Firstly today, a quick reminder that it's the final, final opportunity to get your entries in for the Dealer Of The Year competition. 

Nominations must close this coming Monday October 30th by midnight. So if you've been considering throwing your hat in the ring, or were wanting to put forward a member of your team - or manufacturers, a dealership in your network - now is the time to do it.

Also, another reminder today that two of our speakers at the upcoming Service Dealer Conference are looking for feedback from our dealer readers to help shape their presentation regarding sustainability and the dealership acting as a force for good. There are just a couple of brief questions that they would like your expert opinions on please. All comments received will help Sophie and Camilla mould their workshop to accurately address real concerns and questions that our dealer delegates might have regarding their timely topic. So do please offer them your input.

Should you stay, or should you go?

Moving on, I have heard from two different dealers this week regarding similar choices they are facing, but with two different supplying manufacturers. Each dealer is addressing the conundrum of whether to stay with the brand or to leave. Both have compelling reasons for an unease with sticking with the status quo.

Firstly, Peter Massey, of Masseys in Woodville, Derbyshire, contacted us regarding Honda, saying, "After two years of constant issues with Honda not paying warranty claims, we have told them today that it is unlikely that we go forward with them next year. I know of another dealer who has done the same and one more on the cusp. Is it the start of an epidemic?"

You can read the short statement that we received back from Honda when we put Peter's concerns to them, here. 

Next up, Nigel Barnes, of Moggs Of Wells in Shepton Mallett, contacted with concerns about the news that AriensCo is ceasing production of machinery in the UK. Nigel explained his predicament saying, "Dealers are being asked for winter stock orders knowing these will be the last of the current models, unless the bosses in the US decide to produce mooted new Mk5 tractors (which would be branded Ariens), though there is nothing definite on that front.

"So the worrying question is: do we invest in stock of the current models, or not? They might prove to be sought after because of the increasing scarcity, or they might be lame ducks customers shy away from because they’re not on-going (and quite expensive if we’re honest). I hear stories from the dealer network of sluggish sales brought on by poor reliability reports, and some dealers having a bit too much stock already which tends to lead to distress selling, instantly devaluing any stock we might hold."

Nigel continued, likening the AriensCo situation to another iconic British made product, the Land Rover Defender. Nigel said of the Defender, "The classic vehicles were knocked on the head so to speak, and replaced by brand new models, a quantum leap away in terms of specification and even more so in terms of pricing. Are people buying these new models in reasonable numbers? There are some terrible stories of unreliability, yet I do see them on the road.

"When all is said and done, mowers are mostly regarded as distress machines not gaining any respect or prestige like motor cars. You can tell this from the fact that owners almost never clean their mowers, but probably clean their cars every week.

"With the asking prices of the upper end of the garden tractor market ranging from £5k up to £10k it’s a lot to gamble should one take on run-out stock (very soon to be seen by some as obsolete)."

Nigel boiled the choice he is facing down to, "Jump in, or jump out? That is the question: and if it’s jump in, how deep?"

I'd like to thank both Peter and Nigel for getting in touch and for allowing us to quote them directly and publicly. 

It would be interesting today, to hear any other dealer readers' thoughts on these issues. Have you faced similar choices in your dealership, and if so how did you react?

The dealer and supplier relationship is of course one that is constantly shifting, with the map of who sells who forever being redrawn. Dealers sack manufacturers and manufacturers sack dealers. That has always been the case. But these two issues highlighted by our dealer readers are quite specific concerns, that I suspect many others could be having serious thoughts regarding.

So if you would like to contribute to the debate, please do leave any opinions you have in the comments below. Or if you'd prefer not to share in a public forum, feel free to drop a me line.

Thanks for your help.

Honda have issued a short statement to Service Dealer this week, following contact by a dealer reader who voiced dissatisfaction over payment of warranty claims.

Peter Massey of Masseys in Woodville in Derbyshire, contacted us saying "After two years of constant issues with Honda not paying warranty claims, we have told them today that it is unlikely that we go forward with them next year. I know of another dealer who has done the same and one more on the cusp. Is it the start of an epidemic?"

We put Peter's message to Honda who responded with the following statement:

"We aren't able to comment on individual warranty claim cases, however, dealer satisfaction is extremely important to us and we are constantly reviewing our processes.

"With a view to improve our dealer communications, we have recently implemented a dedicated telephone line for our dealers to raise any queries about outstanding warranty claims. We welcome our networks' feedback and will continue to work with them on a partnership basis going forward."

The final day by which to enter 2023's Dealer Of The Year Awards is this coming Monday 30th October before midnight.

This is the last push for those wanting to be in the mix for an award this year, with the closing date being final.

Dealerships can enter on their own behalf or be nominated by customers, suppliers, or another third party - but entries must be complete and include a 250-word supporting statement and at least one piece of supporting evidence. The awards will be judged taking into account the 12 months prior to the submission date.

Also don't forget that individuals can enter, or be nominated by colleagues, for our special awards including Leadership and Star of the Dealership.

GGM won 2022's New Initiative Award 

More detail on entries can be found by clicking the relevant category links below. 

A judging panel will review all the nominations prior to the Awards Ceremony on the 30th November. All entries for the categories below will be considered by the judging panel for the prestigious Overall Dealer of the Year award (sponsored by Kress).

Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Husqvarna

Have you gone above and beyond this year to satisfy your domestic customers?

ENTER GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Ibcos

Would your farming customers say you are outstanding in your field?

ENTER FARM MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Forestry Equipment Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Societe Generale Equipment Finance

Is your dealership at the top of the tree when it comes to supplying forestry equipment?

ENTER FORESTRY EQUIPMENT DEALER OF THE YEAR

Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Toro UK

Is your team firing on all cylinders when it comes to your commercial turfcare customers?

ENTER PROFESSIONAL TURFCARE DEALER OF THE YEAR

ATV/Quad Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Yamaha

Are you the dealership customers turn to for tackling all terrain in the outdoor sector?

ENTER ATV/QUAD DEALER OF THE YEAR

New Technician of the Year - sponsored by Kubota

Technicians are the staff who keep the wheels turning - this is your chance to highlight someone in their first four years of the role.

ENTER NEW TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Star of the Dealership - sponsored by EGO

Do you have a staff member who’s made an exceptional contribution to the business?

ENTER STAR OF THE DEALERSHIP

Best New Initiative - sponsored by STIHL

Have you implemented something new - be it a fresh idea, some renovation, diversification, or branching out with new tech, let us know!

ENTER BEST NEW INITIATIVE

Leadership Award - Sponsored by AGCO

Does your dealership benefit from a great team leader who leads from the front and acts as a great example to all?

ENTER LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner following the Service Dealer Conference that takes place on Thursday 30th November 2023 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon, the theme for this year's event is Taking Care of Business.

Two speakers at the upcoming Service Dealer Conference would like to hear from our dealer readers ahead of time, to help inform their presentation.

Sophie Brooks and Camilla Barnes will be addressing our dealer delegates on the benefits of sustainability practices within the dealership at the forthcoming event.

In preparation for their workshop they have set up a short survey to receive input from dealers regarding the notion of businesses as a force for good. There are few brief questions they would like to hear our dealer readers thoughts on, covering areas such as how might our sector impact society both positively and negatively.

If you were able to spend a few moments sharing your opinions, Sophie and Camilla will be able to shape their seminar to best address the concerns and interests of our dealer delegates.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Organisers of next week's SALTEX have unveiled the Community Sport Zone which they say will present a range of grass pitch maintenance machinery curated to be of specific interest to grassroots and community football, rugby union and rugby league clubs - all of which can be purchased through funding schemes. 

Spokespeople from the brands will be present alongside the GMA’s Regional Pitch Advisors to guide visitors through the features and benefits of the machinery, answer questions and explain how this machinery is available to purchase via funding that has been awarded through the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to support grassroots football, as well as for Rugby League and Rugby Union in England. 

In the zone, located alongside the GMA Hub, will be compact tractors from Campey Turf Care and Iseki, combination grooming tools such as Quadraplay, tractor mounted slitters from Greentek Solutions, tractor mounted fertiliser spreaders, cricket mowers, and line markers from Fleet Ltd. 

The GMA say their Pitch Advisory Service is made up of grass pitch experts and works throughout the year to support sport’s National Governing Bodies in improving the quality of grass pitches across the country and at all levels of sport, with particular focus on community sport. 

The machinery on display in the Community Sport Zone has been curated from Pitch Advisory Service recommendations in their grass pitch reports facilitated through the Football Foundation’s PitchPower web-based app.

Jason Booth, chief operating office at the GMA, said, “We’re always looking at new ways to bring value and valuable experiences to visitors at SALTEX, hence the introduction of the Community Sport Zone at this year’s event. 

“It will showcase key machinery that will directly benefit grounds people at a recreational level and is an opportunity not to be missed for grassroots clubs needing an introduction to the machinery and the funding opportunities available.

“We are extremely proud of the work our Pitch Advisory Service does year-round to support community sport across the country in collaboration with our partners at the National Governing Bodies - the machinery on show wouldn’t be possible for community clubs to acquire if it wasn’t often funded through the Football Foundation’s Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund."

There will also be a guided tour with the GMA’s Regional Pitch Advisors taking visitors around the show floor to see the exhibitors displaying more specialised equipment.

With more than a million square feet of exhibits and 30 acres outside, organisers of Equip Exposition which took place last week in Louisville, Kentucky, say they once again broke records in attendance and exhibit space sales.

The trade show expanded its usual footprint at the Kentucky Exposition Center to add the West Wing this year due to space demands. “The 2023 show was our largest to date - in attendance, in booth sales, sponsorships, and in education sessions,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns Equip Exposition.

“It shows you how much companies and manufacturers want to be part of Equip Exposition and showcase their products to landscapers, dealers, and the entire industry. It is the place to be every October if you’re in this business.”

Kris continued, “We’ve now grown to fill all of the halls and have added a big part of the West Wing to our footprint. Not to mention, we have maxed out on outdoor demo space, which is one of our most popular features. It’s the only show in the industry where you can dig, cut, mow, mulch and test equipment before buying. This year we also added select workshops in Spanish, a women’s reception and an expanded UTV track outside.”

This year’s Equip say they brought together more than 27,000 registered attendees from all 50 U.S states and 46 countries. Landscape contractor registrations increased by 20% over last year, and dealers were up 5%. 

Organisers say plans for 2024 are well under way, including a Welcome Reception at Churchill Downs, which will mark the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby in May 2024 with upgrades to the racetrack, as well as another arena concert at the Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. 

“Building on the success of this year’s show, we continue to incorporate new experiences for 2024. We’re currently looking for talent for another Yum! Center concert and building out the slate of speakers for our education series,” Kris says. “Every year, Equip Exposition invests in and commits to making the user experience unique in response to the industry’s needs, demands and market changes. So while it will be the same show you’ve always loved - it will just get better.”

Registration for the 2024 show is now open.

A visit to the John Lewis Partnership’s Leckford Estate by DEFRA minister Lord Benyon has helped highlight how clean energy technology developed in Britain is capturing methane produced by the partnership’s own cattle - and turning it into fuel for the farm’s tractors.

A Partner at John Lewis's Leckford Estate

British-based Bennamann and New Holland - whose parent CNH has invested significantly in Bennamann, becoming majority shareholder - are working together on the Hampshire farm to capture the methane gas given off by decomposing manure produced by cattle when they are housed in winter, and that is stored until it can be spread on the fields in the drier summer months. Capture of the methane - which has over 80 times the global warming impact of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years of its lifetime - is done by using a special cover technology to seal the surface of the normally-exposed pit used to store the liquid manure.

From here, the gas is piped off, filtered and processed to form compressed or liquid fugitive methane (CFM and LFM). It is compressed to 250 bar and then stored, from where it is used to power the farm’s New Holland Methane Power tractors - a 180hp T6 model is already available from the manufacturer, with a 270hp tractor in development. Both are modified versions of the diesel-powered models made alongside them at their factory in Basildon, Essex.

The tractor engine’s carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the grass eaten by the cattle, so completing a carbon-neutral cycle, while the remaining manure is applied back to the fields. The result, say New Holland, is the ability for farms to become energy-independent, reduce their carbon emissions, and the need for chemical fertilisers.

Fuelling the Methane Power tractor

The John Lewis Partnership announced its intention in 2019 to reduce its operational greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest, and the business has a strong commitment to reducing the impact of its farming operations as part of this. The beef unit manure storage gas recovery system is the first of its kind, with Bennamann’s new lagoon sealing technology and gas processing expertise matching with New Holland’s development of engines able to use methane in place of diesel as a fuel, both resulting from significant investment by parent business CNH. 

David Rapkins, business director of New Holland UK, Ireland, Nordics and Baltics said, "Not only are we looking to help farmers meet the 2027 deadline to cover lagoons, we are also finding a financial benefit by turning their waste into a commodity. Under CNH, Bennamann’s gas capture and processing technology and New Holland’s Methane Power tractors have come together to tackle the greenhouse gas problem with a circular solution that not only traps methane, but makes full use of it for the power needed for farm vehicles.

"It’s really encouraging to see a business like the John Lewis Partnership adopt the Energy Independent Farm concept this way, and gratifying that its importance has been recognised with a visit from DEFRA minster Lord Benyon.” 

Krone UK has announced the appointment of De Lage Landen Leasing (DLL) as its new machine finance supplier.

Marcus Oliver, Krone UK managing director, explained that the new offering will help support farmers and contractors with a suite of finance options for purchasing new equipment through local dealerships.

“At Krone, we believe service is key. So, we’ve carefully selected this partnership with DLL to allow us to provide financial solutions tailored to each customer’s needs,” he says.

“DLL is a globally recognised asset finance company with a portfolio of over €40 billion focusing on agriculture, food, construction, technology and transport industries, to name a few. So, customers can be rest assured their purchases are in safe, expert hands.”

He adds that DLL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rabobank Group - a cooperative bank founded by farmers for businesses in the food and agriculture sectors.

STIHL has launched its first portable 230V power supply, providing professional users with a quiet, low maintenance and emission-free alternative to petrol-powered generators. 

Weighing only 19.8kg and boasting a 3.6kW power output, the new PS 3000 offers a high power-to-weight ratio and is one of the most powerful portable power supply units in its weight class.

The PS 3000 can be used in a wide variety of applications from corded drills, site lighting, STIHL tools such as power washers and vacuums, as well as recharging STIHL batteries while out in the field. The high 2.1kWh energy content also ensures long working times for minimal disruption.

The new portable power supply produces a pure sine wave, meaning it generates the same electrical current produced by the grid, ensuring no difference in performance and that no electrical noise is generated. In addition, a boost mode function temporarily increases the power output by up to 250% for tools with high initial starting currents.  

Designed to operate in the toughest conditions, the PS 3000 features a sturdy frame for high protection levels, multiple handles for carrying comfort, is protected from dust and can even be used in wet weather conditions. 

For more information, please visit www.stihl.co.uk. 

Tyre-Line Ltd will again be exhibiting at this year’s SALTEX show at the NEC Birmingham, stand D090, bringing their extensive knowledge and product portfolio to the UK’s Premier Turf Management exhibition.

Aftermarket Tyres, Wheels & Specialist Services

Tyre-Line’s Aftermarket sales and support division pride themselves on their vast knowledge and extensive experience supplying the aftermarket tyre and machinery markets with tyres, wheels and associated accessories. They can offer services such as tread pattern conversions (Agri to Turf and vice versa), bespoke wheel and tyre fitments along with specialist patterns and fitment advice for all Groundscare, ATV/UTV, High Speed Trailer, Compact Agricultural and Construction machinery. 

Being Official UK Distributor of Carlstar (formerly Carlisle) & ITP Tyres and Wheels gives Tyre-Line un-restricted access to one of the world’s biggest, specialist tyre suppliers for Lawn & Garden, ATV/UTV and Agriculture & Construction tyres. With a heritage of supplying many prestigious names with O.E. fitments including John Deere, Countax, Polaris, Can-Am, Toro, Cub Cadet and more, Carlisle & ITP have been at the forefront of tyre development and technology for over 100 years and Tyre-Line are proud to be Official UK Distributor and will once again be exhibiting the extensive range of Carlstar Lawn, Garden & Golf & ATV/UTV tyres at SALTEX.

Tyre-Line will also be showcasing the revolutionary Michelin Tweel Airless Radial Tyre for Zero Turn Mowers at SALTEX. The Michelin Tweel is a single unit, replacing the existing tyre and wheel assembly with a No Maintenance, No Compromise & No Downtime tyre and wheel assembly. Michelin Tweel’s require no complex mounting equipment and once fitted require no inflation pressure maintenance. They provide a consistent hub height ensuring an even cut, excellent lateral stability on hillsides and sloped terrain along with excellent operator comfort even when navigating curbs and other bumps with unique energy transfer within the Polyresin spokes help to reduce the “bounce” associated with pneumatic tyres while providing improved handling.
The Michelin Tweel is available to order now with an ever expanding portfolio of fitments for a wide range of makes and models of Zero Turn machines directly from Tyre-Line’s Aftermarket division.

Also on display will be examples of their range of High-Speed Trailer tyres and wheels. Offering a range of Radial & Crossply tyres from brands including Compass, Ovation, Laufenn, Nankang & Wanda and rim sizes from 8” - 17.5” with both UK and European fixings for many trailer brands including Ifor Williams, Brian James, Indespension, Logic, Nugent etc. A complimentary range of accessories are also available from Tyre-Line including jockey wheels, clamps, couplings, hubs and stub axles.

Original Equipment Tyres & Wheels

Over the past 30 years, Tyre-Line’s Original Equipment Division have partnered with many of the industry’s biggest names in Groundscare, Trailer and ATV/UTV markets including the likes of John Deere, Kubota, Logic, Nugent & Ariens. Supplying customer specific tyre and wheel fitments from their centrally located, 50,000 sq. ft purpose-built facility in Daventry, Northamptonshire, Tyre-Line have a wealth of experience, coupled with a comprehensive product range from industry leading brands allowing them to offer application specific solutions.

Visit Tyre-Line Aftermarket on Stand D090 at this year’s SALTEX show at the NEC, Birmingham on 1st & 2nd November or contact the team on 01458 250350.

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