In today's Weekly Update there's some stories of reflection and some looking ahead with excitement.

Firstly, I'd like to reiterate my own and Service Dealer's best wishes to Keith Christian upon his retirement from BAGMA. Keith has been a great friend to both myself personally and to the magazine during his tenure at the Association. However, we are far from unique in that regard. Keith is a great friend to all in the industry - never failing to share his help, wisdom and experience with those who need it.

As just one recent example, throughout the pandemic Keith was always on hand, willing to give up his time to join Service Dealer's group video calls. Offering practical advice, he was constantly on top of the complex and ever-changing rules and regulations imposed by government that applied to dealers - helpfully translating them into plain English so we could all understand where the industry stood.

The AEA / BAGMA certainly have a task on their hands, finding someone to take over from Keith. He will most certainly be missed by all who had dealings with him - but let's hope this isn't the last we've heard from Mr Christian!

Looking forward now, also in the Weekly Update today you'll find the unveiling of the categories for the Dealer Of The Year Awards. Today the team is just confirming what the Awards are for this year - you'll be able to throw your hat in the ring, for as many awards as you like, in a couple of weeks.

For the time being, get your thinking overalls on and start deciding which categories you, your business and your team members should be in the running for. You can also begin to gather together any supporting materials for your entry that you might like the judges to take into account. Evidence like testimonials, videos, pictures, links to blogs and to social accounts - anything that supports your nomination would be helpful.

The categories you can enter this year are:

• Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year
• Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year
• Forestry Machinery Dealer of the Year
• Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year
• Star of the Dealership
• Apprentice of the Year
• Best New Initiative
• Leadership Award

As you can see, we have reinstated our core dealer product sector awards this year, as well as retaining some of the new individual prizes that were established in 2021. I do hope that you, our dealer readers, upon seeing these categories today already have an inkling about what you'd like to take a shot at winning.

These have been a tough few years, with the past 12 months perhaps even more challenging than during the midst of all the lockdowns. You know precisely how hard you and your team have had to work, under incredibly trying conditions, to keep your business going and - crucially - keep your customers satisfied. So why not get that recognition you deserve?

Don't be shy! Shout about how you good you are. Winning a Dealer Of The Year award is not only a fantastic boost for you and your team, it's a gold-plated marketing opportunity. The PR you can generate locally via your social channels and local press, plus the national recognition from the industry and your peers, should not be underestimated.

So start those conversations within your dealership. Which Award(s) you should be going in for?

And to the manufacturer's, please also consider who you feel in your network deserves this recognition. The judges will want to hear from the suppliers' side too, letting the panel know who the stars are that represent your brands.

All the details you'll need to enter the Awards will be published in this Weekly Update very soon. So keep 'em peeled - and get thinking!

Service Dealer can today unveil the categories for November's Dealer Of The Year Awards.

Entries for the Awards will go live in a couple of weeks' time - until then dealers can browse through the categories and decide which they would like to enter this year.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "This year we are welcoming back our core product dealership categories - as well as retaining some of the special awards we introduced last year.

"We encourage all our dealer readers to start thinking today which categories they could enter this year. Begin to gather your thoughts and perhaps start to assemble your supporting evidence in readiness of entries going live.

"You know how hard you and your team have worked this past year - well, now's the time to gain recognition!"

Full details of how to enter will be announced in a subsequent edition of this Service Dealer Weekly Update - until then here are the 2022 Service Dealer Awards categories that dealers will be able to enter:

Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Husqvarna

Have you gone above and beyond this year to satisfy your domestic customers?

Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Ibcos

Have you kept your farming customers working throughout thick and thin?

Forestry Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Societe Generale Equipment Finance

Have your arborist customers relied on your professionalism this year?

Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Toro UK

Do your commercial customers know you'll help them keep their surfaces well-maintained all year round?

Star of the Dealership - sponsored by Catalyst

Is there someone in your team who always goes the extra-mile - for the business, customers or local community?

Apprentice of the Year - sponsored by AGCO

Do you have a rising industry star in your dealership, who is keen to learn and contribute to the business's success?

Best New Initiative - sponsored by Kress

Have you implemented something new in the business this year - be it some diversification, a fresh project, or a redesign, let us know!

Leadership Award - Sponsored by Kubota

Does your dealership benefit from someone who leads from the front, makes bold decisions whilst supporting their team and the wider industry?

The Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner following the Service Dealer Conference that takes place on Thursday 24th November 2022 once again at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire. The theme for this year's Conference is Sustaining Dealerships.

After 15 years as director of BAGMA, Keith Christian has decided to step down from the role and retire.

Keith Christian

Keith told Service Dealer, "After over 40 years in the industry I would like to thank everyone I have worked with, every one of my past customers, all those that have helped and supported me and the businesses I have worked for over the years.

"From fathers and mothers to sons and daughters in the UK dealerships I would say, be proud of what you do, you offer a unique and exceptional service to your customers and your suppliers and there is a bright future out there for you."
 
Keith continued, "I have been very proud to be a part of BAGMA for a long period of time and I believe that BAGMA’s future is stronger than ever. Dealers, large and small, need a strong voice and BAGMA has and will continue to provide this voice for the dealer network by working with government, other industry partners, trade associations and manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the future of a dealer network in the UK."

Steve Gibbs, editor of Service Dealer said, "Keith is one of our industry's great personalities, and his expertise, knowledge and willingness to help anyone who needs his guidance will be much missed.

"On a personal note, he has been of huge help to me in my role as editor of Service Dealer. Knowing that I was able to ask his opinion and delve into his years of experience and wisdom as a friend, has been incredibly appreciated. He has assisted the magazine in all sorts of ways over the years and we thank him greatly for that."

We will hear more from Keith in a forthcoming edition of Service Dealer magazine.

The AEA / BAGMA are now recruiting for a new General Manager of BAGMA.

The passing has been announced of Martyn Davies who many will know as part of our industry for many years.

Industry stalwart Colin Gale told Service Dealer, "Martyn joined Flymo Ltd as an area sales manager and his career saw him specialise in the chainsaw side of the industry, working with brands such as Partner, Jonserred, Sachs Dolmar and Husqvarna.

"Many dealers will recall Martyn’s support at their open days and country shows, demonstrating and selling products to produce incremental sales. He was committed to support his dealers, often towing his caravan and taking his wife and family to spend the whole weekend at the various shows.

"His dealers for the various brands will remember the traditional style of support, visiting, training, demonstrating, with additional support at weekend event. He also gave regular dealer support at the Royal Welsh Show.

"After retiring from the industry Martyn continued to live in the village of East Coker and had embarked on obtaining his Private Pilots Licence."

Martyn is survived by his wife Christine and children Ross and Kirsten plus their respective partners.

The service to celebrate Martyn’s life will be held at 12pm on Tuesday September 13th at Yeovil Crematorium, followed with a reception at Heylar Arms, East Coker.

Full details of the service and reception and an opportunity to leave your thoughts and messages can be found at: http://martyndavies.muchloved.com/

Keith Miller, general manager of Kubota (UK)’s aftersales business, has taken the decision to retire after 21 years of service.

Keith Miller

In a statement Kubota say his career with them has been an impressive one, having started as assistant manager of service in October 2001, followed by promotion to service manager in May 2007. Throughout his time with the company they say, he has been instrumental in developing the service function into a larger, more professional and more streamlined aspect of the business.

Keith’s passion for helping individuals to develop their talent has seen the business recruit a number of technical apprentices and trainees in recent years, who have been able to forge a career with Kubota (UK) in both service, and R&D/compliance. With Keith’s guidance, many have gained recognition as Apprentice of the Year, and represented the UK business at the Worldwide Technician Skills Awards held at the Kubota Training Centre of Excellence in Osaka, Japan.

As the business continued to develop, Keith progressed to the role of general manager of Kubota (UK)’s aftersales business in 2019, as both parts and service functions were merged together in an all-new aftersales division. 

The company said of Keith, "His tireless devotion to the business will be missed when he leaves his role at the end of August."

Bobcat will be exhibiting at the Galabau Exhibition in Nuremberg in Germany from 14-17 September 2022. 

The manufacturer says that at the show they will be previewing their launch into the grounds maintenance business.

In a statement the company said they intend to enter the grounds maintenance market in 2023 with a new product range to complement its current portfolio.

At Galabau, they will be giving a preview of their new mowers, part of the range that also includes new compact tractors and turf equipment alongside the company’s mini track loaders, small articulated loaders and related attachments.

Toro U.K. Limited recently took a group of UK dealers to Minnesota, USA, to visit The Toro Company’s global headquarters in Bloomington, and tour one of the company’s manufacturing facilities.

The UK dealer group at The Toro Corporation HQ

Dealers had the opportunity to tour the headquarters to see first-hand the vast testing facilities and visit the manufacturer's Center for Technology, Research & Innovation. They were shown how Toro utilises cutting-edge technology in the development of new products. This included experiencing the many applications of Virtual Reality in product development and watching prototype parts being 3D printed.

The group was taken to the Toro manufacturing facility at Windom, Minnesota, where they were able to see zero-turn mowers, snowblowers and specialty equipment manufactured and assembled. Toro say Dealers were impressed by the scale of the operation, and they were able to have a Q&A session with the factory team leaders to better understand how the company has adapted and managed through the current supply chain issues the industry is facing.

Adding a bit of Minnesota fun alongside business, the dealers had an opportunity to watch the Minnesota Twins play the Chicago White Sox. Enjoying a real American institution on a glorious summer day, the dealers also saw the full Toro fleet in use at the baseball stadium in preparation for the game, before enjoying a drink and the atmosphere.

"I was so pleased to be able to take a group of dealers to visit our colleagues in the US, now that Covid travel restrictions have eased,” said Craig Hoare, sales & marketing manager, Toro U.K. Limited.

“It was not only a way for us to say thank you to our dealers, but it was also a great opportunity to expose UK Dealers to the extensive infrastructure that backs up the UK operation and to share some of the plans, investment and products coming from Toro in the near future.”

Vanessa (Ness) Robinson has joined the team of the UK distributor of Corvus Terrain 4x4 off-road utility vehicles, Boss ORV, as operations manager.

Phil Everett and Ness Robinson

Ness is reunited at Boss with managing director Phil Everett, having previously worked together for over twelve years.

Boss has been growing its dealer network and geographical coverage over the past three years and say they have steadily been developing its team to meet dealer and customer expectations. 

“We knew Ness had one hundred per cent of the skills we required,” says Phil. “Organisation, dedication, communication and so much more. Ness’s role will be the main hub which the business will revolve around, hence, it was critical we got the right person - and we did!” 

Phil concluded saying, "We have so much more to announce very soon, so it was critical we made this superb addition now. Welcome Ness!” 

This October, travel to Louisville, Kentucky, and make your mark at Equip Exposition; the outdoor living, landscape, and power equipment industry's international trade show.

Equip Expo, formerly GIE+EXPO, is the proving ground—the one trade show where you can “test before you invest” in new products, innovations and even ideas for your business.

• See the Latest Products and Manufacturer Lines
• Entertainment Includes Trace Adkins Performance on October 20
• Learn from Industry Experts Bob Clements and Sara Hey
• 3 Days and Nearly 30 Acres to Demo
• Enroll in our Dealer Management Education

To book discounted lodging and to learn more about Equip Expo on October 18-21 go to equipexposition.com

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