All the planning and preparations are finally about to come to fruition. We are less than a week away now from 2018's Service Dealer's Conference & Awards - and the team here couldn't be more excited!
Being held once again at the Oxford Belrfy Hotel, the day has truly grown and developed into an essential fixture in the industry's calendar. We are hoping to see more dealers in attendance than ever before, for what is sure to be an informative, enlightening, educational and most of all, enjoyable day.
Coming on the back on what has been a tough season for many, the Conference organisers have made a real effort to make sure the content is both practical and realistic, but at the same time positive and forward-thinking. Through the speakers that have been lined-up and the discussion sessions planned, the aim is that dealers will leave with tangible gems of information and ideas which they can put into use within their businesses.
The day will kick off with a nostalgic look back at some of the key events which have occurred during the magazine's lifetime. Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke will be in conversation with the magazine's founder Chris Biddle, who no doubt will have picked some memorable moments to discuss, and some equally memorable photos from the archives to display!
The rest of the event will then be spent looking ahead to what could lie in store for the specialist dealer network as we progress through the next 30 years. We have a futurist, a dealer development expert from the USA and an aftersales specialist consultant - all of whom will be offering targeted advice, of specific relevance to dealers large and small and across all disciplines (garden, turfcare and agricultural machinery).
We are so pleased to have futurist Ed Gillespie join us for the day. As well as being a futurist, Ed is a writer, communications specialist and serial entrepreneur. His core talent is to take the complex, interconnected, interdependent nature of the many challenges the world faces, from climate change to disruptive innovation, and make common sense of them for non-specialist audiences.
I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Ed demonstrate his unique brand of what he describes as ‘insultancy’ - that is, being strategically rude to clients, with judicious wit and wisdom to inspire them to greater heights and aspirations.
Also a real coup for the Conference is having dealer development specialist, Sara Hey fly in from the States to address our delegates. Sara is vice president of operations and development at Bob Clements Inc - who if any of our readers have ever attended the GIE-EXPO event Louisville, you will have seen what marvellous presentations her company put on for the dealers there.
Sara works with companies in the OPE, ag and power sports industries, overseeing the development of customised training programs for their dealers. She is an engaging and commanding speaker and will share proven ways to help you gain and retain exceptional employees. Sara has a passion for helping dealers find and hire great employees, which reduces turnover and can save a dealership thousands.
We'll also be getting the inside track from a couple of customers representing key buyers for a dealer's business - a farmer and a representative of a commercial green-space maintenance company. They'll be discussing what an independent dealer needs to be doing to satisfy their needs and keep them returning to your businesses time after time.
The day will also include as ever, a couple of breakout session, so delegates can get truly involved in the conversation in smaller group sizes. This year the sessions will be tackling the prescient subjects of urbanisation and succession.
As an exciting edition to next Thursday's activities, Service Dealer are delighted to have Honda's Mean Mower V2 on display at the Oxford Belfry. This awesome feat of engineering is out to reclaim the title of the world's fastest lawnmower - and our delegates will be able to find out more about what it takes to build and drive such an incredible piece of machinery. And of course grab an opportunity to take a selfie with the mower and its super-talented driver, Jess Hawkins, who will also be in attendance.
Once the Conference has concluded, we'll be donning our finery and getting ready for the evening's annual Dealer Of The Year awards ceremony. I can tell you, the entries this year have been incredibly high and the sheer number of customer feedback comments we've received in favour of nominated dealers has really been quite extraordinary, The judges faced such a difficult task to separate the businesses in the running. But decisions have had to be made - with all being revealed Oscars-style on the 15th.
We're also delighted this year that the evening ceremony will be hosted by stand-up comic, singer and actor Charlie Baker. Charlie recently visited the Service Dealer offices and the team are really excited to see him do his thing at the Oxford Belfry. It will most definitely be a joyous close to what will have been a very special day.
Charlie Baker with Duncan Murray-Clarke
I hope to see as many of our readers there as possible next week. If you haven't got your ticket yet there may be some last minute availability via the Service Dealer website - or alternatively give the office a call on 01491 837 117.
Finally all the team at Service Dealer would like to thank all our sponsors, without whom the day would not be possible.
The companies supporting the event this year are:
PRINCIPLE SPONSOR
Kramp
PLATINUM SPONSOR
STIHL
GOLD SPONSORS
Husqvarna
Etesia/Pellenc
Honda
Kubota
Catalyst Compuyer Systems
NETWORKING SPONSORS
BAGMA
Ibcos
Garden Trader
