From September 8 to 11, Point S Canada held its annual Conference at Barcelona’s prestigious Grand Hyatt hotel.

More than 370 representatives from retailers, suppliers and the Point S team came together in this remarkable city to celebrate the year’s achievements, strengthen relationships and lay the groundwork for future growth.

The Conference featured technical and strategic presentations, updates on network developments, and a variety of engaging activities that let participants enjoy the city’s many attractions while reconnecting with colleagues and friends.
The Point S Canada team chose Barcelona for the unique experience the city offers. The city is rich in culture and history, while the region provides countless opportunities for adventure and discovery, both on land and at sea.

Assessing the network
For Point S Canada’s leadership, the event was the ideal moment to assess the network’s performance over the past year. “The network is in excellent health,” said Jean Novak, President and CEO of Point S Canada. “We’re seeing the positive results of two years of accelerated expansion in the Canadian market. Strategic acquisitions have increased our presence to more than 310 Point S and V1 dealers across the country, giving us over 1,100 retail locations under all our banners.”

Speaking with Autosphere during the Conference, Novak explained that this growth is built on a powerful distribution network supported by 30 warehouses across Canada. Significant new investments are also being made in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, the Ottawa region and Western Canada to expand warehousing and distribution capacity. Novak also emphasized how important it was to have representatives from tire manufacturers and non-tire partners attend the Conference, a presence highly valued by the dealer network.
“We have excellent relationships with tire manufacturers,” he added. “Our strategy has always been to focus on marketing premium tires and to support our dealers in that vision. We want Canadian drivers to have access to high-quality, long-lasting products that keep them safe on the road, in both winter and summer. We’re pleased to see that most of our sales come from these premium categories, which shows that Canadians don’t compromise on quality.”

The Conference also featured an exhibition of equipment, parts and tire suppliers, giving dealers the opportunity to connect, share insights and explore new products. Currently, there are around 25 million light vehicles on Canadian roads. Sales of new vehicles are once again approaching pre-pandemic levels. This rebound, which took several years, has also increased the average age of vehicles on the road. “Good news for the aftermarket,” Novak pointed out.

Specialized workshops
A full day was dedicated to knowledge sharing, with four rotating workshops giving participants the chance to learn more about Point S programs and the network’s efforts to help them strengthen their businesses. Topics included the new 360-degree marketing and advertising strategy, market trends, the launch of new products and non-tire programs covering wheels, parts and more.
“We’ve added new offerings for our dealers,” explained Patrick Lavoie, Vice-President of Retail Network. “We go beyond presenting our different programs, showing them how to put these tools to work to improve their profitability.”

Lavoie also announced a major new initiative during the Conference: a training and coaching program designed specifically for owners and their management teams, launched immediately after the event.
“The Master Shop program is meant to help managers and counter staff optimize their operations and increase their profit margins. Joining the Point S banner has a very positive effect on sales, often in the range of 20 to 30 percent. We want to build on that momentum by working directly with the business from the inside.”

Since entering the Canadian market, Point S has successfully set itself apart and built a very strong brand. That reputation is reinforced not only by consumers, who look for expertise and consistent quality of service, but also by the dealers themselves, with a renewal rate of 99%.

Activities and discoveries
No Point S Congress would be complete without memorable social activities. Participants enjoyed a free day where small groups took part in culinary, sporting, cultural and historical activities, or simply relaxed on the beach.

Recognition 

The Gala evening and the garden party were among the most memorable and enjoyable moments of the event. The Gala also included recognition awards for dealers who stood out through their best practices. Here are the award winners:

Recognition Awards
Best web performance: Point S – Pneus Lavoie Outaouais Gatineau
Network’s favourite: Point S – Garage ADG Richard
Regional Leader: Point S – Villemaire pneus et mécanique St-Esprit
Rookie of the Year: Point S – Redline Motorsport
Brand Ambassador: Point S – Pneus Ratté
Dealer of the Year: Point S Tire & Automotive Centre, Chinook

Extreme Makeover Award
This award goes to dealers who have invested in updating their image in line with Point S standards. Each recipient receives a grant of $10,000 to $30,000 to recognize their efforts.

• Agence de pneus du Nord
• Villemaire pneus et mécanique St-Esprit
• Aubin Auto Inc.
• Pneus Ratté Anjou
• Service Multi-Mécanique