It seems like there's never a quiet week for the UK independent outdoor power equipment dealer sector (for which, there should be a snappier name!).

After the announcement a few weeks ago, it was on Monday that STIHL products went live through Screwfix's website, app and outlets nationwide. I've had dealers contact me this week with comments over what they have seen - and I'm aware there has been discussion amongst dealer groups over what products are available through the chain.

It's clearly an evolving situation and one whose impact on our readers - if any - will presumably take time to become apparent. It's a situation that we here at the journal dedicated to the dealer network, will continue to monitor. And please, if you have any further opinions or thoughts - on any story that we publish - always feel free to leave a comment under a piece on this Weekly Update or drop me a line.

And by the way, your delayed copy of the latest mag should be with you any day now! Again, apologies for its lateness this time.

Like I was saying, there's no standing still for the industry, with changes for established companies and new ventures cropping up offering further choice for dealers.

We feature a story today concerning a new brand entering the UK market, who are attempting to target dealer interest. Engineering Eden are now offering the Fiat Professional range of garden machinery to the sector - meaning there's now even more choice of suppliers for dealers to consider stocking in their showrooms.

It's something that has often been said regarding the position that independents find themselves in - they can sell, what they want to sell. A dealer has the ability to assess all brands on their merits and make a decision whether they are suitable for their business and, crucially, for their customers. 

How many?

This freedom of choice does of course lead on to that perennial discussion of what is the optimum number of franchises to stock in-store?

There can be two schools of thought on this. One says a dealership should concentrate on just a small number of brands, two or three maybe, keeping the focus tight. Whereas another says that options should be spread, offering customers multiple different marques across the showroom.

Pros and cons can argued for both camps. If just a limited number of brands are stocked it could be said in favour that dealers can build strong relationships with their supplier; they can benefit from simplified inventory management; their highly specialised product knowledge could be further enhanced: and they retain customers loyal to those brands.

On the potential downside with fewer brands held, dealers are of course limiting customer choice which could affect market perception and as we've seen in recent years, there's the real risk of empty shelves when there's over dependence on a particular supplier, if supply chains are disrupted.

Equally, positives can be made for holding multiple brands including most obviously increasing customer choice and reducing that risk of placing all eggs in one supplier basket if something goes wrong. Other pros could include differentiating yourself from local competitors and increasing marketing options to various customer groups.

Thinking about negatives if many brands were stocked and we're looking at a potentially confused and confusing showroom, with inventory management increasingly complex. Staff of course, require training across a broader spectrum of machinery; a weaker relationship with the supplier could be on the cards if the brand only plays a small part of the dealership's offering; and marketing the dealership would require a more nuanced strategy and potentially more resources.

So there's certainly plenty for a dealer to consider when choosing how many brands to display within their showrooms. Everyone reading this today will know what works for their own unique circumstances and long-term business goals - and we'd like to hear about that in a short survey we're running today please.

We'd like to know how many franchises you're currently running with, and of particular interest, it would be great if you could take a few moments to explain what circumstances prompt you to either drop a held franchise or take up a new one?

As ever, the survey is anonymous and we'll publish the results and a selection of your comments in the upcoming issue of Service Dealer magazine. Thanks in advance for your help.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Last week, we reported how the AEA had announced that the number of agricultural tractors registered in the UK in the first half of 2024 was 13% lower than in January to June 2023.

Now the Association has revealed how trends varied between different regions of the UK and power bands.

In terms of regions, all parts of the UK saw fewer tractors being registered in the first half of 2024 than a year earlier.

Agricultural economist at the AEA, Stephen Howarth, said, "The biggest declines were in the South of England, particularly in the South West (-29%) and the Home Counties (-43%). In contrast, there were only small falls (-2%) recorded in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as in the North East of England. Wales and the Midlands were between those two extremes, with declined slightly slower than across the UK whole."

Whilst in terms of power bands there was a clear divide between the highest-powered machines and the rest of the tractor market.

Stephen explained, "The number of tractors over 260hp registered was up by over 40%, compared with a year earlier. In contrast, there were nearly 20% fewer machines logged below that level (but above 50hp), with declines fairly evenly spread across the remainder of the power range. As a result, the over 240hp category accounted for 15% of all registrations so far this year, up from just 10% 12 months ago.

"With growth limited to the top end of the power range, the average power of agricultural tractors registered in the first half of 2024 increased significantly. In fact, it topped 180hp for the first time, at 180.7hp, up from 173.5hp a year before. That is the second successive sizeable year-on-year rise, with the average figure for January to June 2022 only 166.2hp."

Infinicut have announced the appointment of Wildwood Machinery as a new authorised dealer for Hampshire, Sussex, Dorset, Berkshire, Surrey, London and the surrounding areas.

Mark Clifford-Kennedy, Infinicut territory sales manager for the south of England with James Bastian, md of Wildwood Machinery

Established in 2022, the manufacturer says Wildwood have quickly established themselves as a leading provider for sales and servicing across southern England. Their extended portfolio will now include the full TMSystem cassette range and Infinicut cylinder and rotary mowers.

Under the management of James Bastian, Wildwood Machinery has grown rapidly since launching in 2022. James has over 30 years of sector experience, including many years as the managing director of East Horton Golf Club, which he has utilised to understand the exacting needs and requirements of those working in the professional turfcare industry. From their depot in Winchester, James and the team offer sales, support and servicing for customers including local authorities, golf clubs, National Trust properties, schools and community clubs as well as Premiership football clubs and other elite sporting venues.  

James Bastian said, “Infinicut and TMSystem are the choice of many top-flight professional sports clubs around the world, which fits perfectly with our aspiration to provide the very best in groundcare equipment. They will enhance our existing portfolio of machinery, giving our customers access to a high-quality range of products that can really take their surface standards to the next level."

Forfar-based supplier of groundcare machinery and services, Gammies,say they were recently approached by charity Tayside 4x4 Response, seeking a product to fulfil a unique set of needs.

Jim Beattie, volunteer & chair at Tayside 4x4 Response with Les Gammie, depot manager at Gammies Groundcare with the Stihl PS3000 battery generator

Founded in 2010, Tayside 4x4 Response is a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to providing crucial support to the community during times of crisis. Their dedicated team utilises their own 4x4 vehicles to collaborate with emergency response agencies, including the Police, Firefighters, Council, SSEN, and the NHS.

As the organisation has grown, expanding from a modest ten volunteers to over thirty-six committed individuals, they have continuously evolved their resources to enhance the level of assistance they can offer. Their recent addition of a mobile unit, equipped with computers, internet access, power outlets, refreshment facilities, and comfortable seating, has revolutionised their ability to deliver aid on the move. 

Les Gammie, depot manager at Gammies, said, “When Tayside 4x4 Response approached us looking for a generator that could deal with powering numerous laptops, monitors and charging points for long periods of time, we were delighted to present a solution that also has no emissions and low noise levels. The Stihl PS300 also has a compact design allowing it to be integrated into a small space within the unit.”

Jim Beattie, volunteer at Tayside 4x4 Response, added, "This battery has allowed us to be more flexible with the support we provide reliable power for the events we attend, which are often across multiple days and in remote locations. Gammies after sales also means we have support if there’s issues with the generator."

Gammies say that between 2022 and 2023 they saw a modest rise of 3.74% in battery product sales, but already in 2024 there has been what they describe as an "exponentially large uptake in battery product popularity". They are predicting sales displaying an overall 55.67% increase this year.

IAgrE have announced that theme of their conference this year is 'Why we need agricultural engineers'.

IAgrE President, Dr Mark Moore

The Institution say significant changes are inevitable as we balance climate change and food security for a growing population. IAgrE believe that agricultural engineering will be key to resolving the challenges and enabling solutions to create an efficient, profitable food production system.
 
Dr Mark Moore, director of government affairs at AGCO and IAgrE President said, "We cannot solve the challenges of climate change, a growing population etc at the conference, but we can start to think about how we are going to tackle them - and the essential role that agricultural engineers will play in creating joined up solutions”.
 
IAgrE promise that the conference will explore improving the contribution that agricultural engineering can make to sustainable food production. It will not focus on the challenges, but on how we can achieve the solutions. By encouraging the thought process between the different stakeholders, they intend to highlight what engineers working in agriculture need to focus on for the future.

The event takes place on Wednesday 6th November 2024 at Rothamsted Conference Centre, Harpenden.

The Toro Company has announced a new partnership with MB Motorsport.

This collaboration will see Toro become a proud sponsor of the Mark Blundell Motorsport Racing Team, contributing to a dynamic season in the British Touring Car Championship. 

As part of this partnership, Toro and Reesink Turfcare, exclusive Toro distributor in the UK for Toro golf and sports fields equipment, has provided MB Motorsport with the all-new Vista lithium-ion powered shuttle vehicle. This vehicle seats eight people and will serve as an asset for transporting team members and hospitality guests during various racing events.

Andy Brown, global business development manager at The Toro Company, said, "Our collaboration with MB Motorsport is a testament to our dedication to the sports sector."

He continued, saying, "Toro is not just about lawn care; we are also leaders in the vehicle industry, from utility vehicles to people movers. This partnership is an ideal opportunity to showcase our vehicle lineup, which embodies the same principles of continuous innovation, top-notch performance, and unwavering reliability found in the fast-paced world of motorsport."

Mark Blundell, sporting director of MB Motorsport, added, "This partnership is poised to enhance our team's performance and operational capabilities. The addition of the Toro Vista vehicle to our logistics will undoubtedly elevate our team and guest experience at every event."

STIHL has expanded its AS System range with the introduction of the ASA 20 battery-powered secateurs, making pruning bushes and shrubs even easier.

The lightweight yet powerful STIHL ASA 20 battery secateurs are ergonomically shaped and can cut branches with a diameter of up to 25mm. The opening width of the blades can be adjusted to two different blade opening levels. Level 1 sets the secateurs to the maximum cutting width of 25mm, and level 2 reduces the blade opening for thinner branches, while increasing the cutting speed at the same time. 

The secateurs ensure precision with their effortless cut as the blade movement follows the user’s finger pressure. This means that the blade only closes as far as the operating lever is pressed and opens again immediately when it is released. It allows for full control when using the secateurs, so users can always achieve a precise cut.

Weighing less than 1kg, the secateurs are excellently balanced and sit comfortably in the hand with their ergonomic handle, making them equally easy to operate for right and left-handed users.  
 
When fully charged, the ASA 20 provides up to four hours of powerful cutting performance and users can make up to 2,000 cuts on one battery charge, depending on the type of branch being cut and the diameter of the material. 

The secateurs ‘LED display provides information on the remaining battery power, the selected blade opening mode, and the total number of cuts made.

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

Leading garden machinery brand, Cobra, has launched a collaboration with creators of battery-powered outdoor equipment, EGO Power+. With a focus on innovation, the companies have joined forces to create a unique offering for lawn-lovers in the form of the new ‘Fortis powered by EGO’ products.

Last year, Cobra launched its Fortis range of petrol-powered cylinder lawnmowers with eight interchangeable cartridges, creating the ultimate lawncare system. Now, it has partnered EGO Power+ to provide the same level of lawncare for those who prefer a battery alternative.

The new ‘Fortis powered by EGO’ mowers offer the same extensive specifications and technology as the petrol models, combining the cutting expertise of Cobra with the revolutionary power and eco-credentials of EGO’s 56volt Arc Lithium battery technology.

There are four sizes available in the Fortis range, starting with a compact 14” model, and ranging to 17”, 20” and 25”. They are all self-propelled and have a three-way drive facility, allowing the blades to be disengaged without having to stop the engine.

Fortis mowers all feature a six-blade precision ground-cutting cylinder to give the finest, most precise cut possible. The height of cut can easily be adjusted too, with variants as low as 6mm and ranging up to 30mm. The finishing touch to the perfect cut comes from the steel front roller giving an enhanced definition to the iconic lawn stripes.

What makes the Fortis machines the ultimate in lawncare, however, is their ability to transform into seven other machines to ensure that lawns are immaculate and healthy. The Fortis six-bladed cassette can simply be removed and replaced with another accessory cassette in the range to switch its use. Other cartridges include a verticutter, scarifier, dethatcher, aerator, turf rake, lawn brush and ten-blade cassette. 

For more information on Cobra visit: www.cobragarden.co.uk 

or to become a Cobra dealer, please contact Andy Marvin on: 07771 581 296 or call our sales team: 0115 986 6646 today.

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