GABRIEL REACHES  400 RETAIL OUTLETS TRAINED 

In the past 12 months Gabriel has trained over 400 South African Retail Fitment Center and Workshop outlets covering more than 1700 staff. 

The free in-store Gabriel training covers shock absorber trouble-shooting, educational information, fitment procedures and onsite sales and product support. On completion of the course a certificate is issued to each trained staff member. 

In addition to the onsite training, Gabriel is also offering online self teaching courses designed for staff that would rather learn at there own pace.

The Gabriel shock absorber range covers passanger, LDV and 4x4 vehicles. The shocks are locally designed and manufactured, specifically tailored to meet SA’s harsh road conditions.

“The Gabriel brand has always been about the entire value proposition to customers. Shock absorbers play a key role in a vehicle’s safety and road handling,” said Sean Staley, Control Instruments-Automotive divisional head – Drive Control. 

“The training provides an understanding of what makes Gabriel the leading shock absorber brand in SA, its design, and how to select the correct shock from its comprehensive range.” 

Gabriel’s five year unlimited-kilometer extended warranty shock absorber programme for retail spares, workshops and fitment centers is now available nationally through Gabriel’s brand marketing teams.

Customers purchasing Gabriel shock absorbers under this warranty programme will have their shocks guaranteed for an additional two years, taking their warranty from the normal three years to five years, with no limit on the kilometers travelled.

Another initiative undertaken in response to customer demand is providing a suspension tester solution to the market. Gabriel’s marketing and engineering staff identified and validated a suspension tester manufactured by Actia Muller, which was adopted for the local market by Gabriel and now operational at fitment centres countrywide.

Last month Gabriel achieved top position in the shock absorber category in research conducted by Target Group Index (TGI). 

TGI’s ICON Brand Survey is the largest of its kind in South Africa. More than 15 000 consumers were surveyed, representing over 19,8-million adult South Africans. The data was weighted using the Statistics South Africa’s population estimates.

A new strap line has also been launched, selecting words that reflect the ethos of the brand and the people working for the brand. 

About Gabriel:

Gabriel is a division of Control Instruments Automotive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the JSE listed Control Instruments Group.  Control Instruments Automotive holds the manufacturing and distribution rights to the Gabriel range of shocks, struts and cartridge products for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Gabriel is now in its 77th year in South Africa. The company manufactures shock absorbers for most vehicles.

Gabriel was originally imported into SA in 1935.  During that time, the company has introduced a number of world-first designs that were subsequently manufactured in plants worldwide.  It was also the first shock absorber company to advertise on TV. 

www.gabriel.co.za