOGO )

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160601/374273 )

While over 50 per cent of visitors to the Blackcircles.com site are doing so via mobile devices, the team has also picked up on some unusual buying behaviour including the fact that the busiest time for tyre purchases is during working hours and outside of what might be considered the standard lunchtime break.

Blackcircles' Marketing Director, Nick Leonard, said: "Customer data is showing us that increasing numbers of people are now sitting at home in the evenings, usually in front of the TV, or at work on a weekday morning and purchasing tyres online."

"Overall, it's a big deal because the vast majority of our new customers have never bought tyres online before.  Whether on a smartphone, tablet or desktop, people know they are only a short drive from a fitting centre so it makes life really easy for them - what we call 'click and fit'."

The Blackcircles.com business model combines a lean supply chain and online store format supported by over 2,000 UK garages - more than double the number of locations of Kwik Fit and other high street competitors combined.  Blackcircles.com credits a combination of its customer first approach, competitive pricing and direct recommendations from friends and family translating to vocal advocates who are driving its new business at an incredible pace.

Mike Welch, CEO and founder of Blackcircles.com, said: "Right from the start, we have relied on building high levels of goodwill with our customers and that has been converted into the recommendations that have fuelled our growth since."

The Blackcircles.com customer experience is rated best-of-class against industry peers and ahead of many well-known international brands acclaimed for customer experience like Amazon, Apple and Mercedes Benz with one of the highest Net Promoter Scores (NPS) recorded in 2016.  On 1st June, Blackcircles.com won the Auto Express award for 'Best Online Tyre Retailer' for the second year in a row.

Nick Leonard said: "We're thrilled to be recognised again as the clear winner against the high street."

For further information: Nick Leonard, nick.leonard@blackcircles.com, +44-(0)131-297-2904 or Nick Freer, nick@freerconsultancy.com , +44-(0)7841-571-871

SOURCE blackcircles.com