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Tyre boss Michael Welch: 'I wanted to show people what I was made of'

A profile tracing Michael's entry into the tyre trade as a teenager, the Prince's Trust grant behind his first business, the founding and sale of Blackcircles.com to Michelin, his US tyre ventures and the launch of Rolo Tires.

Mike Welch OBE – tyres, entrepreneurship and the scaling-up conundrum

Interview with Scott Reid reflecting on the decade since the Michelin acquisition and on the difficulty of scaling businesses from Scotland.

I started my business at 17 after being made redundant: Millionaire tyre tycoon Mike Welch

Interview by Calum Muirhead, Executive Editor of Financial Mail on Sunday, on starting a tyre business at 17 after redundancy, the route from Liverpool to Blackcircles.com and Rolo Tires, and what young people not in education, employment or training can take from it.

Blackcircles founder launches tyre brand to challenge market hierarchy

Reports the launch of Rolo Tires for the UK and Europe, including the planned phasing of direct-to-consumer sales.

Will Rolo Tires disrupt the legacy hierarchy? – Mike Welch interview

Extended trade interview on Rolo Tires' direct-to-consumer strategy and how it differs from the established tyre brand hierarchy.

Blackcircles founder to launch premium tyre brand

UK trade coverage of the Rolo Tires brand and its product launch timetable.

Blackcircles founder launches Rolo Tires consumer brand

Trade reporting on the launch of Rolo Tires as a consumer tyre brand for European markets.

Michael Welch plans European launch for Rolo Tires

Announcement coverage of Rolo Tires' direct-to-consumer launch plan across six European markets.

Direct-to-consumers: Michael Welch OBE launches Rolo Tires in 6 European markets

Details the Rolo Tires proposition as a premium direct-to-consumer brand entering six European markets.

King Charles III's charity celebrates 50 years of helping young people find work with a gala in New York

International coverage of The King's Trust anniversary gala in New York, quoting Michael on the grant that funded his first business as a teenager.

Welch launching Rolo Tires venture across Europe

Scottish business coverage of the Rolo Tires launch and its European market entry.

Michael Welch launches Anglo Atlantic investment advisory

Sets out Anglo Atlantic's remit supporting investors, operators and founders in the automotive aftermarket.

Industry veteran launches auto aftermarket advisory firm

US trade reporting on the establishment of Anglo Atlantic, Michael's investment and advisory business for the automotive aftermarket.

Tyre industry veteran Mike Welch teams up with Lowe's on new online venture

Coverage of Lowe's launching LowesTires.com in partnership with Treadsy, the platform business built out of Tirebuyer.

Mike Welch named RSE Fellow

Reports Michael's election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh among 57 new Fellows in 2024.

Eminent cultural and scientific figures named as RSE Fellows

The Royal Society of Edinburgh's announcement of its 2024 Fellowship intake, in which Michael was elected a Fellow.

Mike Welch joins Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Board of Trustees

The Foundation's own announcement of Michael's appointment to its Board of Trustees for a three-year term.

Business leaders elected to Royal Society of Edinburgh fellowship

Coverage of the 2024 RSE fellowship intake, which included Michael alongside other business and cultural figures.

Fellowship profile: Dr Michael Welch FRSE

The Royal Society of Edinburgh's official Fellowship register entry, listing Dr Michael Welch FRSE, elected in 2024 under discipline D3, Leadership in the Private Sector.

Tirebuyer organization rebrands as Treadsy

Reports the rebranding of the Tirebuyer business to Treadsy, the white-label platform later used for Lowe's Tires.

#269: Mike Welch – CEO, Tirebuyer.com

Hosted by Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE · Inspiring Leadership

Leadership interview on building and running the combined US tyre e-commerce business.

Risk and Reward, with Michael Welch OBE

Conversation on risk, adoption, dyslexia and dyscalculia, and the decisions behind selling Blackcircles.com.

Dad had multimillion pound idea while walking down street

Regional profile of his Merseyside beginnings, leaving school with few qualifications and the idea that became an online tyre business.

Serial Entrepreneur & Tyre Retailer Mike Welch OBE

Hosted by Elliot Moss · Jazz Shapers

A 29-minute interview, published with a full transcript, covering Michael's career from the tyre bays to Blackcircles.com, the Michelin acquisition and his subsequent US businesses.

Episode 168: Michael Welch OBE: from a £500 grant to a Michelin acquisition

Hosted by Rebecca Bonnington · In the Business Coach's Chair

Long-form interview covering The Prince's Trust grant, building and selling Blackcircles.com to Michelin, the move to the United States with Tirescanner and Tirebuyer, and life in Miami.

My first boss: Tyre mogul Michael Welch

First-person account of leaving school at 16, working as a tyre fitter, the Prince's Trust-backed first venture and the sale to Kwik Fit.

BlackCircles entrepreneur's charity brings life-changing laser surgery to Scotland

The Welch Trust donated £140,000 (the majority of the £220,000 cost) to bring MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy to Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, in partnership with Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity and NHS Lothian. The equipment forms part of the Scottish National Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery Service.

Tyre tycoon Michael Welch strikes deal for major US venture

Reports the combination of Tirescanner and Tirebuyer, creating a US business with a network of around 12,000 partner garages.

Tirebuyer.com and Tirescanner.com merge

Confirms Michael as President and Chief Executive of the combined Tirebuyer business following the merger.

Mike Welch, who sold Blackcircles to Michelin, merges US business Tirescanner with ATD's Tirebuyer

Business profile connecting the Blackcircles history to Michael's new role leading the combined US business.

Mike Welch: Growing A Successful Tire E-Commerce Business

US automotive retail podcast interview on scaling tyre e-commerce in the United States.

The Stage: Michael Welch of Tirescanner: how independent retailers gain online visibility

Recorded interview from the 2019 SEMA Show Stage in Las Vegas, released by SEMA in 2020 as part of the Wheel & Tire Council's video series. Michael sets out how Tirescanner uses e-commerce to give independent tyre retailers the online visibility of the big brands.

What's Treading, Ep. 8: Tirescanner and tire e-commerce

Interview recorded at the 2019 SEMA Show, reviewing Tirescanner's first year in business and how the online tyre retail landscape is changing for independent dealers.

Tirescanner.com to transform the way US motorists buy tires online

US trade coverage of the Tirescanner launch, quoting Michael on the online visibility gap facing independent retailers and mobile fitting vans.

Tirescanner.com launches in the United States

Company announcement of the Tirescanner.com consumer launch in the United States, distributed over the newswire.

Blackcircles.com entrepreneur launches online portal for US tyre retailers

Trade coverage of the launch of Tirescanner.com in the United States, backed by an initial investment of more than $1 million.

Founder of Peebles business gets honorary degree

Local coverage of the Edinburgh Napier honorary doctorate, reported from Peebles where Blackcircles.com had its operations.

College reject turned tyre millionaire Mike Welch gets a degree

Scottish national coverage of the honorary Doctorate of Enterprise awarded by Edinburgh Napier University, published on the day of the ceremony.

Honorary Graduates: Michael Welch, Doctor of Enterprise (2016)

Edinburgh Napier University's official register of honorary graduates lists Michael Welch as Doctor of Enterprise, conferred in 2016. This is the primary institutional source for the honorary doctorate and for the use of the title on this site.

Mike Welch an honorary doctor of enterprise

Coverage of the honorary Doctorate of Enterprise conferred by Edinburgh Napier University at a ceremony in Edinburgh's Usher Hall on 7 July 2016.

Blackcircles founder Mike Welch receives OBE

Reports Michael's OBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to business and voluntary service to adoption and fostering.

The Royal Family congratulates Michael Welch on his OBE

A post from the official Royal Family account congratulating Michael Welch on his OBE, noting that he set up the tyre company Blackcircles with help from The Prince's Trust. It links the honour, the business and the Trust in a single institutional source.

The individual post has not been located in the account's public timeline; a screenshot supplied by Michael is held as the archive record. The link points to the account rather than the post.

Knighthood for McCoy, OBE for BlackCircles founder

Scottish business coverage of the 2016 New Year Honours list, including Michael's OBE.

Mike Welch on Michelin takeover, Blackcircles' growth and expectations

Long interview given after the Michelin acquisition, on how the company grew and what came next.

Blackcircles.com: Meet our MD, Mike Welch

A short official company film in which Michael introduces Blackcircles.com, its network of independent fitting garages and the Tesco Clubcard partnership. He states on camera that he launched Blackcircles in 2001.

Business Scotland: Mike Welch, the entrepreneur behind Blackcircles

Hosted by Douglas Fraser · Business Scotland

Broadcast interview recorded days after the Michelin acquisition, tracing how Blackcircles.com began and how it grew.

The BBC programme page remains online, but the audio is no longer available to play.

£50m sale of online tyre retailer Blackcircles makes founder a millionaire

Automotive retail trade coverage of the Michelin acquisition.

Black Circles sold to Michelin for £50m

Reports Michelin's initial acquisition of Blackcircles.com for £50 million, with Michael continuing with the business after the sale.

Michelin buys Blackcircles.com for £50 million

Michelin's official announcement of the acquisition, citing Blackcircles' revenue growth of around 20% a year since 2008.

Blackcircles bought by Michelin for £50m

Scottish national coverage of the Michelin acquisition and what it meant for the Edinburgh business.

Michelin buys Blackcircles.com for £50 million

Trade coverage of the acquisition, citing revenue of £28 million and growth of around 20% a year since 2008.

Blackcircles on expansion, investment and going international

Pre-acquisition interview on international expansion plans and the investment behind them.

Startup Grind Edinburgh hosts Michael Welch (Blackcircles.com)

Fireside chat at CodeBase in Edinburgh, with Michael interviewed about building Blackcircles.com.

No recording of this session was published; the event record remains online.

How I Made It: Mike Welch, founder of Blackcircles.com

First-person career profile covering his adoption, leaving school at 16, the founding of Blackcircles.com and the possibility of a stock-market listing.

Sir Terry Leahy and Michael Welch of Blackcircles.com

Library interview piece from the Blackcircles era, recounting the cold approach to Sir Terry Leahy that led to his mentorship and investment.

Published by The Marketing Society as a written library interview; no recording of the session was released.

Tyre firm Blackcircles.com drives forward sales

Reports a 30% rise in Blackcircles sales to £23.2 million and the company's European expansion plans.

Sales accelerate for online tyre retailer backed by Sir Terry Leahy

Reports Blackcircles' growth during the period when former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy was involved as an investor and adviser.

Black Circles' Michael Welch On How A 16-Year-Old Can Set Up A Business

Interview on Michael's teenage start in the tyre trade, his first mail-order tyre venture and the approach from Kwik Fit.

Blackcircles.com turns a profit

Trade report on the company's first retained profit, ten years after it began trading.

Small profit for tyre firm Black Circles

Scottish national coverage of the company's first reported profit, describing the business as set up in 2001.

Blackcircles partners with RAC in online tyre deal

Reports the RAC Tyres white-label partnership, an early example of the platform model Michael later used in the United States.

Blackcircles aims to take online tyre sales in Germany

Coverage of the German-language launch, an early move into continental European markets.

How Blackcircles uses conventional media to boost online sales

Interview-led piece on the marketing model behind the online business as its fitting network passed 300 garages.

New appointments at Blackcircles.com support rapid expansion

Reports senior hires as the business scaled, describing Blackcircles.com as launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch.

Michael Welch: Black Circles (Young Guns)

Founder profile in the Young Guns series covering the 2001 launch, an angel investment round and the fitting-network model.

Blackcircles predicts record £10 million turnover

Growth report on the expanding fitting-garage network and the company's turnover forecast.

Blackcircles Aims for UK Retail Revolution

One of the earliest trade profiles of Blackcircles.com, describing its fitting network of close to a thousand garages and its ambitions for online tyre retail.

E-Business of the Year Award

Trade report on Blackcircles.com winning a Scottish e-business award, noting Michael Welch's earlier Shell LiveWIRE win.

Business Essentials: Foursquare advice will help Black Circles burn rubber and pull away from its rivals

Early national feature on Blackcircles.com by Kate Hilpern, covering the fitting-network model, quality control and turnover of £3.5-4 million. States that the company was founded in September 2001.