Not too much from me today (thankfully!), as I'm sure you'll all be incredibly busy getting everything in order, ready for when you can eventually lock the doors for a few days for that well-earned break.
Because of how the calendar falls this year, today's will be our final Weekly Update until Friday January 9th. I know! That sounds ages away doesn't it? However, it's only a couple weeks, during which time a lot of the industry will be effectively closed - so hopefully we won't be missing a red company buying a blue company or something huge! If we do, you can be sure that your favourite industry news briefing will catch you up on it - just as soon as we've finished off the last of the massive ham.
Before then though, to fill your Service Dealer-shaped hole, the first magazine of 2026 should have thumped onto your mat. I say thumped because we're now even bigger of course, including as we now do, the Plant Hire and Construction section in the middle of the magazine.
Editor of our new component, Dan Gilkes, has written a great article for the Jan / Feb '26 issue looking at the Electric Future that the world of plant and construction machinery is moving towards. Dan considers how as manufacturers steadily expand their electric ranges, battery-powered construction kit is edging from novelty to necessity - but convincing hire customers to make the leap remains a challenge.
Sticking to the evolving technology theme, Laurence Gale, draws on his expertise as our editor of TurfPro, as he reports from Buxtons' hosting of a robotic mowing demonstration day at a golf course for local greenkeepers. He hears from both the dealership and the end-users about how these machines are shaping the future of commercial turf care.
A subject close to the heart of dealers of all machinery specialisms, is the ever-thorny issue of warranty. In this upcoming issue, industry expert Keith Christian asks whether dealers get a fair deal with the warranty work they carry out? In a well-researched piece, Keith looks at how warranty reimbursement has become one of the industry’s most emotive issues, with many dealers feeling rising labour costs, uncompensated admin and low reimbursement rates are creating an unsustainable burden. He examines where responsibility lies, what the law actually says, and why many believe the system is overdue for reform.
We also hear from you, our valued dealer readers, on this subject, with the results of our most recent survey where we asked for your thoughts on the current situation regarding warranty.
Elsewhere my colleague Martin Rickatson, brings us extensive coverage from our recent Service Dealer Conference. Martin details how all the speakers at the event made the topic of 'resilience' central to their various presentations - and we also bring you details of all of our Dealer of the Year winners.
Martin also brings us one of our three international trade show reports that the magazine features. He travelled to Germany to visit Agritechnica, where he found the world’s biggest ag machinery show was, as ever, an antidote to industry angst. Even in farming times as tough as the current ones, Martin says the innovation on display tends to boost sector optimism.
Rounding off our worldwide coverage, I file a couple of show reports from both the far-flung Louisville, Kentucky and the fewer-far-flung, NEC, Birmingham! Both Equip and SALTEX were positive shows for the commercial turf care sectors in their own right. The huge U.S show saw technology meet tradition with both robotics and (surprisingly) petrol power to the fore - whilst Service Dealer shared dealer experiences from both sides of the Atlantic in an on-stage discussion. The GMA's show meanwhile, enjoyed focussed footfall with stand-holders reporting quality leads and good conversations with top decision makers.
We will of course, also feature our regular sections with Adam Bernstein bringing us the latest employment law news for SMEs; Sara Hey gives us an American perspective on how dealers can shift second-hand stock; and we shall be meeting for the first time our new diarist of a season - Kelly Burgess from Buxtons.
So a packed and absolutely cracking issue with which to kick off the new year! Like I say, we'll be back in your inbox on January 9th, when we will include a rundown of the 10 most read articles of 2025 from this Weekly Update. What do you think will be number one this year?
Until then, my thanks as ever go to all the amazing team at TAP for their support and hard work all year round; to our incredible commercial partners and to you our valued and loyal dealer readers.
Have a relaxing and peaceful break when you get there.
Cheers!
Steve
