Select Automotive Blog

Electric Vehicles - Are we ready?

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:34:44 GMT

There is no doubt that the environmental benefits of switching to electric vehicles is worth the investment, effort and perhaps an element of pain and inconvenience as the world adapts to a new energy source to power our vehicles.

In our latest blog Jon, one of our founders discusses the situation of the Electric Vehicle market and asks the question if we are ready for the planned flood of electric vehicles and more specifically if our infrastructure is sufficiently developed to cope?

There is no doubt that the environmental benefits of switching to electric vehicles is worth the investment, effort and perhaps an element of pain and inconvenience as the world adapts to a new energy source to power our vehicles.

It is also true to say the readiness for electric vehicles varies across different regions and countries.

Some areas have made significant progress in terms of infrastructure development, such as the availability of charging stations and incentives for EV adoption, while others are still in the early stages of development.

But what about the UK? A recent documentary filmed and produced by the BBC points to the fact that our infrastructure is far from ready. The big issue is will the infrastructure be in a place to cope with the rising depend for charging stations and will we have standards, consensus and stability across the country?

There are a number of key areas to consider as the debate continues:

Infrastructure

The availability of a robust charging infrastructure is crucial for widespread adoption of EVs. This includes both public charging stations and home charging options. Many countries and governments are investing in expanding the charging network to accommodate the growing demand and the UK is playing it’s part in this development.

Battery Technology

The development of advanced battery technologies is essential to improve the range, charging speed and lifespan of electric vehicle batteries. There is no doubt that research and development efforts are ongoing to enhance battery technology and make EVs more practical and efficient. But will this happen soon enough?

Affordability

The cost of electric vehicles has been decreasing over the years, but they are still generally more expensive upfront compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. Wider adoption may require more competitive pricing, which could be achieved through economies of scale and advancements in battery production. This is perhaps one of the biggest concerns for the majority of consumers - whilst they recognise the importance of looking after the planet, harsh economics may force people to act differently.

Range and Charging Speed

Improvements in battery technology have led to increased ranges for electric vehicles, but there is still room for improvement. Additionally, fast-charging infrastructure is necessary to reduce charging times and make long-distance travel more convenient. At the moment this is difficult to achieve.

Policy and Incentives

Government policies and incentives play a significant role in promoting electric vehicle adoption. These can include financial incentives, tax breaks, rebates and exemptions from certain fees or restrictions. Governments around the world are implementing various measures to encourage the transition to electric vehicles.

It's important to note that the readiness for electric vehicles is a dynamic and evolving process. Over time, advancements in technology, infrastructure development and supportive policies will likely contribute to a more robust and widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

But in order for the adoption of EVs to be successful it is crucial that the infrastructure doesn’t lag behind - instead we need to be ahead of the curve and ready.

The question still remains will we be ready? Only time will tell.

Developing Our Brands to Fuel Future Growth

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:03:38 GMT

Increasing Online Presence via our 3 Part Specific Retail Websites

Entrepreneurship has always been at the core of our business and our directors Jonathan and Tom are on a mission to transform the automotive aftermarket sector by providing high quality in demand products, expert customer service and easy and convenient ways to purchase.

Founded by Jonathan and Tom Select Automotive Group has developed a first class reputation and now boasts over 3000 product lines with quality, service and value at the heart of what we do.

As the group expands one of the key principles that Jonathan and Tom are being guided by is the development of the companies own brand assets and the creation of specialist niche companies, each supplying high quality products backed up unrivalled expertise, knowledge and customer service.

The group currently owns and operates three specialist brands:

Carwindowregs.co.uk is our retail e-commerce website focused on offering a large range of aftermarket OE quality window regulators. The website has been designed to be user friendly allowing customers to easily identify the correct parts and complete their purchase using a number of convenient payment methods.

Parcelshelf.co.uk is our retail e-commerce website focused on the supply of replacement parcel shelves for a range of vehicles. All the products on the site have free 48 hour UK delivery, but there is an option for next day for customers who require an even faster service. Checkout is one page and offers both card and digital wallet payments.

Steeringknuckle.co.uk is our retail e-commerce website focused on offering a selection of quality products from our steering knuckle range. Customers can browse the website to select the correct part easily, as the navigation has been designed in a way to make vehicle compatibility simple to understand. Orders are dispatched same day during office hours and as with all our products, 12 months warranty is provided.

Commenting on these specialist brands Jonathan said ‘Our customers require quality, great value products and exceptional knowledge and customer service. All of our own brands provide this in abundance and we see these as important to the long term growth of our business’

Steering Knuckles - Innovation and Opportunity Combine

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:43:49 GMT

We are delighted to announce the launch of our latest e-commerce website SteeringKnuckle.co.uk

SteeringKnuckle.co.uk is a retail e-commerce website focused on offering a selection of quality products from our Steering Knuckle range and forms part of our 2023 growth plan. The website has been designed to be user friendly allowing customers to identify the correct parts and checkout using a range of convenient payment methods.

Same day dispatch is offered on orders placed before 2pm, with a FREE 48 hour delivery option or an Express 24 hour service, if the part is needed quickly. We are always happy to help and customers can call us to confirm fitment or answer any pre or post sale queries.

Current products include parts for Audi, Ford, Seat, VW and Skoda and as the range develops the intention is to offer many more.

All of the Select Automotive products are quality tested and come with 12 months warranty. Working closely with our factory partners we aim to bring new components to market, filling the gaps and meeting customer demands.

With around £4.2 billion spent each year in the UK on car maintenance Select Automotive’s aim is to help keep cars operating for longer and supply cost effective alternatives to the main dealer.

Founded by Jonathan and Tom Select Automotive Group has developed a first class reputation and now boasts over 3000 product lines with quality, service and value at the heart of what we do.

Towards the end of last year we also launched a new retail e-commerce website focusing purely on our range of replacement parcel shelves - www.parcelshelf.co.uk - and our latest e-commerce website is part of our wider business development plan.

Outstanding service has always been at the core of our business and some of our pledges to customers include -

Quality Replacement Parts

We supply high quality aftermarket steering knuckles and only work with manufacturing partners who can meet our quality specification.

Fast UK Delivery

Express 24 Hour delivery options means more convenience and more happy customers.

Helpful Customer Support

Telephone or e-mail support is always available to answer any pre-sale or after sale questions you may have.

12 Month Warranty

All of our steering knuckle products come with 12 months warranty for peace of mind.

Correct Fitment, Every Time

We ensure correct compatibility first time, so you can buy with confidence knowing we have already done the research.

Competitive Prices

With our aftermarket steering knuckle products you can save £'s when compared to main dealer prices.

To learn more visit http://www.SteeringKnuckle.co.uk/

Select Automotive is now supplying parts in Autocat

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:42:44 GMT

MAM Software are pleased to announce that Select Automotive is now supplying parts in Autocat, its comprehensive parts catalogue.

We are delighted to announce that we are now supplying parts in Autocat and MAM Software have written a blog about our new partnership. Read the full story below:

Select Automotive are a UK supplier of premium quality parts for the vehicle aftermarket sector, suppling over 3000 product references including window regulators, door lock actuators, wiper motors, suspension parts and many more.

The company pride themselves on their ability to provide the correct fitment every time, ensuring buying confidence in their customers.

Select Automotive parts can be accessed from Autocat, the automatically updated, web-driven catalogue. All data is maintained through an automatic verification and standardisation process for easy product comparison. All data is web-based ensuring no CD-based updates. Autocat is also simple to use, with intuitive selection and drill-down menus on a single screen.

Jonathan Caunce, Select Automotive Managing Director advised ‘As a company, we focus on finding the right partners to provide the highest quality products to our customers, we felt there was no better platform to showcase these than Autocat’. He continued ‘We are currently selling both over the counter and online and we only work with businesses that can deliver the quality of product that we strive for’.

MAM Software’s Senior Sales Manager Terry Penswick added 'I am very excited to see Select Automotive parts on Autocat. A product full of great suppliers and quality parts, Select Automotive will fit right in. It’s easy to see just how much value Select Automotive place in their quality of part and service, I am confident that Autocat will be a great platform to showcase this to the automotive aftermarket’.

https://www.mamsoftware.com/page/en/company/news/select-automotive-now-available-in-autocat

‘As a company, we focus on finding the right partners to provide the highest quality products to our customers, we felt there was no better platform to showcase these than Autocat’.

Jonathan Caunce

YouTube - The Rise and Rise of the DIYer

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:38:11 GMT

The channel was setup with the aim to provide clear sand concise videos to help users get started on common repair jobs.

With the UK economy on the brink of recession, rising utility costs and record levels of inflation spending money wisely is the priority for most people and with Christmas just around the corner now more than ever people are carefully considering their finances.

As a result, there are now more people than ever before deciding to do their own repairs, or a project and even DIY around the home and for good reason.

Households and in particular, but not exclusively, men are deciding to undertake their own repairs and maintenance on their vehicles - what better way to spend money wisely whilst feeling a sense of achievement than to repair and make improvements to your car.

Select Automotive Group have been supplying new, in demand and premium quality automotive components to the vehicle after market sector for over a decade. With a reputation for excellent customer service and a product range of over 3000 plus components Select Automotive is renowned for supplying quality components, from window regulators to door lock actuators to wiper motors to suspension parts.

Entrepreneurship is at the core of the business and the directors, Jonathan and Tom have just launched a dedicated e-commerce supply business focusing on parcel shelves - parcelshelf.co.uk

Jonathan and Tom have carefully selected manufacturing partners who can meet their high-quality specifications and all parts are dispatched same working day with fast delivery from their UK warehouse.

Tom is also a content contributor on YouTube and the business has developed a very popular YouTube channel with over 5000 subscribers, 137 videos and 3.3 million views on the platform. The channel features many how to videos, guides, hints and tips to help customers do their own jobs on vehicles, in some cases using the parts supplied by Select Automotive.

The channel was setup with the aim to provide clear sand concise videos to help users get started on common repair jobs. As with lots of work, it’s about what you know and being able to share Tom’s years of practical knowledge and experience of working on vehicles is another way Select Automotive are adding value to their customers, both DIY repairers and garages.

The YouTube channel can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/c/SelectVehicleSpares

Over the years the business has made many innovations to remain at the leading edge of the market it serves.

From developing excellence in systems and processes to accepting payment in Bitcoin Select Automotive aims to innovate at every opportunity.

Quality and Value are at the heart of Select Automotive and this is built into the way that Jonathan and Tom intend to develop the company in the future.

You can learn more about Select Automotive here - https://www.selectautomotive.co.uk/

New e-commerce Website Launch - www.parcelshelf.co.uk

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:29:11 GMT

We have just launched a new e-commerce website focusing purely on parcel shelves - www.parcelshelf.co.uk

Entrepreneurship is at the core of our business.

Select Automotive Group was founded by the current directors, Jonathan and Tom as they saw an opportunity in the market for premium quality aftermarket car parts.

Since then they have developed a high quality business with over 3000 product lines and an enviable reputation for quality, value and service.

Over the years the business has made many innovations to remain at the leading edge of the market it serves.

From developing excellence in systems and processes to accepting payment in Bitcoin, Select Automotive aims to innovate at every opportunity.

We have just launched a new e-commerce website focusing purely on our range of replacement parcel shelves - www.parcelshelf.co.uk

The intention is to provide the aftermarket automotive sector with a range of premium quality parcel shelves to help car owners achieve more value and longevity from their car ownership.

The mission for this new product area is -

High quality replacement parcel shelves and a dedication to providing exceptional customer service are our hallmarks.

Jonathan and Tom have carefully selected manufacturing partners who can meet our high quality specifications and all parcel shelves are dispatched same day, if the order is placed before 2pm, with fast delivery, all from our UK warehouse.

Quality and Value are at the heart of our business and this is built into the way we intend to develop our company.

Some of our service pledges to customers include -

Quality Replacement Parts

We supply high quality aftermarket parcel shelves and only work with manufacturing partners who can meet our quality specification.

Fast UK Delivery

Express 24 Hour delivery options means more convenience and more happy customers.

Customer Support

Telephone or e-mail support is always available to answer any pre-sale or after sale questions you may have.

12 Month Warranty

All our parcel shelves come with 12 months warranty for peace of mind.

Correct Fitment, Every Time

We ensure correct parcel shelf compatibility first time, so you can buy with confidence knowing we have already done the research.

Competitive Prices

With our aftermarket replacement parcel shelves you can save £'s when compared to main dealer prices.

Supporting Grass Root Football

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:46:40 GMT

Supporting our local communities has always been part of our ethos

At Select Automotive, community and family values have always been close to our heart. We firmly believe in giving back and doing whatever we can to support local communities so when we had the opportunity to support grass roots football we were delighted.

We are now official sponsors of Eccleston and Heskin FC under 9’s boys team who play in the Central Lancashire Junior Football League and we’re pleased to see our logo displayed on the team shirts - in our opinion it looks great.

Eccleston and Heskin FC were formed in 1976 and are a Lancashire FA affiliated club and holds the prestigious FA charter Standard Award.

The club provides football and coaching for boys and girls of all ages from under 6 to adult and has many teams plying in the Central Lancashire Junior Football League and the Mid Lancashire Colts Junior Football League.

Commenting on our involvement, Jonathan Caunce, Director said ‘Supporting our local communities has always been part of our ethos and when the opportunity arose to support Eccleston and Heskin FC we jumped at the chance. It’s a great club and we’re really pleased to play our part. We wish the under 9’s boys team the very best of luck’.

My Biggest Physical Challenge for an Incredible Charity - the RNLI

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 15:44:50 GMT

Watching some of the rescues from all over our island nation makes me so grateful we have this fantastic emergency service looking after us.

On the 10 September I competed in a 75km Ultra Marathon trail run around Lake Windermere - and what a run it was. Known as The Lap this ultra event is not for the feint hearted.

I trained hard for it but nothing really prepares you for the physical challenge until you actually do it. It was one, if not the hardest events I have ever taken part it.

I completed the course in 10 hours, 55 minutes and came in 48th position out of a field of 426 - naturally I was over the moon with this, particularly with it being my first event of this distance.

Despite the challenge of the run itself it doesn’t come close to the remarkable work, dedication and bravery displayed every day by the volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

After watching 'Saving Lives at Sea' on TV I felt an immense need to raise money for the RNLI who's volunteers are everyday hero's risking their own lives to help others.

Watching some of the rescues from all over our island nation makes me so grateful we have this fantastic emergency service looking after us.

The water can be an unforgiving place and when you see the faces of the people being rescued by the RNLI you can understand how important and life saving their work is.

Too many people are still drowning at sea and more than ever we need the RNLI’s help and crucially they need our help too, in the form of donations.

As a charity, the RNLI depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe.

RNLI lifesavers are our lifeline - they’re the lifeboat crews who provide 24-hour search and rescue right around the UK and Ireland.

The lifeguards keeping watch on 240 of the busiest beaches in the UK and Channel Islands.

In addition the RNLI safety teams and educators are working tirelessly to stop people getting into trouble in the first place.

The charity is quite literally amazing which is why I am so passionate about doing my bit to support it.

My Just Giving page can be found here - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jonathan-caunce

All donations, no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.

Embracing New Technologies - Bitcoin as a Payment Method

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 12:08:18 GMT

Bitcoin is digital cash which uses a blockchain to keep a decentralised ledger of all the Bitcoin transactions.

At Select Automotive, we are a forward thinking business and continually aim to use new technologies and systems in our business to drive efficiency and create added value for our customers.

We’ve recently spent time researching and assessing Bitcoin and the Lightning Network as legitimate payment option for our business. Our conclusion is that the network has the potential to grow exponentially over the next decade, like PayPal did in the early 2000's.

As a result we have, since the beginning of August, started accepting Bitcoin as a payment method for our products.

Of course we may be wrong in our assumption but we felt, as progression is one of our values, it was important to embrace this new payment technology.

But what exactly is Bitcoin?

If you believe what you read or hear on the news, then it's a scam, used by criminals as well as being a volatile asset.

But in reality, essentially Bitcoin is digital cash which uses a blockchain to keep a decentralised ledger of all the Bitcoin transactions.

Bitcoin is a highly liquid and a traded asset much like tech stocks are currently and there are many other crypto currencies available which operate using a blockchain, all offering advantages.

Unless you require the network to be decentralised, you might as well use a centralised database. This is far cheaper and uses much less computing power than running a blockchain

What is the Lightning Network?

The Lighting Network is a layer 2 solution which uses the Bitcoin blockchain. It allows for faster Bitcoin payments by processing transactions off chain, incurring lower fees than the main Bitcoin blockchain and settling instantly. The Lightning Network is bitcoin’s payment network and will play a huge part in growing the use of Bitcoin as a global payment method.

How does it work in accepting Bitcoin as payment option?

We have a merchant account with CoinCorner who are a Bitcoin exchange based in the Isle of Man.

Within the sector CoinCorner are innovating and contributing to the growth of Bitcoin, both because it’s their core business and because of the conviction the management team have in Bitcoin being the best form of money.

Our merchant account allows us to send Bitcoin invoices via a Web interface and also accept payments over the counter using a mobile app.

We input a payment amount in GBP, the customer makes payment instantly using a Bitcoin/Lightning Wallet or NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled card in BTC (Bitcoin).

When a payment is made, the amount is instantly converted back to GBP from BTC avoiding any volatility and CoinCorner charge a 1% fee for use of the service.

It really is as simple as that and we can withdraw the GBP at any time from our merchant account.

Accepting Bitcoin as a payment method compliments our current choices offered to our customers - Google Pay, Apple Pay, MasterCard, VISA, PayPal - and also supports the growth of the Bitcoin network.

If you would like to know more about Bitcoin, the Lightning Network and how it can benefit your business, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Drop me an e-mail on jon@selectautomotive.co.uk

How Fuel Prices are Impacting Online Retailers

admin@selectvehiclespares.co.uk (Jonathan Caunce) — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 20:59:38 GMT

Whatever the reason for the fuel price continuing to rise, it’s not good news for online retailers or consumers alike.

Online retail in the UK equated to around £120 Billion in 2021 which is a 307% increase since 2013 when the figure stood at £39 Billion. In only 8 years the scale of growth is staggering.

There are no signs this trend is slowing down and the effects of the Covid pandemic has been to accelerate the growth in online sales. According to research from Google, lockdown throughout 2020 and 2021 have caused consumers to buy online more than ever before and this buying behavior is set to continue growing.

The pandemic also ‘forced’ many more retailers to sell online which has resulted in many more products being delivered to UK consumers by the mail network.

Items of all shapes, sizes and types can be dispatched to customers including furniture, food and drink, liquids, gifts, home appliances and nearly new cars. Consumers are surprised when there is an option to buy online without the ability for it to be delivered direct to their door.

At Select Automotive our business is suppling quality, in demand car parts for the vehicle aftermarket and we have seen rapid growth in demand for our products and we believe this will continue.

Consumers want convenience and the ability to search, review and order product and services online from the comfort of their own home. There is no doubt Amazon have raised the bar in terms of customer expectation as their unrivalled delivery network operates 7 days a week, including bank holidays, from sunrise to sunset.

Consumers who have experienced this level of service find it hard to accept anything less when purchasing products and services online from other retailers.

UK couriers, in particular Royal Mail, the biggest one, are being left behind.

The cost of fuel has a huge impact on the cost to send a product via the delivery network. Since January the average diesel price per litre at the pumps have gone from 148.75p to 188.05p so an increase of 26% in 5 months, petrol has seen a similar increase of 25% from 145.55p to 182.31p. There are daily price rises and the price to fill the tank of an average family car is likely to reach

£100 in the next few days ( https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/fuel-watch/ )

There are a number of factors causing this increase - the cost of crude oil, inflation, the Russian-Ukraine war, a supply squeeze in the market and oil producing nations unwilling to increase output to cater for the demand.

Whatever the reason for the fuel price continuing to rise, it’s not good news for online retailers or consumers alike.

Many logistic companies have tried to absorb these increases but eventually the costs have to be passed on, which has led to Royal Mail increasing its fuel surcharge from 4% in March to 8% from July and this applies to all parcel and special delivery services. This is the third increase in 6 months and looking at the current situation it probably won’t be the last.

As a business owner its difficult to absorb the costs and whilst we have attempted to absorb them we run the risk of running at a loss. This is more acute for online retailers where profit per item may be low.

Royal Mail aren’t the only company increasing fuel surcharges. DPD, UPS and Parcel Force have or are increasing their fuel surcharges to adapt to the rise in fuel costs.

Ultimately this means consumers buying goods which are delivered by the big UK couriers will have to pay more for what is perceived as a poorer level of service when compared to Amazon’s Prime service.

Looking to the future the hope is that logistics and delivery companies embrace changes in technology and start using electric vehicles in their delivery fleet. If this happens on a major scale we are hopeful it will have a positive impact on delivery costs.

Learn more about Select Automotive here - https://www.selectautomotive.co.uk

The Challenges of Sustainable Packaging in the post Covid World

Tue, 17 May 2022 21:17:31 GMT

As a business we are committed to operating in a sustainable way, but the plastic tax and the spiraling cardboard prices are making this extremely challenging.

The UK Government and the European Union are pushing for reduction of single use plastic packaging and replacing it with more sustainable alternatives.

Cleary this ambition is one everyone can understand and support. At Select Automotive we are firmly behind this initiative as it is essential that we all play our part to reduce our impact on the natural world.

As a consequence of this on 1st April 2022 the UK Plastic Packaging Tax came into force.

The tax is applied at £200 per tonne to plastic packaging that contains less than 30% recycled content.

Essentially the effects of the tax means that manufacturers of plastic packaging pass on the ‘cost’ of the tax to their customer so this has helped to accelerate the desire for companies to switch to paper based alternatives including tape and bags. A very positive change of course.

Thankfully there are lots of options and new products are being released in the packaging space which are environmentally friendly, but this has lead to a spike in demand for cardboard and paper.

This spike in demand is pushing up the prices of paper-based sustainable solutions which is compounded by the fact that many paper mills are also suffering from increased electricity costs across Europe.

The net result of this increase in demand and inflated energy prices have been passed on to the packaging companies customer, in other words ourselves which eventually can have the effect of pushing up consumer prices.

As an example prices of our custom boxes has increased 40% in 12 months, with further price increases on the cards over the next 12 months or so.

As a business we are committed to operating in a sustainable way, but the plastic tax and the spiraling cardboard prices are making this extremely challenging.

It will be interesting to see how other businesses are adapting to these challenges.

At Select Automotive we are embracing it head on, ensuring we stick to our core values and do whatever we can to protect the environment whilst operating our business in a transparent and responsible way for the benefit of our customers, partners and suppliers alike.

Learn more about our business at www.selectautomotive.co.uk