Media
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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.
Interview with Scott Reid reflecting on the decade since the Michelin acquisition and on the difficulty of scaling businesses from Scotland.
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.
Reports the launch of Rolo Tires for the UK and Europe, including the planned phasing of direct-to-consumer sales.
Extended trade interview on Rolo Tires' direct-to-consumer strategy and how it differs from the established tyre brand hierarchy.
UK trade coverage of the Rolo Tires brand and its product launch timetable.
Trade reporting on the launch of Rolo Tires as a consumer tyre brand for European markets.
Announcement coverage of Rolo Tires' direct-to-consumer launch plan across six European markets.
Details the Rolo Tires proposition as a premium direct-to-consumer brand entering six European markets.
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.
Scottish business coverage of the Rolo Tires launch and its European market entry.
Sets out Anglo Atlantic's remit supporting investors, operators and founders in the automotive aftermarket.
US trade reporting on the establishment of Anglo Atlantic, Michael's investment and advisory business for the automotive aftermarket.
Coverage of Lowe's launching LowesTires.com in partnership with Treadsy, the platform business built out of Tirebuyer.
Reports Michael's election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh among 57 new Fellows in 2024.
Coverage of the 2024 RSE fellowship intake, which included Michael alongside other business and cultural figures.
Reports the rebranding of the Tirebuyer business to Treadsy, the white-label platform later used for Lowe's Tires.
Regional profile of his Merseyside beginnings, leaving school with few qualifications and the idea that became an online tyre business.
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.
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.
Reports the combination of Tirescanner and Tirebuyer, creating a US business with a network of around 12,000 partner garages.
Confirms Michael as President and Chief Executive of the combined Tirebuyer business following the merger.
Business profile connecting the Blackcircles history to Michael's new role leading the combined US business.
US trade coverage of the Tirescanner launch, quoting Michael on the online visibility gap facing independent retailers and mobile fitting vans.
Trade coverage of the launch of Tirescanner.com in the United States, backed by an initial investment of more than $1 million.
Local coverage of the Edinburgh Napier honorary doctorate, reported from Peebles where Blackcircles.com had its operations.
Scottish national coverage of the honorary Doctorate of Enterprise awarded by Edinburgh Napier University, published on the day of the ceremony.
Coverage of the honorary Doctorate of Enterprise conferred by Edinburgh Napier University at a ceremony in Edinburgh's Usher Hall on 7 July 2016.
Reports Michael's OBE in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to business and voluntary service to adoption and fostering.
Scottish business coverage of the 2016 New Year Honours list, including Michael's OBE.
Long interview given after the Michelin acquisition, on how the company grew and what came next.
Automotive retail trade coverage of the Michelin acquisition.
Reports Michelin's initial acquisition of Blackcircles.com for £50 million, with Michael continuing with the business after the sale.
Scottish national coverage of the Michelin acquisition and what it meant for the Edinburgh business.
Trade coverage of the acquisition, citing revenue of £28 million and growth of around 20% a year since 2008.
Pre-acquisition interview on international expansion plans and the investment behind them.
First-person career profile covering his adoption, leaving school at 16, the founding of Blackcircles.com and the possibility of a stock-market listing.
Reports a 30% rise in Blackcircles sales to £23.2 million and the company's European expansion plans.
Reports Blackcircles' growth during the period when former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy was involved as an investor and adviser.
Interview on Michael's teenage start in the tyre trade, his first mail-order tyre venture and the approach from Kwik Fit.
Trade report on the company's first retained profit, ten years after it began trading.
Scottish national coverage of the company's first reported profit, describing the business as set up in 2001.
Reports the RAC Tyres white-label partnership, an early example of the platform model Michael later used in the United States.
Coverage of the German-language launch, an early move into continental European markets.
Interview-led piece on the marketing model behind the online business as its fitting network passed 300 garages.
Reports senior hires as the business scaled, describing Blackcircles.com as launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch.
Founder profile in the Young Guns series covering the 2001 launch, an angel investment round and the fitting-network model.
Growth report on the expanding fitting-garage network and the company's turnover forecast.
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.
Trade report on Blackcircles.com winning a Scottish e-business award, noting Michael Welch's earlier Shell LiveWIRE win.
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.