2020 continues to be a year which, on balance, will be best confined to the annals of history!

The employment picture is becoming increasingly worrying with more redundancies on the high street this week, with John Lewis, Boots and Burger King all declaring closures yesterday. The question now is will Chancellor's Rishi Sunak's plan for jobs and half price Nandos, have a positive affect on business confidence?

You can read the take of our SME Digest editor, Adam Bernstein, in another of our special features today. Once again an easily digestible article from Adam, he analyses Wednesday's announcements and considers how they might impact on small businesses.

Adam is very fair to the government, pointing out that they are trying their best, but stressing, ". . there has to be recognition that there is a limit to what they can do, no matter how unpalatable that is."

Which is of course the hard truth. Businesses will suffer. Many are doing so already.  Also, very sadly, not all will survive.

With the nature of this virus paying no heed to borders, this is of course a worldwide problem. Companies around the world are struggling at the moment. You may have already read the news today that Briggs & Stratton in the U.S has a crunch week coming up. This Wednesday, July 15th, according to this article in local news source the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is " . .critical in its efforts to stave off bankruptcy".

The report makes for tough reading. The Covid-19 impact is cited by a Briggs spokesperson in the piece as being "substantial" to their current issues - but the writer of the piece also points out that the company "has been battered by not only Covid-19 but also foreign competition and the loss of large customers in the outdoor power equipment business."

Hopefully something positive will happen for Briggs & Stratton, its workers and its customers this week. It'll be great to hear a fuller story from their side regarding how they intend to move forward as a company once they are less constrained by the legalities surrounding their current financial situation.

But I don't want to be all doom and gloom! And going from recent conversations we've had with both manufacturers and dealers, I don't think we necessarily have to be.

Of course we must be realistic, admitting that times are undeniably tough, with both manufacturers and dealers facing a frankly unique set of circumstances. But via our recent conversations and in research I've been conducting for an upcoming article for the magazine, we've heard one particular phrase crop-up on quite a number of occasions.

Cautious optimism.

We've been told about the recent surge in demand for certain products. We've also been told about the nervousness of what might come next, following the mass redundancies across society.

However, as we've heard many times over the years by dealers and manufacturers alike, the prevailing social, economic and political situation only ever has a limited effect on the business levels in our sector. It is of course always the weather which dominates a good or bad season.

Even amidst an unprecedented global pandemic, the conversations we've been conducting almost inevitably turned to the weather conditions. Too wet, too hot, too dry. These issues began to once again take precedence. In terms of how much outdoor powered machinery is sold and serviced, rain and sun has the upper hand over Covid-19 it seems.

So how do you feel? Does cautiously optimistic apply to you and your business? Are you fearful? Bullish? Somewhere in between?

We're running a short survey of our dealer readers today to, excuse the pun, take the temperature. If you could spare a few moments to let us know how your business confidence is feeling currently, it would be most appreciated. 

We'll publish the results and a selection of your comments in the next issue of Service Dealer magazine.

Ron Smith, the founder of the garden machinery dealership that carries his name, passed away suddenly at home on 26 June at the age of 85. He leaves two children, Mark and Dawn and four grandchildren.

Ron Smith, with son Mark, pictured in the Worcester dealership for a 2018 interview with Service Dealer (pic. Laurence Gale)

Mark, who runs the business today says, “It came as a complete shock. Dad passed away suddenly in the evening, having come to the business a few hours earlier to look at recently installed racking and to discuss overall business – and was looking forward to another visit soon."

Having initially worked for farm machinery dealer, J C Baker in Worcester for several years, Ron decided to set up on his own in 1967, buying a Morris Minor van with a logo designed and painted by his late wife, Gina.

His initial franchises included Westwood where he was greatly helped by Peter Burnham and Homelite, then run by Peter Baker who later joined STIHL as managing director. He sold his first ride-on in 1972, the ubiquitous Westwood Lawn Bug for £182.

As the business grew, he invested in a Volkswagen pick- up truck to collect and deliver machines and repairs, again Gina provided the sign-writing and this time the van boasted a miniature lawnmower on the cab roof to promote his business.

In the 1980s, as the business grew, he purchased adjacent land in Worcester and opened a new showroom. He further expanded the business by opening a second branch in Hereford, and Mark joined the business in the early 1990s having been ever-present from an early age at demonstrations and shows as part of the family firm.

Over the years, Ron took every opportunity to showcase his company to the public at shows, open days and local events, being ever-present at the Three Counties and Malvern shows. In recent years, Mark has championed the use of online sales, using a selling medium that was never available to Ron in the formative days.

Expansion continues with the opening of a new showroom in Hereford in 2016 with an enlarged and centralised showroom, workshop and storage in Worcester planned for development.

Mark says he will miss the constant input and advice from Ron over the years. “Even in his retirement, he took an active interest in the business right up to the end. He was the ultimate self-made businessman, a constant in the fabric of business life in Worcester – and highly regarded and respected in the garden machinery industry by suppliers and fellow dealers over many years."

A private funeral is to be held next Friday 17 July in Worcester, and a memorial service is being planned for next year.

Family flowers only but donations to St Richard’s Hospice (where Ron’s wife passed away) may be made to E J Gumery & Son, 68/70 Ombersley Road, Worcester WR3 7EU

Rosie Hart from WM Plant in Cumbria and Danny Lewis, landscape contract manager at Manchester City Football Club are the lucky recipients of a trip to the USA to visit GIE+EXPO, thanks to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.

Rosie and Danny win a ticket for themselves and their guests to enter the show at the Kentucky Exposition Centre, which runs from 21st-23rd October. They also are provided with travel from the UK, transfers and accommodation.

This year’s show features a 4,000sqft hands-on Drone Zone, a UTV Test Track for driving and comparing the latest vehicles on real terrain and arborist demos and classroom courses. It will also have over 1,000 exhibitors covering everything from outdoor power equipment, landscaping equipment and the latest lawn and garden technology.

The competition ran earlier this year across Service Dealer and Turf Pro, with a great response from dealers and those working in the professional groundcare industry. The two best answers to a tie-breaker question were chosen.

Here Rosie and Danny share how they are feeling about their incredible prizes.

More information about this year’s show can be found here.

The Agricultural Engineers Association has now formally elected their new President, Les Malin.

Les is md of Etesia UK and has been an active member of the AEA for over 14 years.

As President of the AEA, Les’s role will be to lead the Board of Directors, while the farm equipment and outdoor power equipment councils and various technical and specialist groups focus on current issues and initiatives.

Due to Covid-19, the AEA's 2020 Annual General Meeting was postponed back in April, leading the Association to take the unprecedented step to nominate Les as its President-Elect.

Following recently introduced changes in legislation, the Association has now been able to formalise Les's role as President, as the AGM was allowed to be held virtually. With some 30 participants in attendance, as well as the company legal advisors, all was ensured as legally binding.

The AEA says that Les will receive his chain of office in more certain and safe times.

The next instalment in the Service Dealer Digital Toolkit is out now.

This week we are offering advice on a couple of other forms of digital marketing that you could benefit from using.

TAP account manager, Kate Godber says, "SMS (text messaging) and a regular email are great ways to keep in contact with your potential customers. Highlighting new launches, special offers and key dates are often quick and easy wins for getting customers through the door. Text messaging is also, in our opinion, quite an underrated marketing tool, especially when it receives such high open rates."

Use the login details emailed to you by Service Dealer (check your junk mail and add us to your safe senders list if you haven’t received the email) or if you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here.

Campey Turf Care Systems has appointed well known industry figure, Nick Brown, as their new export sales manager.

Nick has over 20-years of experience in golf, and sports turf and through his previous role at Ransomes Jacobsen has extensive knowledge of the international markets. His understanding of these areas doesn’t only come from work. Four generations of his family were born and worked in the Far East, and he has lived in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and predominantly Indonesia across 25 years.

Campey say his experience in this part of the world, in particular his knowledge of local cultures, makes him exceptionally well suited to the role.

Nick said, “In my new role, I want to build on the consistent and well-known message that Campey is always willing to go the extra mile to help. I have always worked on the basis of ‘making a customer, not a sale,’ and that matches perfectly with the common goals and message the Campey team has.

Nick joins Campey during a challenging time for global travel and distribution, but Campey chairman, Richard Campey, believes Nick’s knowledge and enthusiasm will bring a fresh approach to the situation.

Richard said of Nick's appointment, “He joins us at a time of constant change in terms of global travel, in particular the restrictions we have to work with while still providing the best service to our customers. With support from our director Lee Morgado, who is already well-known to our dealer network and end users from the middle east to Australasia we hope to continue to grow in these established and new markets. That will require a different approach in terms of connecting with our export markets, and I’ve got no doubt that Nick will take that challenge on with enthusiasm.”

Krone UK have announced G Marshall Tractors as main dealers to further strengthen their distribution and support network within the Scottish Borders.

David and George Marshall of G Marshall Tractors

Ian Brydson, Krone UK territory manager for Scotland said, "G Marshall Tractors have values which align closely with that of Krone; a passion for well engineered products, high levels of after sales support and a strong family ethos. We are delighted to be working together to drive sales of Krone products across the Scottish borders."

David Marshall said, “Myself and George are absolutely delighted to have been appointed by Krone and all the staff here at G Marshall Tractors share that excitement. We see it as a homecoming of sorts being that around 25 years ago George was the Krone dealer for the area. Indeed, it would be fair to say, that along with Renault tractors, the old Krone chain and slat balers played a big part in building G Marshall Tractors into the business that it is today."

The dealership says their sales, service and parts teams will be working hard over the next few months to get up to speed with the Krone product range in order to provide comprehensive support and advice to new and existing Krone customers from that area.

Etesia UK has reported a "huge uptake" in its petrol powered Buffalo ride-on mowers.

The company are putting this rise in popularity down to the outlawing in many city centres around the world, of the use of diesel powered products - and the lack of a battery powered ride-on machine, offering professional end-users similar power.

Eteisa UK md, Les Malin, said, "Who knows what the future holds, but, quite simply, the fact is that there is not currently a battery-powered machine on the market which is capable of equalling the performance of a professional petrol-powered ride-on mower.

“When you take into consideration the wide-spread demonising of diesel and the lack of professional battery powered ride-on mowers then there are unfortunately few solutions."

It is for these reasons that Etesia UK believe they have seen record-breaking growth in sales for its range of Buffalo ride-on mowers - which they say are the only commercial, petrol powered ride-on machines available in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive.

The range first launched six years ago, doing well in the European markets as countries such as France and Germany replaced huge fleets of diesel-powered ride-on mowers with Buffalo ride-on petrol mowers.

Now Etesia says the UK has started to follow suit.

Carnoustie Golf Links chief executive Michael Wells has announced that a strategic partnership with John Deere has been secured, following a detailed period of exclusive discussions between the two organisations, whose joint vision laid the groundwork for the announcement.

Carnoustie Golf Links Chief Executive Michael Wells (centre front) with (l-r) Deputy Chief Executive Adair Simpson, John Deere Strategic Account Manager Richard Charleton, Managing Director Sandy Armit of John Deere dealer Double A and Links Superintendent Craig Boath

Carnoustie say the formalisation of the partnership will harmonise greenkeeping with technology and R&D, as this alliance looks to "lead the conversation in sustainability and best practice in golf course maintenance".

For staff in each organisation, this will also see investments designed to create new professional development and learning opportunities, in addition to supporting a wide range of charitable and apprenticeship programmes, including Carnoustie’s 250-strong junior golf development hub The Carnoustie Craws.

“Our goal was to conceive a partnership based on shared values that went well beyond the provision of greenkeeping equipment,” said Carnoustie's Michael Wells. “Carnoustie and John Deere can now work together to lead the conversation as the golf industry looks to modernise its approach to golf course management, with a partnership that will focus on innovation and development.”

John Deere’s European Golf & Turf sales and marketing manager Carlos Aragones added, “We will be honoured to see our machinery at work on the Championship, Burnside and Buddon Links Courses at Carnoustie Golf Links, and look forward to establishing a close and fruitful partnership with this historic club.”

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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Join the country’s only independent specialist website, created by the team that bring you Service Dealer. Join our subscribed Garden Trader dealers now by clicking on “Register Dealership” and let's fight back against the zero value retailers.

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