We've been beavering away this week getting the next edition of Service Dealer magazine to the printers.
The July/August 2017 issue will be on your desks during the first few days of July - and it includes a special feature on the concept of The Future.
It's a topic which is on everyone lips at the moment, but we wanted to consider in some detail what the coming years could hold specifically for specialist outdoor machinery dealers - of all sizes.
Across 16 pages we feature articles which look at the dealerships, the technicians and the innovations of the future. We also reveal the results of our Future Dealerships survey which we ran on here a few weeks ago, gauging the opinions of our readers.
I can give you a preview of the new cover here:
It's interesting in fact, that in a week where the Cereals event took place with a reduced machinery presence from some of the big boys, there was a drone display within the showgrounds.
In order to whet your appetite for the full in-depth feature in the magazine, over the next couple of weeks we're going to serialise some of the features you can look forward to reading.
Below is an short extract of Martin Rickatson's artice on the future for dealerships. Martin visited Farol's newly built premises in Oxfordshire and from talking to the team there, gained a sense of what the dealer of the future may look like.
You can read Martin's piece in full in the July/August edition - if however, you don't receive a regular copy of the magazine please sign up for free here.
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THE DEALERSHIP OF THE FUTURE?
A few hundred yards from the Oxfordshire venue for the annual Service Dealer conference now lies one of the most modern farm, turf and outdoor power equipment dealership premises in the UK. Martin Rickatson paid a visit to Farol’s recently-built new headquarters.
Agricultural equipment, particularly that used in arable farming, has changed out of all recognition over the forty years since Farol was formed. Back in 1976, quiet cabs had only just become compulsory on new tractors, fuel consumption was measured by gauge guesswork, and self-steering meant holding the front wheel against the furrow wall.
Fast-forward four decades, and the role of the dealership in supporting farm machinery has changed just as much as – indeed because of – the equipment itself. Dealer premises are having to change as a result, and there are few better examples than Farol’s newly-built head office and branch premises at Milton Common, near Thame in east Oxfordshire.
In 2011, Farol diversified by becoming a John Deere professional groundcare dealer from its Oxon, Leics and Berks branches, and more recently has broadened this by acquiring Godfreys’ western territory and its Wokingham depot. Two years later, with the firm having expanded considerably to employ 200 staff, 80 based at its head office, and having also added construction/plant franchises to its portfolio, the need for new premises there was identified, and plans were made for a purpose-built structure alongside the existing outdated ones, encompassing new large workshop bays, a showroom, office/training/meeting space and parts storage. The new facility was completed just a year before Service Dealer’s November 2016 visit.
“The purchase of our Hinckley premises, a building previously used as a premium car showroom, gave us a good idea of what a modern dealership building should be like,” explains Matthew Vellacott.
“We need to serve multiple types of customer, from farmers to homeowner gardeners, but while some want to discuss business machines worth thousands of pounds and others are seeking a new lawnmower, they have many similar requirements. We wanted to provide them with a welcoming premises, and had the space at Milton Common to create from scratch what we needed – a place to help customers and potential customers, and somewhere we can educate them as to what we can do for them.
“In order to do this, what we’ve tried to do is redesign the traditional agricultural dealer stores and showroom, putting more of the parts behind the counter – there’s no point in being Arkwright’s store and having every single pin and fitting on shelves – and instead putting on display more of the tools, toys and homeowner grass equipment – items that need to be handled and demonstrated, and which will produce fast turnover and be profitable. While we do have an internet sales presence and have 2,000 items on eBay with two full-time people overseeing this, the showroom is for items that we wouldn’t want to sell online – items that require advice and support, such as domestic mowers.
“It’s also important to ensure visitors – and the staff who serve them – are provided with comfortable surroundings, and that we play our part in conserving energy, so the new premises feature automatic doors, underfloor heating and a water recycling system.”
Read Martin's article in full in the July/August edition of Service Dealer
