As you may have already read or heard earlier this morning, the deadline for entering this year's Dealer Of The Year awards is imminent. 

Closing this coming Monday at midnight, the final few days to get your nominations in is upon us. You can nominate your own dealership and your members of staff, or you can be put forward by a third party, such as one of your suppling manufacturers. So this reminder goes out  to our manufacturer readers too - please do make sure you let us know who in your network consistently does an absolutely stellar job for your brand. You know who deserves that industry-wide recognition - so share the love!

There are categories this year to suit all dealership types - with size not being an issue. We have our core machinery specialism awards of course - including, for example, the Farm Machinery Dealer Of The Year. This prize was collected last year by Brian Robinson Machinery Ltd, of whom the judges said, "Undergoing a handover and dealing with the challenges of succession, this single depot dealership is certainly proving a force in the field."

There are also awards for individuals within the dealership. If you know there's someone within your place of work, who stands out and always goes above and beyond, please put them forward for consideration. The Star of the Dealership award would be applicable for anyone from within any department who fits this criteria, whilst the dedicated Leadership award is for a senior member of staff who leads their team from the front, by example and not instruction.

Last year this award was presented to Andrew Walker, group aftersales manager at dealership B&B Tractors (who also went on to collect the coveted Overall Dealer Of The year title). Judges said of Andrew, "Contributing to individual training and apprenticeships, he also strives to help manufacturers and service providers improve their offering to fellow dealers."

Elsewhere, there's also a more conceptual category, where we are looking to hear about your best new Initiative Of The Year. This can be any sort of new strategy you've put into place during the past twelve months in your company. Ideas such as innovative showroom renovations, business diversifications or branching out into new technologies could be appropriate here. Last year GGM's new service agreement was awarded, with the judges saying, "Not only did this new initiative show the professionalism of the dealership, but it also promotes professionalism in the industry."

There really is a range of awards that any dealership could consider entering. The organising team have told me we've already received a great breadth of entries from around the country, but of course we would always like more! So please, if you have been thinking about entering, do make sure you get your nomination in this weekend. It genuinely could be you this November!

A force for good?

Also today, again related to our upcoming Conference & Awards event, you might have noticed a request from two of our speakers for some dealer feedback. Sophie Brooks and Camilla Barnes are looking to hear in advance of their workshop, what our readers thoughts are on the notion of the dealership being a force for good?

They have set up a short survey where they are asking for your opinions on this subject, so that they might shape their session to best address actual concerns, questions and thoughts that delegates might have.

There are many facets to a business such as an outdoor powered machinery dealership being seen to be sustainable and a positive force - and not all would be of an environmental nature as might first spring to mind. There would be other areas to consider, such as community involvement and philanthropy, with businesses getting involved locally with educational establishments perhaps, or sponsoring youth sports teams maybe?

Other areas that could be argued as acting as a force for good could be supporting the local economy or simply passing on your expertise and friendly help to your customers. 

There's plenty to think about, so do please share any thoughts you have with Sophie and Camilla. It will most definitely make for a thought-provoking workshop come November.

And on this subject of a wholistic approach to making the business sustainable, there's a fascinating listen available today. Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke recently spoke to the Rural Business Focus podcast, about how his company, TAP, became B Corp certified and what that means in practise.

If you've got 30 minutes, it's an enlightening conversation.

Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murrary-Clarke, has featured on a recent episode of the Rural Business Focus podcast, talking about The Ad Plain's journey to becoming B Corp certified.

Duncan Murray-Clarke

Duncan talks to the host, journalist Ben Eagle, about what B Corp is and what it means for the business. He explains the hard work, long process and expense of achieving the certification, but says, "Ultimately, having gone through the whole process, it has been thoroughly rewarding."

You can listen to the whole podcast here - and read more about TAP's B Corp certification here.

Two speakers at the upcoming Service Dealer Conference would like to hear from our dealer readers ahead of time, to help inform their presentation.

Sophie Brooks and Camilla Barnes will be addressing our dealer delegates on the benefits of sustainability practices within the dealership at the forthcoming event.

In preparation for their workshop they have set up a short survey to receive input from dealers regarding the notion of businesses as a force for good. There are few brief questions they would like to hear our dealer readers thoughts on, covering areas such as how might our sector impact society both positively and negatively.

If you were able to spend a few moments sharing your opinions, Sophie and Camilla will be able to shape their seminar to best address the concerns and interests of our dealer delegates.

TAKE THE SURVEY

The deadline to get your nominations in for 2023's Dealer Of The Year Awards is midnight on Monday 16th October.

Dealerships can enter on their own behalf or be nominated by customers, suppliers, or another third party - but entries must be complete and include a 250-word supporting statement and at least one piece of supporting evidence. The awards will be judged taking into account the 12 months prior to the submission date.

Lloyd Ltd won 2022's Garden Machinery Dealer Of The Year

More detail on entries can be found by clicking the relevant category links below. 

A judging panel will review all the nominations prior to the Awards Ceremony on the 30th November. All entries for the categories below will be considered by the judging panel for the prestigious Overall Dealer of the Year award (sponsored by Kress).

Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Husqvarna

Have you gone above and beyond this year to satisfy your domestic customers?

ENTER GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Ibcos

Would your farming customers say you are outstanding in your field?

ENTER FARM MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Forestry Equipment Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Societe Generale Equipment Finance

Is your dealership at the top of the tree when it comes to supplying forestry equipment?

ENTER FORESTRY EQUIPMENT DEALER OF THE YEAR

Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Toro UK

Is your team firing on all cylinders when it comes to your commercial turfcare customers?

ENTER PROFESSIONAL TURFCARE DEALER OF THE YEAR

ATV/Quad Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Yamaha

Are you the dealership customers turn to for tackling all terrain in the outdoor sector?

ENTER ATV/QUAD DEALER OF THE YEAR

New Technician of the Year - sponsored by Kubota

Technicians are the staff who keep the wheels turning - this is your chance to highlight someone in their first four years of the role.

ENTER NEW TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Star of the Dealership - sponsored by EGO

Do you have a staff member who’s made an exceptional contribution to the business?

ENTER STAR OF THE DEALERSHIP

Best New Initiative - sponsored by STIHL

Have you implemented something new - be it a fresh idea, some renovation, diversification, or branching out with new tech, let us know!

ENTER BEST NEW INITIATIVE

Leadership Award - Sponsored by AGCO

Does your dealership benefit from a great team leader who leads from the front and acts as a great example to all?

ENTER LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner following the Service Dealer Conference that takes place on Thursday 30th November 2023 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon, the theme for this year's event is Taking Care of Business.

Handy has announced it has teamed up with lawn care company GreenThumb to create a new retail-led initiative with its Webb Garden Power, The Handy and Greenworks Tools brands, that they say can provide customers with savings and benefits.

The new partnership, Handy says, offers the chance to provide customers with a range of money-saving opportunities and competition offers. Starting in Spring 2024, customers who purchase a Webb lawnmower will be entered into a free prize draw to win a year’s worth of GreenThumb lawncare treatments and the chance to claim money back on any Webb lawnmower purchased.

Launching at this year’s GreenThumb National Conference on October 26th, the new collaboration will be promoted via a range of point-of-sale material in participating stores and across various digital marketing channels. This latest initiative also offers new and existing GreenThumb customers access to a range of exclusive garden machinery deals and prize bundles via GreenThumb’s social media platforms, refer a friend incentive and their newsletter, Lawn Love. 
 
“With customer satisfaction at the heart of everything we do, we’re delighted to be partnering with such a well-known brand with the same ethos” said Mark Moseley, Handy sales and marketing director. “Webb, The Handy and Greenworks are renowned for delivering high-quality garden machinery at sensible prices, so by joining forces with the UK’s most recommended lawn care service, we’re hoping this exciting new initiative not only continues to provide customers with valuable cost savings but also helps to enhance the customer experience when it comes to purchasing garden machinery instore”.      

With dedicated premises and a team of experienced staff, Maschio Gaspardo say their new UK subsidiary is set to launch on 1 November 2023.

Warren Rivers-Scott, managing director Maschio Gaspardo UK
 
The company says the move to establish an independent UK branch has primarily been driven by a desire to see the Italian brand’s full product range offered to dealers across the British Isles.
 
Following an agreement with current Lincs-based importer Opico Ltd, that will see a staged handover to ensure continuity of parts and service back-up, Maschio will extend its portfolio to include new lines such as weigh-cell fertiliser spreaders, mounted and trailed sprayers, no-till direct drills, hedge-cutters, balers, mower conditioners and inter-row cultivators amongst others.
 
Although new to the UK, these implements have been available throughout the rest of Europe and beyond for a number of years.
 
By adding these extra product ranges to Maschio’s core lines, the company says it will bolster its offering to its existing dealer network. 

A key part of the process, says the new subsidiary, has been recruiting dedicated staff, capable of backing up the dealer network. A service team is already in place lead by a service manager to assist in all aspects of warranty and technical support. Alongside this the regional sales staff are supported by a BASIS-qualified product manager.
 
They also say the warehouse team is equipped to ensure the correct stock of spares is held, picked and distributed in a timely manner; commercial and finance managers are in place to support dealers in budgeting and placing orders; and marketing personnel will provide the network with advice and resources for social media outlets and sales promotions.
 
Heading up the UK operation is managing director Warren Rivers-Scott who is experienced in bringing previously unseen brands and product lines onto the UK market.
 
“By widening our product offering from just six or seven lines previously, to over 27, we have a great opportunity to help our dealers grow their businesses,” he explains.
 
“From my previous roles I’m fortunate in having a wide knowledge of the UK agricultural machinery business and am determined we will find a way to work with every dealer to find a path to success.”     
 
Aside from the dedicated support team, the other crucial element in establishing the new UK operation has been in finding well-positioned premises. Maschio Gaspardo has secured a 20,000 square foot facility close to the A1/A46 intersection in Lincolnshire that will accommodate an administrative headquarters as well as warehousing and stock storage. 
 
The intention is that from time to time the facilities will also be used for dealer sales and service training.
 
“With the 1st November deadline for the handover of distribution fast approaching, with the new site and staff in place we are well positioned to hit the ground running,” says Mr Rivers-Scott.
 
“Although we had a strong presence with new product lines at the Cereals event in June, at LAMMA in January customers will get the opportunity to experience a whole raft of Maschio Gaspardo equipment not previously seen before in the UK.”

EGO Power Plus has announced an expansion to its sales team with the appointment of two new key roles.

David Mortimer joins EGO as regional sales manager for UK & Ireland and has the responsibility of increasing sales by working closely with Henton & Chattell, EGO’s exclusive distributor in the region.

David said, “I am delighted to be joining the EGO team. With over a decade of experience in the industry, my extensive relationships within the dealer network highlight my commitment to cultivating lasting partnerships and I look forward to collaborating with both new and familiar businesses across EGO’s network to contribute to the brand's growth and continued success.” 

Elsewhere, Rudi Silkens has joined as business development manager where he will manage the company's current Powered by EGO customer group and expanding the company’s network in the outdoor power industry. Powered by EGO is helping manufacturers by fitting EGO batteries to their product ranges.

Rudi said, “I have been working in the garden machinery industry for more than 17 years and over that time I have worked across all parts of the distribution process. Due to my extensive experience, I have created a solid personal network and a strong understanding of the customer’s needs to make Powered by EGO a success. 

“I am thrilled to be joining the EGO team and look forward to driving the industry towards a more sustainable future.” 

This growth comes at a time when the company says they are looking to increase its collaborative relationship with the dealer network and drive new product development opportunities.  

Peter Melrose, managing director at EGO, said, “Maintaining positive relationships across the industry with our exclusive distributors and Powered by EGO partners is of top priority for us, as not only do our new hires provide us with exciting new opportunities for growth but they are also the vital connection between the brand and our valued customers.

“We have brought Rudi and David on board so that we may continue to create innovative new developments for our customers and in turn boost our growth and position in the industry network.”

Martin Lishman Ltd have appointed Jordan Lister as their new area sales manager for the north of England.

L-R: Joel Capper welcomes Jordan Lister 

With a background in agriculture, the company says Jordan is well-equipped to help drive the sales team to new heights.

“Jordan will be responsible for managing our sales operations in the north of England,” explained Joel Capper, managing director for Martin Lishman.

“He joins myself and southern area sales manager, Liam Geddis to reinforce the sales team. With his wealth of experience and expertise, we are confident that Jordan will provide exceptional service to our customers."

The Kress Commercial 60V chainsaw eliminates any need for petrol and is the first truly cordless solution for commercial use.

Powerful, durable, and convenient whilst eliminating starting problems and hefty fuel tanks. With a rapid chain speed and an arborist-standard chain, the Kress KC300.9 chainsaw assures smooth, fast and efficient cutting. 

This Commercial chainsaw has a uniquely designed Brushless motor to maximise the torque and provide a combination of 1.8 kW output power and 24m/s chain speed, equaling the performance of a petrol chainsaw. The ergonomic design, optimal balance, and minimal vibration enable extended and comfortable operation without experiencing fatigue. The Kress Commercial line of tools for turf care professionals and landscapers has been designed from the ground up to perform with the unprecedented power delivered by the 8-Minute CyberPack batteries.

The KC300.9 is designed for all landscaper gardeners and your chainsaw needs. Plus, with an IPX4 waterproof rating, there are no concerns about finishing the job, even in the wettest conditions of the autumn season.

With revolutionary Kress CyberSystem batteries and Kress-built commercial-grade brushless motors, the Kress Commercial chainsaw provides superior power, longer runtime, and an extended lifespan.

Side-chain tension with dual bar studs gives extended operation time between chain adjustments.

The chainsaw has the intelligent Bluetooth app connect with the intuitive LED control panel that is on all the machines in the Kress Commercial range of power tools. You can download the Kress Commercial app which provides you with instant information on the charge status and runtime, as well as access to the maintenance schedule.

And exciting news for 2024 is that the new top handle chainsaw, the perfect addition to the range ideal for arborists, is expected in Spring 2024, as well as many more innovative tools for professionals.

The post-petrol era is here.

A game-changer in every way, Kress is leading the charge with our breakthrough innovation in battery-powered technology, built to deliver the performance and power of petrol.

Learn more: kress.com/en-gb/

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