The first dealer panellists for this year’s Service Dealer Conference, which is entitled The Customer Is King and takes place at the Oxford Belfry Hotel on Thursday 17th November, have just been announced.

Hailing from all corners of the UK and from dealerships large and small, the dealer panellists will take part in debates and in the three Breakout Sessions which will be offered on the day (these will be on Social Media, Websites & Technology and Traditional Marketing Methods – for full details click here).

Lewis Anderson – Rochfords Garden Machinery
Since 2008 Lewis has worked for Rochford Garden Machinery during holidays, weekends and evenings while finishing his education and attending university. He has now graduated the University of Strathclyde with a degree in Finance and Economics.
Soon after graduation he joined Rochford Garden Machinery formally as the New Business Development Manager focusing on identifying opportunities in new markets and products for the business.

James Hayes – Hayes Garden Machinery
James Hayes is owner of Hayes Garden Machinery and UK Garden Power & Backsaver barrows.
He won Garden Machinery dealer of the year in 2015 and more recently North Devon's young entrepreneur of the year.

Tim Lane – T H WHITE
Tim joined T H  WHITE in 1999 as a graduate trainee and worked across various departments. His roles within the company include sales, spares, branch manager, divisional manager, and more recently divisional director.
He is also the divisional director for the Machinery Imports business.

Bryan Hynds – Bryan Hynds Garden Machinery
Established in 1994, Bryan Hynds Garden Machinery Ltd stands in its original location on the Dobbin road, Portadown, Co.Armagh.
They hold a number of franchises for front line brand names for garden machinery and their new showroom, just completed this year, holds 35 ride-on tractors and up to 40 walk behind mowers. Currently their Facebook page has over 4000 followers, and they regularly run competitions which Bryan says always prove to be a great success.

David Ayres – Arun Mowers
David says he has grown up in the shed helping his father build up the business. He left a couple of times to pursue other avenues including an engineering degree and qualifying as an accountant . Although now he is the sales manager he often makes use of his box of spanners.
David has been back for the past 4 years and introduced more dealerships to grow sales, however their main focus is still servicing.

Joanne Balmer-Smith – Balmers GM Ltd
Joanne’s day-to-day role within the company is taking care of online & print marketing and also merchandising for their showrooms.
In addition, she was heavily involved in the recent design and construction of Balmers new depot and showroom in Burnley and the opening of a second outlet in Wakefield.

Robert Gusthart – Gustharts
Robert Gusthart has been in the chainsaw and lawnmower sales service & repair business since 1969 when he started work with his father working for the company H Irwin & Sons Ltd.
Gustharts has been trading in partnership for 30 years and Robert, together with his sister Julia, his brother in law Michael and their son Phillip are very much a family firm. The business has grown considerably in the last few years necessitating a move into much larger premises at the Milkhope Centre at Blagdon.

Emyr Jenkins – Jenkins Garden Machinery
Emyr is a managing director of Jenkins Garden Machinery and software company Excalibur, which specialises in software designed to manage repair workflow and EPOS for the garden machinery industry. He has worked within the industry since he was 16.
He graduated from the University of Glamorgan in 2006 with a 1st class degree in marketing.

Ben Turner – Ben Burgess & Co
Ben Turner is Managing Director of Ben Burgess & Co., one of the UK's largest agricultural, construction and grounds care equipment retailers. Ben joined the family business in 1977 and says he strives to lead a business that develops and sustains strong, stable and profitable partnerships by providing outstanding innovative services and products. 
As a supporter of education in agriculture, Ben focuses on investing in apprentices and is keen to provide opportunities to inspire the next generation.

To book your place at the Service Dealer Conference & Awards 2016 click here