Some disappointing news again today I'm afraid, regarding a dealership closing its doors for the final time.

Today we must report that R C Setchfield have informed their customers that they will soon cease trading. The development is not a result of an insolvency of any kind, but rather due to an imminent retirement.

We've had many conversations so far this year, as to why dealerships have been dropping from the network. Whether you believe it has been part of a wider trend or part of the natural churn of business, it's always sad to hear of another dealer shutting shop.

One refrain that I have heard repeated from various sources is that 2024 is proving hard for some of the smaller, family dealerships. Perhaps even more so for those who do not a have blockbuster, big name brand to represent. Questions are being asked regarding what the future is going to look like for those companies?

Without a crystal ball no one can say for sure of course, but some industry experts who I've heard from are certainly expressing concern for just how tough circumstances are for those in the mid-market.

As we have said several times already in recent months, we wish all those involved with this latest closure all the best for the future - and hope that we do not lose skilled individuals to the industry.

Showroom set-up

Hopefully dealers of all sizes and all disciplines will be receiving as much support from their supplying manufacturers as they can to help them through any choppy waters. An interesting story today that illustrates something that one brand is doing, sees Husqvarna announcing their new modular store design concept for dealers.

With so much of today's discourse concentrated on online profiles and social media presences, I'm sure readers will be pleased to see a manufacturer placing such emphasis on showroom design and layout. Whenever we at Service Dealer visit the workplaces of our readers, it's clear that the customer experience in-store, holds masses of importance for specialists around the country.

How dealers display the marques they represent within their showrooms, and indeed how they present their own personal brand, is a topic that has been discussed repeatedly over the years - amongst dealers and their suppliers, at conferences and within our pages.

It's a cliche, but first impressions do count. A clean, well-organised frontage with clear signage gives customers a sense of the quality and professionalism they can expect from the dealership within. Those lucky enough to have a premises where outside landscaping is also possible can showcase machinery in action, providing a visual demonstration of the products' effectiveness.

Inside the showroom, experts in these matters will say that a strategic layout is essential for guiding customers through the space, whilst highlighting key products. A well thought-through layout will likely group products that different customer types will be interested in - for example professional equipment in one area and more homeower-oriented kit in another.

Chatting with dealers over the years, mowers and the like are notoriously tricky beasts to display in an attractive, eye-catching fashion. It's hard to avoid a sea of handles! So thinking of effective product displays that highlight the features and benefits of the machinery on show, is a key consideration. I know many dealers like to lift mowers off the ground, to bring them up to eye-level. Also effective signs giving detailed descriptions, including specifications, key features, and pricing are appreciated by many customers.

If a customer has entered a specialist's place of business in the first place though, it does follow that they are probably after more than simply purchasing a product. They want a personal service in a welcoming and comfortable environment. So seating areas, coffee machines, and the space to speak easily with staff for an engaged encounter are essential.

Of course the online image that is projected holds great significance too, so technological integration is increasingly common in modern retail environments. Digital displays can provide dynamic, up-to-date information about products and promotions, bridging the gap between online convenience and in-store expertise.

By spending time and effort on the design and layout of a showroom, it should follow that dealers can not only attract and retain customers but also build a strong, loyal community around their brand.

We know our specialist dealer readers take great care to make sure their showroom spaces are right for themselves and their customers. If you have any key tips you're willing to share with our community, regarding how you set up your premises, please let us know in the comments below.

Husqvarna has unveiled its updated global store design concept, which they say reflects the brand’s Nordic heritage.

The company says that with flexibility and modularity as their guiding principles, they have created a concept " .. that caters to the needs and store space of each dealer, whilst enhancing the end-customer experience." The company confirmed to Service Dealer that the new store concept will be launched in Q1 2025 to UK dealers when they can start ordering with their area business manager. It is available to dealers in some other territories this season.
 
Husqvarna say the new store environment is designed to accommodate everything from product display and servicing of machines, to consultation areas for visitors. The design concept is based on a grid system of square building blocks inspired by their brand identity. The grid system allows for an infinite number of combinations, to fully suit the conditions of each store.
 
The design is characterised by Husqvarna’s blue brand colour and light wood details that are reminiscent of Nordic design, which they say contributes to creating a warmer and softer look. Also part of the concept is lighting designed to project nature motifs on the ceiling, as well as greenery and nature sounds - as well as sound-absorbing ceiling elements in the lounge areas and by the welcome desk.
 
Börje Nilsson, global shop profile manager at Husqvarna, said, “Our new design concept offers an upgraded shopping experience in line with our premium brand positioning. We can now offer our dealers a modular system to present our products in the most attractive way possible, no matter if you have space that’s one square meter or 500 square meters."
 
Digital and interactive displays are also core features of the new design. The concept offers a welcoming screen for digital marketing, interactive touch screens, and handheld tablets at the welcoming desk and lounge areas. Dealers are also able to add large modular screens for inspiration and brand impact.

The new store concept is already in place in 8 stores in total, in markets such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden.

Kymco UK say they have welcomed four new franchise dealerships across the UK and the Republic of Ireland for their ATV range, since the beginning of 2024 - their 60th year in business.

The four dealerships are:

• ARK ATVs - Minehead, Somerset
• JG Paxtons - Bentham, North Yorkshire
• D A Forgie - Lisburn, Northern Ireland
• Kilkenny Quads - Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland

Neil Keeble, national sales and marketing manager of Kymco UK, said their growth in dealerships “ . .shows that our reputation of selling high quality manufactured products at competitive prices is of ever increasing value to consumers.”

The company’s Irish ATV dealer expansion includes D A Forgie’s Lisburn branch, its second dealer in Northern Ireland, while Kilkenny Quads is its first outlet in the Irish Republic. 

Neil concluded, “It’s Kymco’s 60th year, but 2024 also marks 26 years of Kymco sales in the UK, 16 years since Kymco UK was formed, and six years since we began operating Kymco’s mobility, motorcycle and ATV divisions together.”

The Turney Group, based in Oxfordshire, have signed a new agreement with their long term partner Ransomes Jacobsen to expand their territory to the south and west of their existing area of responsibility. 

Turney say this significant opportunity further strengthens their long established partnership between themselves and Ransomes Jacobsen, and will serve to grow market share of the respective businesses through their experienced sales team and aftersales capabilities.

Turney Group's portfolio of groundcare brands includes Iseki, New Holland, Amazone Groundcare, Dennis, Sisis, STIHL and Husqvarna.

According to figures released by the AEA, after a few months tracking close to the seasonal average, UK agricultural tractor registrations in June were lower than usual.

At 869 machines, the monthly total was 23% lower than in June 2023 and was down by a similar amount compared with the five-year average for the same month. That meant the total number of tractors registered during the first half of 2024 reached 5,882, 13% fewer than in the same period last year. 

Agricultural economist at the AEA, Stephen Howarth, explained, "That is also 8% below the average recorded between 2018 and 2022 and is the lowest total reached by this point in the year since 2020."

AMS Robotics, UK distributors of the Belrobotics commercial robotic mowers, have announced Taylormade Garden Machinery as their newest dealer.

Taylormade have opened a brand-new machinery sales and service centre in Beamhurst, near Uttoxeter. They say they will be focusing on selling the Belrobotics BigMow to golf courses, sports pitches and residential sites.

A spokesperson for the manufacturer said, "AMS Robotics is a family run business who pride themselves on working with like-minded people, so partnering up with Jack and the rest of the team at Taylormade is the perfect example of an organisation we want to work with and we look forward to helping them build product awareness in the area with them."

STIGA's latest donation of products, as part of their We Care That You Care campaign, is to Galley Hill Community Gardening Group.

The Group was formed in 2021 and entered the It’s Your Neighbourhood competition run by Thames & Chiltern in Bloom. Keeping to their principal two beliefs - sustainability & community - they do everything with those in mind.

The Group say their aims for the coming year are:

• Expand the court allotments (all produce is for the residents of that court & excess for food bank.
• Replace the current street planters with reclaimed wooden bigger ones
• Plant the four magnolia trees in our court
• Plant up a unused patch of wide grass verge for bees, butterflies, wildlife & wildflowers
• Get some high-viz jackets for volunteers with the logos of all supporters.

The products they received were a Collector 136e; GT 300e grass trimmer; HT 300e hedge trimmer; SC100e pruner; BL 300e blower; and CS 300e chainsaw.

Anu Chundur, from the Galley Hill Community Gardening Group said, "It was wonderful to meet Jack and to receive the generous donations made to our community gardening group by STIGA. Christmas has come early! We all had a great time trying the various machines out and I’m so impressed by two things. All the batteries are interchangeable and everything has a 5 year warranty."

Garden machinery manufacturer and distributor Handy will be showcasing its extensive product ranges and highlighting its support for dealers in its biggest-ever garden machinery event, Handy LIVE 2024, which will be held at the prestigious Moulton Grange Country Estate in Northamptonshire on Thursday 5th September, at 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. For more information and to get your FREE tickets click here.  

Find out how you can become a Webb Garden Power stockist 

At Webb, practicality is a top priority when designing products. The machines are not only designed for ease of use but also for simple maintenance, which ensures a hassle-free experience for customers. With a wide range of products available to cater to all needs, customers will always find the perfect machine to suit their unique requirements. 

• Increase your business profit margins
• Various point-of-sale solutions 
• Regular special offers
• Sales and marketing support
• An ever-evolving range - covering petrol, electric and cordless.  

Find out more at Handy LIVE click here   

Webb 56cm (22″) Petrol Wheeled Line Trimmer 

The walk-behind petrol trimmer from Webb is the ultimate solution for those seeking trimming convenience. Powered by a superior 161cc four-stroke engine, this trimmer offers unparalleled performance. Trimming large areas can be a tiring and challenging task, but the Webb WEPWT makes it a breeze with its large 36cm twin pram-style wheels. These wheels not only take the weight off your shoulders but also provide excellent manageability, ensuring you can complete the task with ease. With its impressive features, the Webb WEPWT offers a workable solution for anyone in search of an efficient, reliable, and convenient trimmer. 

Webb 58cm Walk-Behind Vacuum & Blower 

The Webb WEWBVAC Petrol Vacuum is a high-quality gardening tool that boasts a premium 140cc Briggs & Stratton engine and a substantial 58cm working width. It comes equipped with a sizable 150-litre collector that makes clearing leaves and debris from both lawn and hard-standing areas fast and convenient. With ball-bearing wheels, it is easy to push and features adjustable working height for superior flexibility of use. 

For reaching hard-to-reach areas, an optional hose kit is available, while the optional scarifier cassette allows for manicuring the lawn. Additionally, the optional brush aids in lifting wet leaves and debris. The machine is also designed to reduce garden waste to a fraction of its original size by simply sucking up wet or dry leaves and clippings and turning them into a fine mulch that is collected in the 150L bag, ready to be spread onto flower beds to return nutrients to the soil. 

This walk-behind vacuum operates quietly and smoothly, thanks to its reliable 500e Series engine, which delivers dependable performance, lower noise levels, less vibration, fewer emissions, and reduced fuel costs. The machine's massive 150-litre collection bag is also designed for quicker emptying, with a wide U-shaped zip that makes removing garden waste easy. 

Webb 40cm (16″) Petrol Lawn Scarifier & Raker 

The top-quality Webb WEPS400 petrol Scarifier is a powerful and fast way to refresh medium-sized garden lawns. It is designed to revive and revitalise lawns, featuring a 40cm working width and is powered by a 212cc Webb petrol engine. The machine comes with a 45-litre collector, making it easy and convenient to use. 

The Webb WEPS400 petrol Scarifier also boasts adjustable working height and space-saving foldable handlebars, providing superior flexibility of use. The large wheels make it easy to push around your lawn. 

Equipped with a Webb DVO212 4-Stroke OHV petrol engine, the machine delivers 212cc of power, making it ideal for tackling the toughest of scarifying and raking tasks. The scarifier and raker cassettes give you the best option for removing moss, thatch, and dead grass from your lawn. 

With a choice of either the 18 steel-bladed scarifier or the 28-spring claw cassette, the Webb WEPS400 petrol Scarifier is designed to transform your lawn. The cassettes remove moss and thatch, penetrate the soil, and allow moisture and nutrients to be easily absorbed, resulting in a healthier and more vibrant lawn. 

Handy LIVE - Secure Your Free Tickets - only a Few Tickets Remaining!  

Tickets are limited and free to attend, so don’t miss out! Register for your tickets on the link below… 

Get your FREE tickets here   

About Handy  

Since 1938 Handy has grown to become one of the UK’s largest independent garden machinery wholesale distributors and manufacturers, supplying specialist dealers, large national retailers, garden centres and mail order companies, from its purpose-built 70,000ft Swindon site which is home to more than 45 full-time staff.  

Handy has developed some of the UK’s leading machinery brands including Webb, The Handy and Q Garden. These distinct brands are a testament to the company’s creative and manufacturing prowess.  

As the UK-appointed distributor for the Greenworks brand cordless equipment, Handy is at the forefront of leading battery technology offering a full complement of cordless equipment. 

To this day, Handy remains a family-owned British business.  Its experience, expert knowledge and dedicated customer service – which includes carrying over 10,000 spare part lines - have enabled it to build a team driven by high performance and family values.  

Our 2020 Summer research showed that on average, each Garden Trader dealer will be sent 114 new customers (or people with a buying intention walking through your door) per year.  This works out at 83p for each new customer. A subscription rate designed to be all inclusive delivering unrivalled online results.  

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