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EPR Archived News |
Blackcircles.com Founder (Michael Welch) Inducted Into Hall of Fame
Released on: June 18, 2010, 2:40 pm This June Shell LiveWIRE inducted nine new entrepreneurs into its International ‘Hall of Fame’. Among these inventive and original thinkers was Michael Welch, the founder and Managing Director of Blackcircles.com – the UK’s leading online tyre retailer.
Karen Bellis of Shell LiveWIRE International announced the latest inductees and said, “Michael Welch has shown remarkable vision, innovation, courage and leadership to turn a business opportunity into an outstanding commercial success. The business has a real “Wow!” factor and Michael is an inspiration to budding entrepreneurs, not just in the UK but across the globe. He thoroughly deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.” Michael’s long journey to this induction started when he was just 16 years old. After leaving school he worked as a tyre fitter and it was during this time that he spotted an opportunity to transform the tyre fitting market. Michael realised that by giving customers the chance to buy tyres online, a company could deliver a fast, cheap way for customers to buy and fit tyres. Thanks to his business model, Blackcircles.com’s prices are on average 40% less than that of the high street dealers. When asked for a few words on his inclusion into the Hall of Fame, Michael Welch said, “I am very pleased to join this elite group of international LiveWIRE entrepreneurs. I have had a long successful relationship with Shell LiveWire which makes this induction even more gratifying. To be counted as a hall of famer with this leading organisation is a true honour and is a measure of how far Blackcircles.com has come.” Blackcircles.com was launched in 2001 and since then has gone from strength to strength. Currently, they sell around one million tyres to well over a quarter of a million customers throughout the country, making them the UK’s leading online tyre retailer. Today Blackcircles.com has an annual turnover of around £12.5 million, employs 40 staff and through their 1,100 strong garage network indirectly supports independent tyre fitters across the UK. Most recently Blackcircles.com took another step into the motor industry by launching a wide range of car servicing options for motorists to take advantage of. In the same way that Michael Welch revolutionised the tyre industry, Blackcircles.com is set to take the servicing industry by storm. On average they can offer customers car servicing at 60% cheaper than the main dealer’s prices, making them the first choice for cheap car servicing and a first rate customer experience. Michael Welch previously won the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award back in 2003. Contact Details: Blackcircles.com Ltd, t: 0845 620 2000
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2025
To be inducted into the Hall Of Fame is a true honour for an entrepreneur as Shell
LiveWIRE is a leading international network which strives to inspire and develop
enterprise in young people. Its Hall of Fame is an
exclusive universal platform, which showcases the most extraordinary entrepreneurs
that have worked with – and benefited from – many of the LiveWIRE programmes that
take place around the planet.
