Check out the latest interview with Zamir Iqbal, the Marketing Manager of Zafco UAE, the new gold sponsor of Barbican Turbo 2010.
1.Who is Nitto Tires/Zafco? What are your products?
Nitto Tires, fuelled by enthusiasts, builds all types of high-performance tyres including off-road, rock crawling, mud, European car, luxury, SUV, tuner, sport compact, import, domestic, drag racing, road racing and drifting; and is engineered with innovative tread patterns to provide outstanding handling, prolonged tread life and safety. The tyres are made in Japan.
Zafco is one of the largest distributors of automotive products including tyres, batteries and lubricants in the Middle East region; and we are the exclusive agent for Nitto, Pirelli, Roadstone, Zeetex, Otani, Siam and Trane (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain) in the UAE. We also have three facilities; one in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Since 1993, we have grown and spread across the globe and operate in 85 countries with over 800 Customers.
2. Why have you chosen to sponsor Barbican Turbo 2010?
For a number of reasons; firstly, it’s the number one custom car, modified car and car tuning event in the Middle East. Secondly, because we’ve watched it grow and become a fantastic success over the last 2 years and thirdly because it will make us more competitive as a brand. It will improve our brand visibility, image and credibility and allow us to differentiate ourselves from other players in the market by placing us closer our customers, helping to create new ones and generally develop better relationships overall.
3. What are you doing at the event this year with your stand what activities will you be involved?
Well, as the new Gold sponsor of Barbican Turbo, we will have a massive presence inside the show including an 84 square metre stand space with 3 to 4 customised cars on display using Nitto Tires; we are running the Nitto Tires radio controlled car challenge on the outdoor track area with prizes from Nitto for the fastest lap, we are providing tyres for the drifting cars as the Official Tyres Supplier for Barbican Turbo and also tyres for the drifting zone safety barriers. On top of this we are giving away prizes for the Best in Show competition, the Garage Custom Challenge, the Power Championships and the raffle draw for all visitors to the show which you can enter once you’ve bought your ticket.
4. What kind of marketing are you doing to attract Nitto customers and new customers to the event?
We’re doing loads as it’s the best way to make sure we have lots of people coming to visit us at Barbican Turbo, and that’s what we want. Here’s just some of what we plan to do - we’ll be sending out personal invitations to all of our customers in the UAE and also to all of the car clubs we have contacts with, for example, the 4 x 4 clubs, BMW Club, Nissan GTZ Club and more. We’re running print adverts in Autocar, Car Middle East, Wheels, Middle East Car, Top Performance and Tires and Parts announcing Nitto Tires as the “Proud Gold Sponsor” of Barbican Turbo, doing regular updates on our Facebook page and we’ll also invite our Principals from Nitto Tires in Japan.
5. What kind of presence are you going to have at the event?
Again, the plan will be for the event to be covered in Nitto Tires branding. There will be a mixture of advertising on different types of backgrounds, for example, pop-up banners and other signage, of course we’ll have the prizes for the different competitions at Barbican Turbo, as I mentioned earlier. Our stand will be staffed with models to complement the amazing cars on display and our own staff will be there to answer any questions visitors may have and to educate them about the Nitto Tires brand. And finally, we’ll have flyers and giveaways to hand out from our stand too. Nitto Tires will be making the most out of the event and the opportunities it will give to us to connect with fans of custom cars, car tuning and car club members.
6. What would you like to see at Barbican Turbo this year?
I would like to see as many local tuning shops and custom garages taking part as possible, as well as car clubs like the Corvette Club, SS club, GTZ Club, Mustang club and 4x4 clubs too.
7. What do you hope to achieve from the event, what are your expectations?
Well, our top priority is to reach out to the visitors to Barbican Turbo, to help us to connect to them and to develop better relationships with the tuning companies. Achieving both of these will ultimately help us to boost sales.
8. If it goes well, do you plan to take part in the future?
Definitely...
9. What’s your favourite car?
A customised Mustang GT with Borla exhaust, carbon fibre front splitter, rocker panels, racing suspension and 20 inch wheels with Nitto Invo Tyres of course.
10. Any last words before you go?
Sure, we’ll see you at the show! Nitto Tires will be there in force!
