Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, has said the support that the journal has shown the industry throughout the pandemic and each lockdown will continue to expand next year.

Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke at the recent Service Dealer Conference & Awards

Duncan said, "As the independent voice of the industry, we will not be throttling back in 2022. We intend to continue increasing our support for the industry in whichever way we can.

"We are immensely proud of how the industry has come together and helped us message and produce supportive content and tools for the dealer network during these challenging past two years."

Dealer & manufacturer 'think tank' calls

Looking back on how Service Dealer ratcheted up support for the industry throughout covid, Duncan said, "When the pandemic struck, my intake of breath moment was followed by the realisation that as an independent publisher we had a responsibility. To help bring the industry community together and to share knowledge and best practice to help us all navigate the mountain of problems.

"So just a week into lockdown we ran our first group call with the manufacturers and associations to share experiences and thoughts. The following week we did the same for dealers. Despite there being no script for a pandemic or past experiences to draw on, these calls went pretty well.

"Findings were then of course shared with the whole industry through the Weekly Update in the UK and Ireland and Turf Pro."

These calls and the reporting on them have continued throughout the past two years and will continue to be feature as move through next year.

Digital Toolkits

Duncan is also proud of the Dealer Digital Toolkits that Service Dealer produced to offer free, unbiased support to our dealer readers.

He said, "During 2021, we were also able to launch two digital toolkits, free to servicing dealers, to help them with the change needed in digital communications and diversification.

"This was possible because we were supported by a 'supergroup' of dealers to input into what is really important and relevant."

Looking ahead, there are exciting plans for further modules.

Magazine, Weekly Update and Conference & Awards

Throughout the past two years, Service Dealer's publishing schedule has continued uninterrupted. The magazine provided in-depth features and interviews every other month, whilst the Weekly Update hit inboxes every Friday at noon (or as close as possible!).

Duncan explained, "As a media group, we are always looking to be representative of our audience split and work hard to be inclusive geographically and across both the groundcare and agriculture sectors.  

"Manufacturers and logistics providers are also an important part of the industry equation. We have continued to cover all of these editorially in print and online." 

Also following the unavoidable postponement in 2020, this November saw the successful return of the Service Dealer Conference & Awards. Duncan said, "It was wonderful to once again host an event that is of genuine benefit to the dealer network. Our conference content this year offered plenty for attendees to get their teeth into on the subject of Smart Working.

"The Awards meanwhile celebrated outstanding dealerships and individuals from across the network, all of whom displayed incredible fortitude, resilience and kindness. The Awards highlighted how our dealer readers were there for their customers when they needed them most."

New for 2022

Looking ahead into 2022, Duncan promises that Service Dealer will not let up in its ongoing support for the network.

"I'm delighted to announce," he said, "that the third module of our free Dealer Digital Toolkit, will be released very soon. This time we shall be looking at building the dealership of the future.

"On top of this as announced last week, we shall be giving ourselves a makeover. The first issue of the magazine for 2022, hitting desks in January, will enjoy a fresh new redesign. We intend to keep our offering to the industry relevant, on-point and proudly independent."

Duncan concluded by saying, "I'd like to wish all our readers and industry partners a very happy Christmas and all the best for a successful new year."