Good Garage Scheme ends year on a high

Release Date: 22nd December 2010 Good Garage Scheme ends year on a high A year of success has led to the UK-wide Good Garage Scheme celebrating the end of 2010 on a real high with a number of industry firsts. The Forté-backed scheme, which has been operating for four years, has made great strides this year, reaching a number of major milestones, while delivering significant benefits to both its members and the motorists who use them. Earlier this month the Good Garage Scheme reached the landmark 3,000-member mark. Among the other highlights were its biggest ever national TV advertising campaign which led to a surge of interest from drivers and garages alike. The campaign, which ran nationally on Sky channels and ITV2 and in five ITV1 regions, prompted garage enquiries to quadruple. Website hits on www.goodgaragescheme.com also saw a 25 per cent increase in traffic from motorists in 2010. The Good Garage Scheme worked hard to deliver more benefits to its membership, resulting in the launch of its member benefits website www.ggsbenefits.co.uk. The site ensures that members get the most out of being part of the scheme, giving them access to money-saving and time-saving benefits, notice of events, marketing campaigns and news. Benefits offered to members have had a significant impact this year, including the introduction of bespoke health and safety procedures for garages and the launch of Electronic Reminder Units (ERUs). ERUs are given to motorists by member garages and workshops to stick in the corner of their windscreens to ensure they remember to book vehicles in for regular maintenance. The initiative is aimed at boosting customer loyalty and repeat business for members. More recently the Good Garage Scheme has clinched an exclusive deal with the RAC to offer 40 per cent discounted breakdown cover for customers and potential customers who visit the Good Garage website. With a link to the RAC website on www.goodgaragescheme.com visitors can find out more about the offer and then return to the Good Garage Scheme site to search for member garages in their area to carry out work. It has also launched a Good Garage Scheme App which motorists can download free for iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch. It will enable motorists to find their nearest Good Garage Scheme member garage if they are away from home and run into difficulties with their vehicles. Rachel Greasby, Good Garage Scheme marketing director, said: “Despite the general tough trading conditions that have affected most industries, the Good Garage Scheme has enjoyed a very successful 2010. Our commitment to continue to invest in providing major benefits to our membership has played a vital part in that success, not least with the TV advertising campaigns that have raised both the scheme’s profile and helped generate enquiries for members. “We have reached a number of milestones and achieved a number of firsts for the scheme, including helping to generate the largest number of enquiries for a garage in a single day as a result of our major advertising campaign. The introduction of enhanced member benefits has played a significant role in our success, highlighted by the fact we have recently welcomed a landmark 3,000th member to the scheme. This is the perfect illustration of how increasing numbers of garages and workshops are seeing how Good Garage Scheme membership can have a positive effect in providing the tools to help their businesses thrive. “We are understandably delighted with what we have achieved and are looking ahead confidently to the coming year. The Good Garage Scheme is going from strength to strength and we have the perfect platform on which to build on this year’s success as we move into 2011.” Launched by Forté four years ago, the Good Garage Scheme’s membership comprises of independent garages and workshops where customers are assured of service excellence. Now widely accepted as a mark of quality for independent garages across the UK, Good Garage Scheme garages are recognised as providing exceptional service to their customers based on a rigorously monitored mandatory code of practice. Customers looking for their nearest Good Garage can quickly locate one using the easy-to-use search facility on the Good Garage Scheme website. – ENDS – Editor’s note:- The Good Garage Scheme was set up as a self-regulatory body for independent workshops and MOT centres throughout the UK to ensure the best industry standards are maintained by its members. It has more than 3,000 members who adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and offer an Industry Standard Service. Good Garage Scheme members: • Adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and pledge to have their customers’ best interests at heart • Must agree what work needs doing with their customers before it is carried out • Work to an Industry Standard Service checklist • Must supply each customer with a feedback card allowing them to give their views on service directly to the Good Garage Scheme, which operates a stringent complaints procedure For further information, please contact: Anndi Sheppard, Good Garage Scheme, on tel: 024 7647 2649 or at marketing@goodgaragescheme.co.uk or Gary Lillistone, Bridge PR 024 7652 0025, email: garyl@bridgepr.co.uk.

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