With the words 'best ever' being bandied around, yesterday saw the Service Dealer Conference take place with delegates benefiting from sharing knowledge and ideas with each other - as well as interacting with the superb line-up of speakers.
The Service Dealer Conference took place yesterday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry - which was packed with dealers attending from across the country,
There were representatives of dealerships large and small, multi-branched and single premises, and retailers of garden, professional turfcare and agricultural machinery. I feel confident in saying that all would have left the conference last night, enriched and enlightened by what they had heard across the day.
I also feel personally confident in saying that this was the best Service Dealer Conference and Awards of their modern incarnation. Chatting to people afterwards, the consensus definitely appeared to be that the mix of speakers and the format of the day was bang on. It delivered on content and as a perfect vehicle for the industry to congregate and benefit from spending time in each other's company.
In these testing and uncertain times it was delightful to be part of such a positive atmosphere with a real sense of a community of fellow professionals coming together to share ideas and knowledge. All geared towards delivering best practice - and as a consequence, a profitable business.
Because the Conference's theme of Turning A Profit, undoubtedly pervaded the discourse throughout the day yesterday.
Duncan Murray-Clarke
Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, kicked things off by welcoming delegates and sponsors alike and set the agenda, saying, "Our theme this year is turning a profit which, as you know, isn’t as easy as it sounds - especially in today’s challenging conditions. I am a small business owner myself and it isn’t always easy. If and when you do crack it, you then have to deal with all the issues that growth throws at you.
"We’re in an industry that relies on the volatile weather, a workforce that is hard to attract (and then retain), and there are of course those mounting challenges from digital communications."
Therefore, pondered Duncan, what would be relevant to kick off the conference this year, from the first keynote speaker? The common factor which challenges the industry is connecting with key people who help run and support our business, as well connecting with customers, said Duncan. These potential recruits and customers of course come from several different generations, so how do we find them and then connect with them in confidence and in ways that they are comfortable? Do they to need to change their attitudes or rather is it us that needs to adapt to get the best out of the emerging generations and their skills, asked Duncan?
There to offer some answers to those questions was Dr Eliza Filby, a generational expert, who has made it her mission to try and understand the complicated divides between the generations. She has advised the House Of Lords Committee on Intergenerational Fairness, the EU Human Rights forum and speaks regularly on the business circuit. Delegates will have also seen her on Sky News Press Preview and read her stuff in The Telegraph, FT and The Guardian, plus she is currently writing her second book, “A History Of Generations”.
Dr Eliza Filby
Eliza's keynote to the whole conference was on the subject of Communicating With The Different Generations - and was very much geared towards this notion of connecting with customers.
Eliza broke down the four different generations which dealers encounter - Baby Boomer, Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z - defining their characteristics and, importantly, their expectations and desires when it comes to interacting with retailers. She spoke of a changing consumer landscape. Where traditional business would have come from the Baby Boomers, as they were the sector with financial stability, Millenninals are now coming of age. "Within the next 10 years, these Millennials will be your most important demographic," Eliza told the delegates.
She explained that unlike the generations before them, Millennials are continuing to act as eco-conscious buyers, who are maintaining their values - therefore they will easily favour battery products over petrol power. The idea of recharging a device they use three times a day, is not a problem for these consumers said Eliza.
Eliza's talk truly got the room buzzing. Her insight was fascinating with delegates relating what she said both to their own businesses, but also to their family lives. You could sense in the chatter amongst the delegates as she finished talking, everybody took something of value away with them from what she had to say
It was an engagement which carried over when Eliza returned later in the day to run one of the Breakout Sessions - this time to more specifically address how generational awareness can help dealers in their interactions with staff. In the session which I attended, the majority of the time was centred around a dialogue specifically on issues surrounding how to retain staff. And it genuinely felt like a dialogue because from the off, Eliza was wanting to hear from dealers regarding the difficulties they are facing in their places of work. Problems around pay, hours, conditions, skills and attitudes were all brought up by delegates in the room. It was fantastic to witness dealers from across the country talk amongst themselves about issues they've faced and share thoughts about how they might best tackle them.
Eliza thoughtfully discussed the subjects raised, offering examples of how companies in other sectors deal with the exact same problems of retention which dealers face. She said, "The number one way to keep your people is training." She said Millennials entering the market want to know there is career path for them and what they are doing is actually leading somewhere. Her other key point was the generation gap between older and younger workers in a business must be bridged to avoid unhelpful tension. The younger ones will benefit from hearing from the older generation's knowledge, she said - but equally as important is the older workers being open to experiencing new ideas and ways of working from the younger recruits.
After lunch, delegates returned to listen to the second keynote of the day. Described by Duncan as the "industry education" slot, the conference was privileged to hear from Bob Clements, md of Bob Clements International, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Bob works with thousands of agricultural and groundscare dealers across the USA delivering bespoke and distance learning initiatives as well running their well-attended dealer boot camps. That's why OPEI partner with them to deliver their dealer initiatives at the GIE+EXPO each year.
Bob Clements
In an entertaining and fast-moving presentation, which was packed full of specifically relevant advice for UK dealers, Bob talked about structuring dealerships to maximise profits. Bob talked about how there was a "ton of money" to be made in this industry as long as dealers focused on the elements of their business which they could control. Bob argued that wholegoods sales are mostly out of the control of the dealership as they are dictated by the weather and the economy, therefore tremendous focus should be placed upon making sure your parts and service departments are acting profitably.
He explained that as companies, "Our business is to create processes to eliminate chaos." He was also very keen to emphasise that the idea of working harder to add profitability to a company isn't quite right - moreover it's the concept of working differently he said. Just think a little differently, try new approaches and if they don't work, move on and try something else. It was an inspiring talk.
Bob was also on hand alongside Sara Hey, another member of the BCI senior team, to run the other Breakout Session of the day. With the amazingly confident title of 'Turning Your Service Department Into A Cash Producing Machine', this was a session which I know a lot of delegates had been looking forward to. And I don't think they were disappointed. In a deep-dive presentation on the service department, Bob and Sara talked through their 8-step system of eradicating chaos from the department. Again this idea of creating a series of processes so things run smoothly was emphasised.
Sara Hey
As an observer, it was clear to see how much the people in the room were taking away from Bob and Sara's advice. The follow up questions which were generated, clearly illustrated the engagement in the room.
For the final afternoon session of the day, the delegates came back together in the main room for an encore performance of a session which proved popular last year. Pete Harding of UK training company PFW Associates and Sara Hey of the USA’s Bob Clements Inc had put together another of their UK vs USA presentations - this year on the subject of recruitment issues and best practices in hiring for the dealer industry..
Once again a winning a formula, it's always useful to learn from colleagues on each side of the Atlantic. It was fascinating to hear the common problems faced by our two countries and the methods suggested to try to overcome what can be a very stressful and problematic issue for many independent dealers. Pete and Sara discussed a range of issues around the subject of when a company feels they should hire, how they might go about this and then what they might do to ensure they retain these recruits.
Sara Hey & Pete Harding
Pete pointed out how everyone is "fishing for candidates in the same pool", therefore they should be thinking outside the box in terms of how they try to appeal to these potential new recruits, possibly via social media. It was also interesting to hear them both talk about how damaging for small company, keeping the wrong person in the business can be. These toxic elements need to be removed as soon as possible they both agreed - with Sara suggesting that the cost of keeping a bad apple in the company for just 6 months would end up costing an owner 2 and half times that person's annual salary.
The day wrapped up with a panel debate and Q&A session. On the panel were Bob and Pete who were joined on stage by Keith Christian of BAGMA and representing the dealer community, Jason Nettle from Winchester Garden Machinery and Hannah Robinson from Brian Robertson Machinery.
Bob Clements, Keith Christian, Jason Nettle, Pete Harding, Hannah Robinson and Duncan Murray-Clarke
Split into two halves, firstly the panelists were asked their thoughts on what they heard during the course of the day, specifically relating to the theme of turning a profit. This was followed by a series of questions gathered from delegates. It was fascinating to hear some other perspectives on the day's events as well some real-world knowledge from the front lines. Topics covered in the questions put to the panel included how will dealers cope with an increasingly battery product future, the role of women in the industry and what they felt was the common barrier to profitability.
Duncan Murray-Clarke wrapped up the conference saying, "With all that is going on in the industry and the pressures that there are, we hope that today has delivered some real value to you. We hope you have enjoyed it but more importantly will come away with knowledge that will help you progress your own dealerships."
I personally would like to say a big thank you and congratulations to the team at TAP who organised another superbly put together event. I felt that there was so much excellent content throughout the day - a sentiment I heard repeated to me many times following the conclusion of the day from both dealers and sponsors.
And speaking of sponsors, another big thank you must go to them - without whom, a valuable day such as this would not be possible.
BUSINESS PROSPECTS 2020 SURVEY How are you feeling ahead of the new year?
With a general election looming, we'd appreciate a few moments of your time today to let us know how you are feeling regarding your business's prospects heading into 2020.
We have a few questions on sales, staffing and challenges - and as ever there's space for you to share your opinions.
We'll publish the results and a selection of your comments in the next issue of Service Dealer magazine.
The winners of the 2019 Dealer Of The Year awards were presented with their honours last night, at the prestigious awards ceremony.
In a prestigious ceremony at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry last night, presided over by comedian and actor Charlie Baker, the Service Dealer Awards were were presented to our winning dealers from around the UK.
The categories and winners were:
GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Husqvarna. Presenting Award: Kevin Ashmore, Husqvarna Professional UK Manager
Jason Nettle with Kevin Ashmore plus Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and comedian host, Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "In a very competitive category that had four finalists, this well established dealership had demonstrated a determination to keep focussing ahead whilst making some tough decisions on the way."
Sponsored by Kramp. Presenting Award: Neil Benbow, Field Sales Manager
Winner - Lister Wilder, Eight branches across Southern England
Colin Puffett, Ian Nutt and Alan Haines with Neil Benbow plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "A highly thought of business established in 1947. Over the last few years they have been growing the dealership demonstrating a commitment to invest in training and innovation. The judges felt that they had also shown consistency in tough trading conditions by improving internal efficiencies and are now looking ahead more than ever."
Neale Hopley with Adam Giles plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "This dealer shows diversity as well as a specialism in Arboraculture as they were a finalist in the garden machinery category last year. The judges liked the digital approach, putting customers’ feedback and members of staff foremost. Customer feedback submitted was outstanding."
Andrew Melville, Scott Grieve and Mark Lewin with Les Malin, plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "This excellent dealership has a real focus on customer satisfaction with a genuine customer-first approach. Their commercial clients are quick to praise their extensive product knowledge, their desire to make sure customers have the right kit for the right job and importantly, their speedy responses to make sure downtimes are minimised."
Anthony Deacon with Andrew Parr plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "This ATV dealer really stood out through their amazing customer feedback submitted and multiple nominations from manufacturers and logistics suppliers. They are expanding and have come a long way since three friends started the business in 1987."
John Rowland with Mike Cameron plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "After 40 years, this year’s winner is still dedicated to the dealership and service department. He picked up a Master Technician award in May this year and continues to show dedication through his work and work ethic. Despite this he is always ready to help others as he is the 'go to' person in the dealership."
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Kubota UK. Presenting Award: Martin Tyler, Business Development Manager
Ifan Davies and Martin Tyler plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
The judges said, "This year’s Apprentice of the Year has progressed extremely quickly over the last 12 months and is already being let loose on bigger ag equipment like forage harvesters. He works at an evolving dealership who believe in progressing several apprentices at once despite being located remotely."
OVERALL DEALER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Kramp. Presenting Award: Des Boyd, sales director
Jason Nettle with Des Boyd and Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r) celebrating their Overall Dealer of the Year win
The judges said, "This year’s overall winner is an established name in our dealer community. The next generation are managing the company forward and have recently made some big decisions in regards to direction and strategy as well as utilising the traditional ways alongside modern routes to market."
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Presented by Service Dealer founders, Chris and Trish Biddle
Winner – Brian Sangster, recently retired from BAGMA
Chris and Trish Biddle with Brian Sangster (centre) plus Duncan Murray-Clarke (l) and Charlie Baker (r)
Chris Biddle said, "This industry depends on those who embrace the whole fabric of our sector, those who go the ‘extra mile’ for the benefit of the whole industry - and that is certainly the case with the recipient of tonight’s winner.
"Brian Sangster went from High School in Cupar to Elmwood Agricultural College. He started his working career in 1972 as a Lecturer in Agricultural Machinery at Galashiels College of Further Education. In 1978 he joined dealer Reekie at Stirling, becoming Group Service and Warranty Manager. He was with Reekie for 37 years, retiring (with a small R) in 2015.
"An active member of BAGMA, he was appointed National President in May 2015, a post which he held for 4 years instead of the usual 2-year term. Handing over to Peter Arrand at this year’s Royal Highland Show.
"But that has not meant he put his feet up. Brian now is:
A STEM Ambassodor
A judge of the Innovation Awards at the Royal Highland
Chairs the BAGMA Scottish group
Is Chairman of the LE-TEC Management Group
Is BAGMA representative on the BIRA Board of Management."
Chris also quoted BAGMA MD Keith Christian, who said, “Brian has been the busiest and most involved President I have known during my time at BAGMA. He is modest, hardworking and a wonderful ambassador for dealers in particular and the industry as a whole. A real Unsung Hero."
Garden Trader, the website which puts independent retailers in front of consumers at the purchase decision making stage, is to launch in America in Spring 2020, under the title My Mower Specialist.
Announced at the Dealer Of The Year Awards ceremony last night, Garden Trader, the website that puts independent retailers in front of consumers at the purchase decision making stage, is to launch in America in Spring 2020 - under the title My Mower Specialist.
Owner of Garden Trader, Duncan Murray-Clarke, who also owns Service Dealer said, "Garden Trader has had a fantastic 2019.
"As of this week, in total, all our subscribed UK dealers have collectively appeared over 1 million times in searches on the Garden Trader site. Most visitors to the site are in the process of investigating a purchase, so the majority of leads should very much be considered as potential customers. Don't forget, all subscribed dealers can check the interest in their individual dealer pages.
"It has been a tough couple of years for the industry, especially with the pressures that are coming from large online retailers, therefore I am delighted that the site is performing so well for dealers”.
Duncan went on to announce that after a successful three years the website is due to be launched in the USA as MyMowerSpecialist.com next Spring.
“After seeing the enthusiasm for the concept from both dealers and manufacturers over in the U.S, which is the largest groundcare market in the world, we have decided to launch a US version.
"It is tremendously exciting to be going to the US with a new concept for their industry - and all without negotiating a trade deal!"
The application, focussed primarily on the needs of dealers, uses product recognition to locate incoming goods quickly, find products by scanning a barcode and recognise products from a picture.
Announcing the attendance figures, organisers of SALTEX have described 2019 as "record breaking" - and are asking attendees to complete a survey to be in with a chance of winning £500 in Amazon vouchers.
Organisers of the SALTEX exhibition have described this year's edition as "record breaking" having announced the attendance figures.
In an official release they said that 2019 saw "over 500 brands on display" and "a record-breaking 9,104 visitors in attendance".
The organisers are also asking attendees to complete survey, to be in with a chance of winning £500 of Amazon vouchers. They said, "We are committed to building on the successes of each event, so would very much appreciate if you would take a few moments of your time to complete our brief feedback survey."
The survey, which needs to be completed by today (Friday 22nd November) can be found here.
Looking ahead, SALTEX 2020 will be the exhibition’s 75th anniversary and CEO Geoff Webb says he is already looking forward to the celebratory event.
“SALTEX has moved from a horse racing track in Windsor to the National Exhibition Centre in the middle of the country and the fact that we are now gearing up for our 75th annual show next year is testament to the community of the sports turf industry and how it has grown," Geoff said.
SALTEX 2020 will take place at the NEC, Birmingham on 4 and 5 November.
The organisers have also put together an official show highlights video package which you can watch below
John Deere and Volocopter have announced their cooperation on cargo drone technology and presented the first large drone adapted for agricultural use at Agritechnica 2019.
John Deere and Volocopter have announced their cooperation on cargo drone technology and presented the first large drone adapted for agricultural use at the recent Agritechnica show.
A demonstrator model of the VoloDrone equipped with a John Deere crop sprayer, which is ready for its first field flight, was displayed in the Future Technology Zone. Featuring a potential payload of 200kg, the companies said the VoloDrone is able to cover an enormous area, especially under difficult operating conditions.
This first large agricultural drone is the result of a collaboration between John Deere, who say they bring knowledge of farmers’ needs, and the Urban Air Mobility pioneer Volocopter, whose flying taxis form the technological basis of the VoloDrone.
Both companies say they see great potential for the VoloDrone’s use in agriculture, with capabilities ranging from difficult topography to increased efficiency in the use of crop protection agents, sowing seeds or frost control. The development of this demonstrator is a first step towards bringing this technology closer to commercial application after full testing in the field.
The VoloDrone is powered by 18 rotors with an overall diameter of 9.2m, and features a fully electric drive using replaceable lithium-ion batteries. One battery charge allows a flight time of up to 30 minutes, and the VoloDrone can be operated remotely or automatically on a pre-programmed route.
The drone frame is equipped with a flexible standardised payload attachment system. This means that different devices can be mounted on the frame depending on the application. For crop protection, the drone is equipped with two liquid tanks, a pump and a spray bar.
Due to the drone’s low altitude in flight, very large area coverage of up to 6ha/hr can be achieved and spray management improved. This say the companies, would make the VoloDrone a sustainable, precise and cost-effective alternative to helicopters. Due to the system’s high flexibility and GPS control, more selective area-specific treatments are also possible.
Appropriate flight and application tests will be carried out with the demonstrator VoloDrone sprayer over the next growing season.
Fendt had four reasons to cheer on the first day of Agritechnica - including winning the 'Tractor of the Year 2020' for the 942 Vario.
Fendt had four reasons to cheer on the first day of the recent Agritechnica exhibition.
The new 'Tractor of the Year 2020' was given to the Fendt 942 Vario, while the Fendt 314 Vario won 'Best Utility'. The company also accepted two Silver medals from DLG for the new Fendt IDEALDrive steering system and for a collaboration project with Braun.
(From left) Walter Wagner (Vice President Engineering Fendt Tractors), Robert Heisler (Product Manager for High-Horsepower Tractors Fendt), Christoph Gröblinghoff (Vice President Distribution Management), Peter-Josef Paffen (Chairman of the AGCO/Fendt Management Board), Thorsten Dehner (Vice President Global Parts and EME Parts & Services), Roland Schmidt (Vice President Fendt Marketing)
The judges of the 'Tractor of the Year Award' commended the 942 Vario for its connectivity, which enables fleet management and machine optimisation. It also praised the combination of the newly developed MAN engine and the low-speed Fendt iD concept, which, the panel said, "delivers high performance at low speed, delivering a smooth-running engine with maximum torque and minimum fuel consumption".
As for the 314 Vario, the panel of 25 agricultural journalists praised the versatility of the machine. "The innovative multi-performance concept DynamicPerfomance releases additional power when required – at any driving speed and during all types of work, even in stationary PTO applications. Another bonus is the larger display area in the cab that comes with the new operating concept, FendtONE. It individualises machine use and connects office and machine."
Peter-Josef Paffen, Chairman of the AGCO/Fendt Management Board said, "It takes many years to develop new machines, with plenty of sweat and tears from our engineers. Ultimately, it's impossible to predict if the trade press will recognise this achievement by awarding a prize. The fact that today we take home two awards from an independent panel of judges is testament indeed to our Fendt employees."
Also presented to Fendt were DLG Silver awards for tractors and forage harvesting technology.
An award was presented to the Fendt / Braun Maschinenbau GmbH collaborative project - a system to mechanically process the substrate with a tractor/implement setup that almost fully automates machine control. With this solution, Fendt answers the trend towards mechanically processing the substrate as an alternative to the use of herbicides. With a Fendt 200 V Vario, the tractor/implement setup is controlled by a gyroscope and a laser which send the necessary data to the terminal via a control unit.
The Fendt IDEALDrive steering system also received the Silver prize for harvesting technology. The judges were impressed with the innovative way it steers without a steering wheel. Controlling the combine harvester with a joystick, the driver has an unobstructed view of the attachments and the road.
Innovations in crop protection have been on show for Scottish farmers during November as machinery dealerships hosted Kuhn Farm Machinery’s 2019 Sprayer Roadshow.
Innovations in crop protection have been on show for Scottish farmers during November as machinery dealerships hosted Kuhn Farm Machinery’s 2019 Sprayer Roadshow.
Agricar, Fife Tractors and Ravenhill were involved in the roadshow and are all stockists of the company’s full range of equipment.
Included in the line-up at events in Elgin, Turriff, Forfar, and Fife were the company’s Oceanis 2 trailed, the Altis 2 mounted and the PF front sprayer.
Kuhn says the trailed Oceanis 2 has a maximum tank capacity of 7,700 litres, and - with compact all-aluminium booms - offers an operating width up to 48 metres. The range is available with KUHN’s MultiSpray system, which uses electric nozzle holders to enable in-cab nozzle selection, automatic nozzle selection to suit the forward working speed and to maximise the accuracy of variable rate applications, plus individual nozzle control to reduce overlapping.
The fully mounted Altis 2 was exhibited with a 2,000 litre tank, which - when used in combination with the PF 1500 front sprayer - gives a fully mounted capacity of 3,500 litres. This machine has the diagonally folding all-aluminium MEA3 boom, which limits the number of joints whilst retaining a compact design.
The dealership says that grinding is an integral part of their business and is fundamental to what they offer to the golf and leisure industries. According to Farol their current relief grinder, an Accu-Master 650, had proved popular with technicians and was one of the reasons they decided to go with Foley again and continue working with ProSport UK Ltd.
When it came time to decide on new grinders, after-sales manager for golf and turf, Oliver Longden, says he consulted with the technicians and appraised the Foley machines against others on the market.
“We had a look around at what else was available, but there was nothing comparable for what we need to do,” Oliver explained. “Our guys are already familiar with the Foley machines, and we’ve had a good history with our Accu-Master. We’ll continue using it alongside the Accu-Pro 633 during the peak grinding season because it still does exactly what we need it to.
“The most significant benefit with the 633 against other manufacturers is being able to relief grind correctly. We can relief grind any units without having to make massive changes to the machine, whereas with other manufacturers you must take a part off or swap something over and it all takes time. With the Accu-Pro you can switch from 7 to 11 to whatever number of blades, easily and quickly.
“Once it’s set up everything is automated so the guys can get on with stripping down the next unit while it’s working, because you don’t have to keep coming back to it to make adjustments.
“The training function was another big plus for us. We sometimes get new technicians who haven’t used the machine before. It’s a very good feature because it shows them a step by step set-up and how to work it, so anyone can jump on it straight away and get going. Someone who has little experience of grinding can work just as well as someone with 20-years’ experience, and that ensures consistent quality."
Farol believe that when it comes to cutting, it is ultimately the blades that do the job. To achieve the best cut possible, they need to be sharp and restored to how they function best, which is by relief grinding them back to the original manufacturer’s own specification.
Due to internal restructuring Sharrocks are looking to recruit an Agricultural Sales Person to join their team in North West England.
Sharrocks are an established agricultural and groundcare machinery dealership being a main dealer for Case IH. Due to internal restructuring we are looking to recruit an Agricultural Sales Person to join our team in North West England. You will be responsible for the selling & hire of agricultural machinery, on-site demonstrations and customer care / management.
The ideal candidate for this role would be someone that is ambitious and enthusiastic with some knowledge of the farming and agricultural sectors. Previous sales experience is not essential as you will be enrolled onto the Case IH structured Sales Training Program involving follow up assignments as well as on-going product training.
Duties
Represent the company in the sale & hire of agricultural equipment to new & existing customers including the farming sector, local authorities and contractors etc.
Organise & conduct machinery demonstrations
Handling sales / hire enquiries, dealing with customers face to face, on the telephone & by email.
Execute excellent after sales techniques through maintaining customer contact & liaising with the parts & service department.
Organise marketing & promotional events including exhibiting at local events & agricultural shows
Skills
Excellent customer service skills
Excellent communication skills – both written & verbal
Proactive & professional attitude
Organised
Computer skills
Towing driving licence
Offering an excellent remuneration package for the right candidate, dependant on experience, qualifications & skills.
Applications: Interested candidates should email their CV along with a covering letter explaining why they feel they are suitable for this role to victoria.kay@sharrock.co.uk. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Sharrocks are looking to recruit a Parts Sales Manager to join their successful parts team at their Wigan depot.
Sharrocks are an established agricultural and groundcare machinery dealership being a main dealer for Case IH, Ransomes Jacobsen, Iseki and other key brands. We are looking to recruit a Parts Sales Manager to join our successful parts team at our Wigan depot.
You will be joining a company where the continued growth of the spare parts business has resulted in some internal restructuring and created the need to recruit a dedicated person to take full responsibility for the sales, operation & logistics of this busy department.
Duties
Lead & manage the parts team including sales, purchase, stocking & dispatch
Ensure the efficient function & running of the department
Identify & maximise opportunities to increase sales
Inventory & stock level management using max & min levels within stock management software
Identify key suppliers and negotiate discount levels.
Manage the parts team by example by taking calls, answering queries, producing quotations etc.
Maintain efficient processes for the ordering & supply of parts to the Service Dept
Ensure a high level of customer service is maintained & identify areas of improvement.
Organise marketing & promotional offers
Provide regular feedback to management on achievements & forecasts.
Skills
Parts managerial experience, preferably within a similar business
Knowledge of agricultural / groundcare machinery
Good communication skills – both written & verbal
Good customer care skills
Proactive & flexible attitude
Organised
Computer skills
Offering an excellent remuneration package for the right candidate, dependant on experience, qualifications & skills.
Applications: Interested candidates should email their CV along with a covering letter explaining why they feel they are suitable for this role to victoria.kay@sharrock.co.uk. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Due to continued expansion Sharrocks are looking to recruit a Field Service Engineer, to support their varied and valued clients across South & West Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire.
Sharrocks are an established agricultural and groundcare machinery dealership being a main dealer for Case IH, Ransomes Jacobsen, Iseki and other key brands. Due to our continued expansion we are looking to recruit a Field Service Engineer, to support our varied and valued clients across South & West Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire.
The position requires a person with high integrity and the ability to work without supervision, on and around clients’ sites, servicing and repairing both customers’ equipment & our own hire fleet.
Candidates must hold a full driving licence & have excellent mechanical skills with previous workshop & field based engineering experience on groundscare, plant or agricultural machinery. Duties include general servicing/maintenance; PDI’s & warranty repairs and responding to breakdowns.
The successful candidate must have a good level of basic literacy as they will need to keep accurate job and time sheets on a daily basis and be able to communicate with our clients in a professional manner on every level at all times.
As a forward thinking company, we ensure our staff have every opportunity for skill development and actively promote training courses at every opportunity; these are sourced direct from our key suppliers. Offering an excellent remuneration package for the right candidate, dependant on experience, qualifications & skills.
Applications: Interested candidates should email their CV along with a covering letter explaining why they feel they are suitable for this role to victoria.kay@sharrock.co.uk. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Garden Trader continues to show high numbers of targeted traffic and is designed to specifically identify and catch customers when they are researching a product online and helping them locate their local dealer. Because of the site promotional criteria, we know the majority are actively looking to make a purchase (product or service). All subscribed dealers can easily check their listing's analytics just by logging in to see for themselves just how Garden Trader is helping their business. If you do wish to re-subscribe or indeed register it is easy and takes just a few minutes.
Garden Trader is helping send quality leads to specialist garden machinery dealers in the UK. It has been designed to support and 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 2019 will be reinvested into promoting the site online.
Garden Trader
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.
