How has it been for everyone this past week? Have you noticed much change in your levels of business since measures have begun to be eased? Any Durham dealers spotted an influx of customers from London checking their eyesight?!

Joking aside, with all retailers now gearing up to come back on stream, one suspects that we'll see those dealers who have been closed entirely during this period, making steps towards reopening.

Physical transformations and adaptations of showrooms will have to be the norm across the country. The official government guidelines on what steps retailers are expected to make in order to comply with the social distancing required, can be read here.

Hazard warning tape, floor stickers, one-way routes, screens and the like will all become commonplace across high-street stores in the coming weeks, so dealers shouldn't feel that transforming their places of business will be off-putting for customers. 

Quite the contrary in fact. Not only will it simply be something which we'll all have to become used to - it should in fact act as a reassurance for customers. Obvious in-store measures will instantly show that the business cares about trying to provide the safest environment possible for both their customers and their staff. I suspect we'll find that stores who do not make any changes, run the risk of being looked upon with suspicion.

For a feature in the next issue of Service Dealer magazine, we have spoken to several dealers across the country, who trade across the domestic, commercial turfcare and agricultural machinery sectors, about what measures they have undertaken recently at their dealerships.

Some have showrooms that are open in one capacity or another right now, whilst others are building up to reopening.

Commercial machinery dealer, Chris Gibson of GGM Groundscare in Colne, Lancashire for example told us they had undertaken a complete risk assessment and were reviewing the results before allowing customers back on site.

Chris told us, “Our plan is that we want to open our showrooms on the 1st June. We’ll have all the proper signage etc in place – but we’re not going to open the whole of the building. We will have certain areas clearly marked off and restricted from public access."

Chris kindly provided us with some pictures of the Colne depot, with the below an example of the signage they have now put in place.

Clearly this will all take some getting used to, by both staff and customers. But frankly it's the way things are - and the way things are going to be for the foreseeable future. As such, it's vitally important that the correct measures are put in place now.

Pete McArthur of Strathbogie Forest & Garden in Aberdeenshire, who is currently providing the Diary of Season column for Service Dealer magazine told us, "This will be how things are, certainly for the rest of the year. So that’s why we’re taking a little bit longer to reopen the showroom – we want to get it right.

“It’s important for us that we do it correctly, now – so we don’t have issues going forward."

A very sensible attitude and one which I'm sure we'll see repeated by dealers across the country - and appreciated by their customers.

Dealers attending this October's GIE+EXPO trade show which is still scheduled to take place October 21-23, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky, will be able to attend ten High-Performance Dealer Workshops.

Sara Hey at 2019's GIE+EXPO

OPEI and Service Dealer's competition for a dealer reader and their guest to win a trip to the show is still open, and can be entered here, but must end May 31st.

Organisers say that dealers looking to pick up real-world tips on timely topics can attend workshops led by Bob Clements International, as well as experts from the Equipment Dealers Association and United Equipment Dealers Association.

In a statement the show's organisers said, "As of March, the way people do business changed. It brought to light many of the strengths of the green industry while at the same time showing areas that need to be safeguarded heading into the future. Bob Clements and Sara Hey will lead a roundtable discussion with other green industry businesses about how dealers can bulletproof their businesses in a post-COVID-19 world."

Sara Hey, who Service Dealer readers will know from her regular column in the magazine, said, "There are always going to be things that happen in your business that are unexpected. One of the things many dealership owners have going for them is that they are entrepreneurs at heart and can think outside the box when they are thrown a curveball.

"Adaptability is key when you are dealing with the unexpected, and regardless of how good your plan is there will always be unexpected things. COVID-19 has continued to reinforce the importance of keeping dealerships in 'balance'. Our goal is that at the end of the day, two of the three departments in your dealership can sustain your dealership at any given time. This doesn't happen by accident, but through a number of small, deliberate changes over time."

To see a full schedule of the educational opportunities available to dealers, click here.

In addition to the education opportunities, dealers will again have access to the indoor show floor earlier than the rest of the industry. Also this year the show boasts expanded in-tree arborist training, hands-on drone sessions, and a UTV test track.

Organisers are keen to stress that the show benefits from 20+ acres of outdoor space and they will of course be following all the guidance to keep people safe. Luckily the Kentucky International Exhibition Centre had space available for the show to expand into to ensure there is space for everyone.

To enter the competition to win a trip to GIE+EXPO in Louisville, click here.

Health and care facilities have thanked Hayter Limited, and its parent The Toro Company, for its support during the current pandemic crisis after it donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and headbands for face shields which it manufactured using 3D printing.

The donated TimeMaster in use at Rivers Hospital

The manufacturer say they were keen to do what they could to offer support to local health and care facilities when it became clear people didn’t always have access to the protection equipment they really needed.

Working with a network of contacts, the company began supporting the manufacturing of headbands via a 3D printer. The headbands are used to hold face shields. So far the business has donated nearly 700 of the headbands, which it continues to produce.

In addition, thousands of PPE items have also been donated to the Rivers Hospital in Sawbridgeworth, St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood and South Street Surgery in Bishops Stortford. A new Toro TimeMaster mower was also donated to the Rivers Hospital.

Many of the donations came about due to contacts employees at Hayter and Toro had within these facilities and all the donations were greatly received.

Rosie Knowles at St Clare Hospice said, “Thank you so much - this is very generous and has come at the perfect time. Hayter has been a long-standing supporter of St Clare, from donations and staff fundraising to in-kind support for our raffle. It means so much to us that our friends in the business world are thinking of us now, when we know that everyone is facing hard times.”

Andy King at The Rivers Hospital, which is a private hospital currently providing free emergency capacity to the NHS during this pandemic, said, “It is heart-warming when a company like Toro makes contact with us, to firstly offer the PPE to our hospital and then make the incredible donation of a lawn mower. It shows big companies have a heart and are aware of helping others in locations nearby.”

Dr. Sarah Dixon at South Street Surgery added, “We are extremely grateful and this will help ensure we are able to continue to safely see patients both at the surgery and at our local Hot Clinic where we see symptomatic patients together with the other local practices. Thank you once again”.

Tom O’Riordan, manager - xourcing EMEA, at Hayter said, “It was clear early on that businesses needed to do what we could to support our NHS and care staff so they can carry on safely doing their jobs which are keeping us all safe and looking after those in need. It’s been challenging at times but nonetheless, it’s nothing in comparison to the daily challenges faced by our NHS and care workers.

“We hope our donations have gone a small way to helping and mostly would like to say a big thank you to everyone on the frontline working tirelessly and selflessly to battle this virus.”

Greenworks have announced that their new mower powered by two 24v batteries, rather than one heavier 48v battery, has proved successful since its launch earlier this year - with sales reported to have increased fourfold in six weeks.

According to the company, gardeners were reporting that they were finding the 48v rechargeable batteries used to power domestic lawnmowers too heavy for use in their hand-held line-trimmers and hedge cutters and that the weight was significantly reducing manoeuvrability.

The manufacturer says that when their engineers came up with the solution of creating the same power for the mower via two lighter 24v batteries, it has proved to be successful for them. Just one of the batteries is required to power the 24v line trimmers and hedge cutters.

When the concept was launched as a £199 package at the start of the UK season, Greenworks say sales increased fourfold in just six weeks. Additional production was rushed in from their Chinese headquarters and in a statement the company claim these are also "flying off the shelves".

Mark Moseley, sales and marketing director for Greenworks UK said, “Our 2 x 24v system has been phenomenally successful. Women and older people are increasingly using line-trimmers and hedge cutters and the smaller, lighter battery is a winner in all ways.

"Manoeuvrability is essential when hedge cutting or strimming under trees and hedges but the greater power of 48v is needed when mowing. This is the answer to both.”

The organisers of Cereals LIVE say they will be "putting demos at growers’ fingertips", as they go live online for the first time from 10-11 June 2020.

From state-of-the-art robotics, to autonomous tractors and electronic weeding, the show says it will have it all available in video demonstrations in the brand new Innovation and Tech Demo ring.

Event director, Alli McEntyre said, “It’s a brave new world for farming, with innovation driving sustainability and efficiency. Being able to see the most cutting-edge technology in action will give farmers an insight into where their businesses could be headed very soon.”

Highlights to view online include:

The Small Robot Company (above) will be demonstrating its robot weed mapping service, launched in November 2019. Hailed as a technical milestone, it is the world’s first service for individual plant mapping at broadacre scale and provides farmers with a per-plant view of their fields.

Also demonstrating how far robotics in farming has advanced, FarmDroid will show just what an autonomous field robot can do to help reduce costs for sowing and weeding crops, while additionally staying carbon neutral and organic.

Harper Adams University will be exhibiting its new drone sprayer, while Syngenta will be offering visitors a close-up view of different sprayer nozzles in action, alongside the new closed handling system which makes filling traditional sprayers easier and safer.

Two new innovations from Joskin promise to grab growers’ attention: With John Deere, its NIR sensor can be fitted to slurry tankers in order to test the nutritional content of slurry as it’s being delivered. And for the machinery buff, its new E-Drive will be of great interest. This distributes tractor power throughout the tractor-trailer combination, allowing for increased traction alongside reduced ground compaction, tyre wear and fuel consumption.

Another first of its kind, New Holland’s methane tractor will be on display. Offering the same performance as its diesel equivalent, with up to 30% lower running costs, this machine presents a look at the future of zero carbon farming.

Mechanical weeding options will also be explored, while those looking for something completely new might be tempted by Rootwave - electric weeding technology. A sustainable and no-till option, it uses electricity to zap roots, ensuring weeds are systematically killed.

Advancing technology opens many news doors and opportunities for farmers, adds Allie. “Cereals LIVE will have a full shop floor for growers to explore, with plenty of ideas for them to take home and use to develop their farm for the future.”

Baggleys Machinery, a family run dealership based in Norfolk has been appointed by Pellenc for their full range of battery-powered equipment.

The business is owned by Solly Mansfield, with his wife Fiona and their two sons, Toby and Oliver, also integral to the company. Solly started working from home in 2001 and over recent years the Mansfield family say they have seen their dealership significantly grow.

Toby and Oliver Mansfield

Baggleys Machinery now occupies a six-acre site and has eight members of staff.

Solly says he is particularly pleased after adding the Pellenc range to the company’s extensive portfolio of products. “I had been interested in Pellenc equipment for quite a while,” he said. “I actually had a hands-on demonstration a long time ago when Pellenc was first introduced into the country. I was instantly impressed but unfortunately at that time I didn’t have the customer base that I have now and was not in a position to take it on. So now I’m really pleased to finally be offering Pellenc to our customers.”

Solly continued, “The feedback from customers has already been incredible and many of them have commented on the fact that they are now able to start their jobs earlier. They can now start to cut a hedge or strim straight away, whereas with their petrol machines they wouldn’t be able to use it, say at 7am, due to the noise disturbance.

Baggleys Machinery will distributing the complete Pellenc range and Solly says he has already seen a demand for the products from the likes of local authorities, hospitals, universities and contractors.

A new range of cordless professional hand tools - plus other products from the Honda Lawn & Garden range - have being introduced by Spaldings following the company's appointment as a Honda national dealer for the UK and Ireland, and as a local dealer in the Lincoln area for selected products.

Spaldings say all the Honda products are now available through their multiple sales channels - online, by telephone, through the regional sales team, and at the retail counter in the company’s premises on Sadlers Road, Lincoln.

As with similar products, Spaldings say return-to-base service and repairs support is available.

Steve Constable, Spaldings managing director, said, “As an approved Honda service agent we are able to offer genuine Honda Lawn & Garden products to our customers giving them greater choice in their decision making.

“The expertise gained from over a decade of being a main servicing dealer for other well-known brands ensures that Spaldings can offer full service and warranty back-up as standard, maintaining our reputation for first class service, quality and value built up over the past 65 years.”

Steve Morris, head of Power Products at Honda (UK) said, “Spaldings has established itself as a trusted name in the ground care sector, so Honda is delighted to be working alongside the business.

“The company’s decision to stock a wide variety of Honda Lawn & Garden products, aimed at both professional and domestic users, is only the start of good news to come from this partnership in the future.”

The LM1700E-SP, 42cm self-propelled lawnmower, from Ego Power+ has been awarded the number one place for IndyBest by the Independent.

It's the machine's third award since its launch earlier this year alongside the BBC Gardeners’ World magazine Best Buy award and Which? Best Buy award.

The judges at the Independent described the as a "superb all-rounder that’s light, manoeuvrable and small enough to fit through garden gates". They went on to say, "Without fail, we were always left with a precise finish and a real professional cut."

IndyBest also commented on the value-added EGO warranties, which are five years on tools and three on batteries.

Steve Roskell, director of marketing at EGO said, “This mower has received a hattrick of best buys since we launched this model earlier this year, from some of the industry’s top reviewers. With recognition like this it’s clear to me, and the reviewers, that this is the best cordless lawnmower available in the market right now.”

Terry Harrison Machinery has recently equipped two of the largest councils in Wales with new fleets of Etesia PRO 46 pedestrian mowers.

After previously working in the groundcare industry for 23 years, Terry Harrison formed his company in 2012. Terry started his career as a service engineer before progressing into a management position, gaining experience and knowledge in every aspect of running a groundcare machinery business.

Over the years the company has witnessed continuous growth and Terry has also worked hard on adding machinery franchises to its portfolio - one of which is Etesia.

Just recently, Terry sold 34 machines consisting of PRO 46 PHTS3 single speed self-propelled and PRO 46 PHE3 push pedestrian mowers, to two of the largest councils in Wales.

Commenting on his recent business, Terry said, “The Etesia brand is hugely popular with our customers. They are comfortable for operators, well balanced and they do the job they are supposed to do.

“Users find that they do not break down and they do not need to buy parts or take them to workshops. It is for this reason why they are so good for councils and local authorities, especially with the amount of use they have. In fact, the councils tend to order new fleets of Etesia every year - which shows just how good they are.

“Working with Etesia UK means a lot to me," continued Terry. "We have had a great relationship with the company for many years and Les Malin (managing director of Etesia UK) has always been one of the most helpful people I have ever dealt with in this industry. I couldn’t say enough good words about Les and Etesia UK.”

Garden Trader is helping send quality leads to specialist garden machinery dealers in the UK.  It has been designed to  promote our dealer industry to consumers who are specifically searching for garden machinery products and services.

It is easy and quick to register and costs just £96 + VAT per year to be listed and all revenues in 2020 will be reinvested into promoting the site online.

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