A monumental vote took place on Tuesday this week.
It was seemingly on a knife-edge, with no one willing to put their neck on the line and predict an outright winner. It was genuinely too close to call for a long time. In the end though, an undeniably decisive outcome was reached. Not everyone will be as pleased as others are perhaps, but that's the nature of a democracy.
Anyway, the Dealer of the Year judging panel after a long, detailed and fair process did indeed reach definite conclusions to all this year's categories. What? Was anything else voted for on Tuesday? I was too deeply engrossed in all our dealer readers' entries to notice.
The judging panel. L-R: Keith Christian, Service Dealer contributor; Duncan Murray-Clarke, Service Dealer owner; Steve Gibbs, Service Dealer editor; Laurence Gale, TurfPro editor
Seriously though, I've said it in previous years but it remains true, when I'm privileged to be asked to join the judging panel, to work through all your incredible stories of businesses and individuals up and down the country, I never fail to be anything other than utterly impressed.
I'm impressed with the entrepreneurship, the innovation, the dedication displayed by the dealer network, week in, week out. I'm sure it must feel like a thankless task plenty of the time, slogging through your workload. There will be pressure from customers, pressure from suppliers, from the bank manager. But what comes across loud and clear through every single entry to the competition, is that our dealer readers care. They care and they are damn good at their jobs.
We heard accounts of dealerships specialising in garden, ag, pro turf, forestry and ATV equipment, all of differing sizes, in all areas of the UK - but with similar attitudes. A real sense of a 'customer-satisfaction first' approach was apparent. We heard this both from within dealerships themselves, but also from their suppliers and customers.
As well as stories of companies, we discovered some incredible individuals working in all sorts of roles across our dealerships. We heard about remarkable young people starting out their careers as technicians. Of workplace stars offering crucial support and joy to colleagues and customers alike. And of leaders who drive departments and companies by example - inspiring loyalty and dedication in their teams, all for the benefit of the business as a whole.
We of course, knew that our readership was filled with amazing people like this, but it's always such a pleasure each time the awards judging comes around to have our expectations not just met, but blown out of the water!
Everyone who entered, not just those who will be crowned eventual champions in a few weeks' time, should feel rightly proud of their achievements this year. And indeed everyone who didn't get round to entering this year, but who is reading this today should include themselves in that feeling too. I suspect the reason why many didn't submit a nomination, is that they were simply too busy.
We've unfortunately had to document far too many of our peers' businesses closing their doors for the final time this year. For those of you still standing - and not just standing, thriving - a feeling of satisfaction is absolutely due. When we get to the Awards evening, we shall be able to take a moment to reflect and to celebrate. Before getting back to work again!
When we finally closed our laptops after an intense period of debate and discussion on Tuesday, the judging panel were delighted with the group of finalists reached across all the categories. They are all fantastic ambassadors to represent the UK independent dealer network.
We cannot wait to celebrate all their achievements on November 28th, following on from what promises to be a most special Service Dealer Conference.
See you there.
