Firstly today, a couple of congratulations are in order on a pair of well-earned retirement announcements.
We feature stories today of Bob Crawford who is stepping back from the dealership that he founded some 35 years ago - and also of our dear friend Chris Biddle who (this time!) is retiring from producing his podcast that he began back in lockdown.
All the best wishes to both from all us here at Service Dealer, for a long, happy and stress-free retirement.
Of course, for industry legends like Bob and Chris to have enjoyed such long and successful careers in this sector, there are a multitude of traits that they will have had to master. Words like adaptability, integrity and expertise spring immediately to mind. But there's another that surely everyone who is reading this today will recognise as essential. And that's resilience. Which, coincidentally, has just been announced as the theme for December's Service Dealer Conference (I know right, smooth!).
It's always an exciting time for us here at Service Dealer when we can begin to share with you all, the work that has been going on behind-the-scenes to prepare for our Conference. Work that begins pretty much immediately after the chairs are put away at the previous event. As ever, the organising team listens to what our dealer delegates want from your conference and a full programme of expert speakers and seminar sessions are put together off of the back of that.
This year's topic feels particularly timely and on-point for this season. As Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke says today, "We felt that 'resilience' sums up what is needed right now in a world of challenge and above all, uncertainty. Our program of events is designed to help physically, mentally and strategically."
Duncan is right when he talks about uncertainty pervading the network. It's an idea that has been repeated to us many times, from all different quarters, so far this year. So when we're in the midst of season like this, resilience isn’t just a buzzword – it becomes an absolute necessity.
The dealer network is, of course, renowned for its ability to dig in, adapt and keep moving forward. However, we can all do with some help and advice when times are particularly tough. Our conference will assert that resilience is a skill that can be honed, improved and nurtured. Our expert speakers and the specially curated seminar sessions will offer advice, tips and encouragement that can be taken back to the dealership and put into practice.
Resilience is about more than simply surviving tough times, though. Doing some reading around the concept in a business context, experts seem to say that it means being prepared for this uncertainty, making smart decisions under pressure, and finding ways to adapt, innovate and even thrive when the odds are stacked against you.
The past few years have seen disruption hit the network in waves. Brexit, Covid, supply chain issues - all have required the utmost resilience from dealers. Also we have seen huge disruption in routes to market, in the technology that dealers supply and in the changing of weather patterns.
It seems fair to say that a business best placed to cope with these myriad of assaults, will be one that has built resilience into all that they do. Their systems and processes require preparation, as do, crucially, their teams. Hopefully a trip to the Service Dealer Conference this December 4th, will aid you in your quest to do just that.
Also, I would argue that a fundamental element of resilience is in a sense of community. Of coming together to share knowledge, experience and expertise with friends and peers. Which is an opportunity that the Conference affords in bucketloads!
See you there!
