The Comline Motostop success story

Partnerships between motor factors and suppliers – what are they built on? In the case of Comline and Motostop Motor Factors, a family-run independent motor factor but part of A1 Automotive Group, it is trust, service and shared values. PMF speaks exclusively to the factor’s owner, Matt Emery, to find out what makes this relationship a long-standing success story.

As someone that has both sold and fitted parts throughout his career, starting out in the trade as a 14-yearold apprentice for the former factor, Discount Motor Supplies, Matt is wellqualified to judge a quality supplier when he sees one.

A blend of experience, knowledge and gut instinct has served him well since acquiring Motostop in 2011. A single-branch independent from Derbyshire, the factor serves workshops, mobile mechanics and DIY customers across the region.

Motostop has grown from a small, twoperson operation to a seven-strong team – one that is formed on passion, customer care and integrity – Matt said: “We measure success by the quality of our service and wellbeing of our staff – not by our wealth.”

A crucial part of that customer service is providing parts that customers can trust. From the beginning, Matt sought supplier relationships that aligned with Motostop’s values – reliability, responsiveness and a personal touch – and Comline has been one of those for many years.

Quality comes first

Matt believes Comline is a “top-tier supplier” and if there is product available, Motostop will purchase it. That is as strong an endorsement a company can receive from a customer, but PMF wanted to dig deeper, to understand what makes Comline “top-tier” in Matt’s eyes. Motostop first began working with Comline through the A1 network, quickly taking a liking to it and stocking lines. As time progressed and customers gave positive feedback, the relationship solidified and more lines were added.

Matt continued: “We now stock Comline’s full UK range, with filtration and braking our fastest-selling lines. The quality and availability are excellent. It is rare we have an issue, but if we do, that issue is handled and solved quickly.”

Comline may not be an OEM, but its OEmatching quality gives Motostop “total confidence”, and customers trust it too. Comline components consistently fit first time and perform reliably, Matt claimed, which is crucial for protecting Motostop’s reputation.

Added Value

Steering and suspension products are also strong performers, but beyond part supply, it is Comline’s additional support – from promotional giveaways to branded clothing and point-of-sales materials – that has also strengthened Motostop’s relationship with its customers.

Furthermore, Matt believes marketing and customer engagement plays a key role in maintaining brand trust, citing Comline’s social media presence as an effective channel to communicate updates and keep customers informed about new ranges, technical insights, news and campaigns, and brand developments.

He said: “Comline’s social media and marketing presence are excellent. There’s always fresh content – it keeps the brand visible and professional. It definitely helps with customer perception.”

How Comline and Motostop Overcome Challenges

Time and accuracy are vitally important for a motor factor – and it is no different for Motostop. When workshops are waiting for parts, facing delays or experiencing fitment errors, this can cause serious disruptions.

For independent motor factors, in particular, having a responsive supplier partner is critical.

Matt said: “We can’t afford to wait hours or days for an answer – and with Comline, we don’t have to.”

Stock management and vehicle data accuracy are also daily challenges – Matt explained: “With multiple OE part supersessions and application variations, selecting the right component first time isn’t always straightforward.”

Comline acknowledges that staying on top of vehicle data is one of its biggest challenges amid the rapid pace of vehicle development, but it continues to invest heavily in data accuracy and range management to keep customers, like Motostop, happy and able to provide their customers with the right parts first time.

This is proven by Comline’s recognition as a Premier Data Supplier on TecDoc. This is the highest level of quality certification a supplier can achieve.

Results and Achievements

Thanks to the open dialogue, transparency and desire to make its partnership a successful one, both Comline and Motostop have improved stock efficiency, achieved fast resolutions, increased customer satisfaction, enhanced brand presence and – arguably the most important – sustained business growth.

The partnership between Comline and Motostop demonstrates how supplier and independent factor can create long-term success.

Matt concluded: “Comline don’t just sell parts – they help us build our business.”