Two managers from the Point S car maintenance brand were in Reunion at the end of October to formalize the master franchise signed with the Reunion company Mercure Distri Service and its local brand Genius. Point S returns to gradually develop a network of 10 to 12 points of sale across the island.
Born in 1971, Point S (« S » pour services), the oldest car maintenance brand in France, is a cooperative of independent franchised entrepreneurs, present today in 51 countries and with 6,700 points of sale, including 670 in mainland France and Corsica (Point S targets 700 points of sale by the end of 2025). Braking and tires are the main services requested (they represent 74% of automobile maintenance needs), but Point S also provides many other services (glazing, camera adjustment, emptying, etc.). The brand is also positioned in the service to professionals : commercial vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and agricultural vehicles. This service offering works like a toolbox, from which its franchisees draw depending on their clientele. Point S is well known in Reunion, where it was established from the 2000s with Sogecore, until the Reunion group refocused on automobile sales in 2015. There were only two Point S franchisees left, au Moufia (St Denis) and in Cilaos. It is therefore a strong comeback that the historic French automobile maintenance brand is achieving with the master fanchise granted to Mercure Distri Services, company headed by Stéphane Gonthier and which launched the Genius auto centers in 2007. Genius with 5 establishments, these are 7 points of sale which are becoming or will become Point S.
A double signature Genius and Point S
However, the Genius signature does not disappear : symbol of the new partnership, a double signature – Point S and Genius – will be displayed on the front. The guarantee of continuity of quality of service for customers. A first Genius center, that of the Port, has been redone and modernized to Point S comfort and safety standards. “With Point S, we share the same values, a mix of family spirit and initiative. We draw from this partnership new energy and a new desire to accomplish great things.. Our team, who will be able to benefit from Point S training programs, is very motivated”, explains Stéphane Gonthier.
A rapidly growing market
Franck Mathieu, brand director, and Charles Legrand, responsible for the Africa and Middle East zones, came to Reunion to formalize this partnership, get to know the Reunion teams who now defend the colors of Point S and present the brand’s development plan for Reunion. Ultimately 10 to 12 points of sale. “Reunion is a very dynamic market, very competitive but very promising”, underline the two leaders. “With a market growing by 5 to 7% per year nationally, maintenance benefits from the extended lifespan of vehicles. People keeping their vehicles longer and longer, the vehicle fleet is aging and the need for maintenance is increasing. On the other hand, revisions are increasingly moving from manufacturers' networks to auto centers which are certified and approved to carry out the same checks, but at significantly lower costs : the price difference ranges from 20 to 30% ! " However, price is not the first criterion for choosing an auto center. It's the proximity, monitoring of services and speed of execution. Getting as close as possible to customers is therefore essential. This is what Point S is doing in Reunion with the Genius master franchise.
