Brisbane's Bridgestone Select Enoggera has been named Australia's top performing store, claiming the title National Franchise of the Year in the annual Bridgestone MasterClass program awards, presented at the National Dealer Conference in Adelaide.
 
The MasterClass program sees stores assessed over 12 months in a number of areas of business operations and customer service, as well as meeting sales targets.  
 
Bridgestone Select Enoggera proved itself across all categories to take the national title and was awarded with the grand prize of a new Toyota Hilux. The store, run by Damien Meneguzzo and Martin Habershon, was also named as Queensland's top performing store.
 
Bridgestone Select Tuggerah claimed the NSW/ACT award, making it a staggering four times since 2013 for Franchisee Ashley McDougall across his multiple stores, while Bridgestone Select Kidman Park was awarded the title for SA/NT, owned by Andrew Andrawos. In the VIC/TAS category it was Mark Hosking's Bridgestone Select Doreen that came out on top, with Russell Mead and the Bridgestone Select Canning Vale store taking out WA's title.
 
Bridgestone Select stores throughout Australia that scored more than 95 per cent across the criteria being assessed were inducted into the coveted Chairman's Club. This year, a record nine stores met the entry requirement.
 
Top performing Bridgestone Service Centre regional stores were also recognised in the awards, with Bacchus Marsh franchisee Mark Barnett claiming the prize for VIC/TAS, Fyshwick's Craig White in NSW/ACT backing up his 2016 victory and Chinchilla owner Ross Rinehart winning the QLD accolade. The new Port Hedland store in WA proved a winner for James Hagan, while in SA/NT, the Mt Gambier store of Alf Bamford, Dave Barry and Terry Gilchrist added to previous MasterClass successes.
 
Bridgestone Service Centre Bendigo North, run Kevin Fitt and Garry Marwood, secured the award for commercial and fleet vehicle tyres, named as Commercial Business Retail Dealer of the Year.
 
According to retiring Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Andrew Moffatt, this year's MasterClass program was one of the most competitive yet.  
 
"Customer service is one of the pinnacles of Bridgestone's retail network, and our MasterClass program is how we identify and reward our top performing stores," Mr Moffatt said.
 
"We continually evolve the MasterClass program and raise the benchmark for our stores, so for a record number of stores to achieve entry into the Chairman's Club in 2018 speaks volumes for the calibre of our network.
 
"Congratulations to Damien Meneguzzo, Martin Habershon and the team at Bridgestone Select Enoggera, winning this year's top prize, as well as all of our regional winners across the Bridgestone Select and Bridgestone Service Centre network.
 
"Each year our stores go head-to-head for the top prize, and ultimately it is our customers that are the true winners, with stores continually improving on customer service and business processes," Mr Moffatt added.  
 
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