Winter safety checks are a tried and trusted way for garages to generate extra business while keeping motorist safe and wiper specialist TRICO says wiper blades need to be top of the check list.

In winter wipers must perform in extreme conditions and making sure they are up to the job is vital. Worn blades can not only cause danger, but can damage a car windscreen which could be very costly and mean NCT failure.

TRICO says that today’s motorists are also more likely to invest in premium products such as beam blades which increase their overall safety. Beam blades have an infinite number of pressure points for superior wiping performance. This means customers will notice the difference and appreciate that the technician is looking out for their safety.

TRICO also emphasises that in a sometimes confusing market with a vast array of products, partnering with a respect brand like TRICO, can allow a garage to offer a quality service with minimal fuss. For example, its Exact Fit programme is simple because it has no loose clips or components and the blade comes straight out of the package and onto the car.

TRICO Flex is an ideal programme for garages that want to hold stock of blades on-site with regular top-ups from their factor. The garage can service 95% of all wiper blade needs from just 14 references on a compact display stand, giving them instant access to additional sales opportunities.

TRICO says that technicians should always be checking the rear blades on all vehicles. Rear blade sale now  account for 10% of the wiper market, a figure that should be higher as motorist do not change rear blades often enough. This means they represent a good upsell opportunity.  TRICO’s rear blade programme now consists of 48 blades. Each pack has a yellow flash on the packaging to easily identify rear screen blades. TRICO also provides unique connectors that cover up to two different arm types with the same connector and also reduces total SKUs required.

TRICO Senior Product and Brand Manager, Sam Robinson said: "Best practice advice is to replace blades once-a-year at a minimum, taking particular care to check them both at the end of summer, when they will have been subjected to UV rays and the end of winter, when they will have been dealing with harsh conditions. Also remember to look back and check the rear blade as drivers need all round vision. TRICO offers full sales and marketing support, including training, technical assistance and sales promotion guidance, as well as point-of-sale material.”