We're excited about the latest edition of Service Dealer magazine which has gone to press this week.

The September/October 2017 issue should be with you the first week of September - and when it arrives there's plenty of juicy content for you to get your teeth into.

If there’s a theme to be found in this edition, it’s all to do with the value of listening. Listening and responding to the needs of customers - which if nurtured correctly should result in long and profitable relationships.

We will hear from both sides of the equation in the issue, talking to both dealers and to a professional customer.

We speak to Angus Lindsey who is Group Head of Assets and Fleet Management for professional green service provider idverde. He finds himself in the fairly unusual position of buying significant quantities of machinery from various dealers all across the UK. He therefore has an excellent perspective on what makes a dealer great.

He also has some strong opinions on where some can go wrong!

We also speak to dealers in the groundscare and agricultural sectors, both of whom have found real success with the building of long term relationships with key customers. These guys are proving that there is true value to be gained from genuinely listening – which means understanding and reacting in a meaningful manner.

When we as customers can tell we are being paid attention to, we believe the company we are dealing with cares, that they may be open to change and that we are important to them. These are vital feelings for an independent retailer to instil in their customers.

And not to keep banging on about it, but these are precisely the type of comments we are receiving from customers of our readers who have already entered the 2017 Dealer Of the Year competition.

As I mentioned last week it’s not too late to make sure that your dealership is in the running for this prestigious title. You know how hard you work, why not be recognised for it?!

Visit our website for all the category and entry details.

Also whilst you are there you will find all the information you require for ticketing for the Service Dealer Conference which takes place during the day of the Awards ceremony on November 16th. Happening once again at the Oxford Belfry Hotel and entitled The Challenge of Change: Embracing & Adapting To A Changing Market, tickets are currently available at a special discounted Earlybird Rate until September 29th.

The Earlybird price for a dealer attending the Conference only is £175 (full price £195).

If a dealer wants to attend both the Conference and the Awards dinner the Earlybird price is £240 (full price £260).

Entry to just the Awards dinner is open to everyone (dealers, manufacturers and suppliers). Earlyprice for this is £85 (full price £99). Tables for 10 people are also available for £850.

For full details and information of a special Conference B&B rate at the hotel, visit the Service Dealer website.

We truly hope to see as many of our readers there as possible for what always proves to be a highly educational and enjoyable day.