This autumn, every adult over the age of 18 in Northern Ireland can apply for a
free £100 shopping voucher as the Stormont government aims to stimulate business in the High Street.
The voucher, which comes in the form of a pre-loaded card, can only be used in bricks and mortar establishments with a card reader. They cannot be used for online purchases or for gambling.
Tom Black, managing director of Belfast garden machinery dealer and distributor
Cyril Johnston & Co, talking to Chris Biddle for the latest episode of the
Inside Agri-turf podcast, says that the initiative should prove a welcome boost to autumn sales.
With a background in accountancy with Price Waterhouse (now PWC) and wide experience in working with small businesses, Tom Black was appointed managing director of Cyril Johnston just over a year ago having been with the company for six years and previously held the posts of finance director and general manager.
Founded 70 years ago when Cyril Johnston met a young enterprising engineer, Douglas Hayter, the company has had a seamless relationship with
Hayter mowers to the present day.
As an ‘outsider’ to the family and the industry, he talks about re-focussing the company on its core business of grass machinery after several years of diversification – and of using outside consultants to help strengthen and confirm the company culture which was successfully tested during the Covid trading restrictions.
The episode with Tom Black concludes a trilogy called Dealernomics, talking with dealers established in different eras about the economics and evolution of their businesses
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LISTEN TO THE DEALERNOMICS TRILOGY