Sheilas' Wheels home insurance celebrates its first birthday today
Free Home Emergency cover worth £44.99 and free Family Legal Protection worth £19.99[1] when bought online.
A year ago today the Sheilas' Wheels brand moved beyond car insurance to start offering home cover. In this time, the insurer has taken on new customers at a rate of 1,200[2] a week outstripping its own growth targets. It has achieved over 60,000 policies in its first year and aims to more than double its market share in the next year.
Sheilas' Wheels home insurance was launched on 3 February 2008 to reshape home cover and meet the needs of women - who are now taking a firmer control of household finances than ever before - and their families. Research[3] by Sheilas' Wheels reveals that over two fifths (41 per cent) of women in relationships have 'total' control of the household purse-strings. In fact, just one in six (16 per cent) women in a relationship surveyed leave financial decision-making to their partners whilst over two fifths (43 per cent) split the chore 50:50.
Peter Wood, Chairman of esure and Sheilas' Wheels said: "The success of the Sheilas' Wheels brand continues to exceed our expectations and our home insurance is no exception. Making sure we understand the needs of the modern woman and striking the right balance between value and quality has definitely paid off in terms of business growth.
Sheilas' Wheels home insurance has also benefited from the visibility of a high-profile sponsorship of both the ITV National and Channel 4 Weather bulletins."
Sheilas' Wheels car insurance has also been a great success, building up nearly half a million customers since its launch in October 2005.
Key benefits of Sheilas' Wheels home insurance include:
- Alternative accommodation in the event of lost utilities - such as gas, water and electricity that are lost due to flooding, for example, resulting in your property not being suitable to live in (for contents and/or buildings cover).
- New for old cover on clothes - reductions for wear and tear are not applied for clothing stolen or destroyed in the home (contents cover).
- Unlimited buildings sum insured - so you’ll never be under-insured.
- Family legal protection (free to policyholders for one year when bought online) - for £19.99 policyholders receive up to £50,000 of cover for legal assistance. It also provides assistance in finding emergency registered childminders while the insured person is attending jury service, and legal representation for a customer’s child if they do not gain entry to the school of their choice.
- Home emergency cover (free to policyholders for one year when bought online) - covers call out charges and up to two hours labour including up to £100 (inc VAT) for parts and materials. It is subject to an overall limit of £500 (inc VAT) and is worth £44.99.
- High limits on key areas of cover - including lock replacement, garden and outbuilding contents, home office equipment, liability and deeds/documents.
-ends-
Sheilas' Wheels press contacts:
Adrian Webb, Head of Corporate Communications: 01737 641000
Niki Bolton, Corporate Communications Manager: 01737 235070
Asia Manzoor, Public Relations Officer: 01737 641305
Emma Lloyd, Corporate Communications Officer: 01737 641309
Email: pr@sheilaswheels.com
Visit the official fansite for Sheilas' Wheels: www.ilovesheilas.com
An ISDN line is available for radio interviews.
Notes to Editors:
[1] Free for one year
[2] Analysis of Sheilas' Wheels home insurance policyholders
[3] Sheilas' Wheels commissioned YouGov to speak to 797 female drivers in August 2007: 'Car Showroom Shake-up' report.
About Sheilas' Wheels:
Sheilas' Wheels was launched in October 2005 to offer women drivers cheaper car insurance and female targeted product enhancements. In February 2008, the brand moved beyond car insurance to also offer home insurance with product enhancements including alternative accommodation (buildings and contents cover) in the event of loss of utilities in the home (terms and conditions apply), new for old cover on clothes (contents cover) and family legal protection cover which also includes assistance in finding emergency registered childminders while the insured person is attending jury service, and legal representation for a customer's child if they do not gain entry to the school of their choice (terms and conditions apply).
Sponsorship:
Sheilas' Wheels sponsors the ITV National and Channel 4 Weather bulletins: "Whether skies are grey or blue, Sheilas’ Wheels could cover you."
