As the industry and technology evolves, what factors might impact on the shape of the dealer network in the years ahead?

In the latest Inside Agri-Turf podcast, a panel comprising James Tuckwell managing director of multi-branch John Deere dealership Tuckwells, David Withers, managing director of Iseki UK and Howard Pullen, Board Member of European dealer association CLIMMAR consider The Future for Agri-Turf Dealerships.

At the outset, a very strong connection was revealed between Len Tuckwell, James’s grandfather and company founder – and with David Withers’s Iseki company.

But first the panel considers the likely impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a fertile market for used tractors and machinery (6:06) with James Tuckwell reporting how his main customer has taken up arms.

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The issues then considered by the panel were Prospects for new dealerships (10:14), What makes a good dealer and supplier(14:23), Availability of funding and dealer contracts (18:12), Long line dealers and niche opportunities (23:57), Challenges of dealer expansion (29:55), Staffing for new technology (36:03) and Creating the right industry image (41:32).

All these sections can be accessed by the time-stamps on the episode show notes.

“We are fortunate in having a strong, stable and well-funded dealer network in the UK based very firmly around family companies and family values,” says Chris Biddle. “But it is inevitable that it will polarise with long-line manufacturers and their dealer network strengthening their position, allowing significant opportunities for dealers serving niche markets, with perhaps different types of dealerships emerging.”

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