A monumental vote took place on Tuesday this week.

It was seemingly on a knife-edge, with no one willing to put their neck on the line and predict an outright winner. It was genuinely too close to call for a long time. In the end though, an undeniably decisive outcome was reached. Not everyone will be as pleased as others are perhaps, but that's the nature of a democracy.

Anyway, the Dealer of the Year judging panel after a long, detailed and fair process did indeed reach definite conclusions to all this year's categories. What? Was anything else voted for on Tuesday? I was too deeply engrossed in all our dealer readers' entries to notice.

The judging panel. L-R: Keith Christian, Service Dealer contributor; Duncan Murray-Clarke, Service Dealer owner; Steve Gibbs, Service Dealer editor; Laurence Gale, TurfPro editor

Seriously though, I've said it in previous years but it remains true, when I'm privileged to be asked to join the judging panel, to work through all your incredible stories of businesses and individuals up and down the country, I never fail to be anything other than utterly impressed.

I'm impressed with the entrepreneurship, the innovation, the dedication displayed by the dealer network, week in, week out. I'm sure it must feel like a thankless task plenty of the time, slogging through your workload. There will be pressure from customers, pressure from suppliers, from the bank manager. But what comes across loud and clear through every single entry to the competition, is that our dealer readers care. They care and they are damn good at their jobs.

We heard accounts of dealerships specialising in garden, ag, pro turf, forestry and ATV equipment, all of differing sizes, in all areas of the UK - but with similar attitudes. A real sense of a 'customer-satisfaction first' approach was apparent. We heard this both from within dealerships themselves, but also from their suppliers and customers.

As well as stories of companies, we discovered some incredible individuals working in all sorts of roles across our dealerships. We heard about remarkable young people starting out their careers as technicians. Of workplace stars offering crucial support and joy to colleagues and customers alike. And of leaders who drive departments and companies by example - inspiring loyalty and dedication in their teams, all for the benefit of the business as a whole. 

We of course, knew that our readership was filled with amazing people like this, but it's always such a pleasure each time the awards judging comes around to have our expectations not just met, but blown out of the water!

Everyone who entered, not just those who will be crowned eventual champions in a few weeks' time, should feel rightly proud of their achievements this year. And indeed everyone who didn't get round to entering this year, but who is reading this today should include themselves in that feeling too. I suspect the reason why many didn't submit a nomination, is that they were simply too busy.

We've unfortunately had to document far too many of our peers' businesses closing their doors for the final time this year. For those of you still standing - and not just standing, thriving - a feeling of satisfaction is absolutely due. When we get to the Awards evening, we shall be able to take a moment to reflect and to celebrate. Before getting back to work again!

When we finally closed our laptops after an intense period of debate and discussion on Tuesday, the judging panel were delighted with the group of finalists reached across all the categories. They are all fantastic ambassadors to represent the UK independent dealer network.

We cannot wait to celebrate all their achievements on November 28th, following on from what promises to be a most special Service Dealer Conference.

See you there.

Claas UK has presented two family owned dealerships, Rickerby and Gordons, with their ‘Dealer of the Year’ 2024 Award.

The manufacturer says the honour recognises the high overall level of performance by their dealers in the UK and Ireland in four key areas: market share, customer satisfaction, dealer standards and financial benchmarking.

Martin von Hoyningen-Heune (Claas Group executive board) and Trevor Tyrrell, senior vice-President (Western Europe & Oceania) and Claas UK CEO, congratulate Ken Conley of Rickerby 

With nine branches serving an area from Lancashire and Northumberland up to the Firth of Forth in Scotland, Rickerby is the company's largest dealership. Established in 1865, Gordons is one of the UK’s oldest dealerships and are based at Castle Douglas in Dumfries & Galloway, with five branches covering the South West of Scotland. 

Martin von Hoyningen-Heune and Trevor Tyrrell congratulate Neil Montgomery of Gordons

Claas say the award is a major achievement for both dealerships as it assesses not only the dealership’s overall performance, but the performance of each of their individual branches. The award also reflects the results of the annual Customer Feedback Survey and their high scores again reflects on their commitment to their customer base and the first class customer care service each provide. 

In addition to their ‘Dealer of the Year’ award, Rickerby were also awarded the ‘Dealer Excellence Award - Gold’ in recognition of the high level of service and support hey offer their customers. 

The announcement and presentation of the awards to Neil Montgomery of Gordons and Ken Conley of Rickerby were made at the Claas Dealer Council meeting, held recently at their tractor factory in Le Mans, France.

The recently held Exhibition News Indy Awards recognised GroundsFest 2023, awarding it both the Best Independent Trade Show Launch and Trade Show of the Year. 

The GroundsFest team with presenter, comedian Zoe Lyons

The award judges said they were impressed with GroundsFest’s fresh approach, noting how it has "modernised the grounds care and landscaping sector with an inclusive and fun festival atmosphere" and describing it as a “well-overdue shake-up” in live industry events. 

Reflecting on the award, event director Christopher Bassett said, “We’re truly honoured to receive these awards, especially considering the calibre of trade shows we were up against. GroundsFest was a vision we built from the ground up, and to have it recognised at this level is beyond what we expected.”

In a statement the event’s organisers said its future aims are "not only to attract an even broader audience but to further solidify its role as a game-changer in the industry. With a commitment to community and a focus on delivering real value to exhibitors and visitors alike, GroundsFest is primed for continued growth."

Christopher concluded, “We’re beyond thankful to our incredible exhibitors, visitors, partners, and suppliers for making this possible. GroundsFest is a real team effort, and this win is for all of you."

Etesia UK has announced that Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery, a long-standing family business based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has officially become its latest dealer.

The partnership marks a new chapter for Fisco, enabling the company to expand its commercial product offerings while reinforcing the manufactuer's presence in the region.

Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery has been a family-run business in Wakefield for over 60 years. Founded by Clifford Broadhead as Farmers Ironmongery Supply Co, it later expanded to meet the changing needs of the agricultural industry. Today, Fisco continues to evolve, now offering  brands to enhance its product range for both domestic and commercial clients.

Ryan Powala-Higgins, manager of Fisco Farm & Garden Machinery, explained that becoming an Etesia dealer is a strategic move to grow the company’s commercial opportunities. “We are a single branch, and for a long time we were predominantly in the domestic market,” said Ryan. “But over the past few years, we’ve started to take on more commercial products to boost sales in that area. We felt like we were missing out, and that’s why we decided to take on Etesia.”

Ryan credited Etesia UK’s business development ,anager, Stephen Muir, for making the dealership process smooth and efficient. “Stephen came out to see us and he was very accommodating. The whole company is a pleasure to deal with. We appreciate that Etesia is willing to come and talk to us face-to-face. It’s refreshing in a time when so much business is done online.”

Looking ahead, Ryan expressed enthusiasm about the future of the partnership, saying, “We’re very excited about what’s to come."

As part of its brand strategy, and from the new price list in December 2024, the Amazone Group has announced a change to the design of its groundcare and hoeing divisions to a green and orange colour combination.

This, they say, continues the standardisation of its differing colour schemes within the different divisions of the company. All product lines will therefore match the long-established Amazone agricultural machinery colour scheme, which in many countries is protected under trademark law. Their aim is to strengthen the corporate identity throughout the entire group of companies.

The company's groundscare range, with products such as mounted and self-propelled mowers and collectors, was previously available in green and beige. They say there will now be a transitional phase in both the groundcare and hoeing divisions, during which both types of implement will still be shown at exhibitions and sold in their existing colours.

In a statement, the manufacturer said, "The standardisation of the colour scheme across all product lines shows that the Amazone Group is sending out a clear signal for its innovative green and orange colours and is thus aiming to further strengthen the market presence of the Amazone brand worldwide in the long term."

JCB have announced that they have marked a major manufacturing milestone with the production of their one millionth engine.

Production started in 2004 at JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, and expanded to JCB India in 2010 with the opening of a dedicated plant in Ballabgarh, Delhi. From three engines a day 20 years ago, JCB now produces around 500 a day.
 
JCB chairman Anthony Bamford paid tribute to the JCB teams around the world who have played a part in the engine’s success, saying, “To have made one million engines in 20 years is quite some achievement. This really is a significant moment for our teams around the world, a real achievement. The JCB engine is very well respected around the world for its reliability and very well appreciated by our customers. JCB machines work in dirt and hot and cold climates, and from the moment they go to a customer, they are working hard and doing a full day’s shift. The engine really is the beating heart of that reputation for reliability.
 
“It was a major decision at the time to make our own engines and I was directly involved in that; it has paid off and I’m very pleased we made the decision. As we hit the milestone of producing one million engines, the time is right to acknowledge the part my played father in the design, not only of this engine, but other engines which he designed with other people in the past. My father died in 2001 so our engines were running as prototypes by that time, and he had a lot to do with it. I’m thankful he was involved in this engine so many years ago.”
 
A team of more than 150 engineers is currently engaged in developing hydrogen combustion engines for use in the company's machinery as part of a £100 million investment. More than 120 engines have come off the production line so far and many machines powered by these engines are currently undergoing evaluation.

STIHL has launched the KMA 200 R, its most powerful battery-powered KombiMotor to date. With even greater power than the largest petrol KombiEngine, the new AP System KMA 200 R offers professional landscapers unrivalled performance and versatility.

STIHL KombiMotors are compatible with over ten robust attachments, including a brushcutter, pole pruner, sweeper brush, blower, edgers and hedge trimmers. With a maximum power output of 1.5 kW, the KMA 200 R boasts 50% greater power compared to the KMA 135 R and 7% higher power than the petrol KM 131, allowing the most power-intensive tasks to be completed at a faster rate. 

The optimised controls of the KMA 200 R allow users to cycle between 3-speed settings and best match the RPM to the task at hand, as well as maximising battery working time. The maximum RPM output of the KMA 200 R is 9500, 1000 RPM higher than the KMA 135 R, also resulting in higher performance.

In addition, its adjustable loop handle can be moved easily along the shaft for greater comfort while working, and the harness attachment point can also be adjusted for perfect balance. 

For brushcutting applications, the KMA 200 R must be used with the new FSS-KM attachment. The FSS-KM features a wider 45cm cutting diameter, meaning grass and tough material to be cut with greater speed and efficiency.

In addition, the new KombiMotor is compatible with STIHL’s Smart Connector 2 A. The connector plugs directly into the control module of the machine to collect useful operating information. The STIHL Connected App can collect this information via Bluetooth and process it to create bespoke maintenance schedules, as part of a wider fleet management system.    

For more information on STIHL’s range of professional tools, please visit www.stihl.co.uk. 

Leading garden machinery brand Cobra will continue to go from strength to strength in 2025 with exciting new additions to its Fortis cylinder mower range.

In 2023 Cobra launched its Fortis range of petrol-powered cylinder lawnmowers with eight interchangeable cartridges, creating the ultimate lawncare system and in 2024 partnered with EGO Power+ to provide the same level of lawncare for those who prefer a battery alternative, to great success.

Peter Chaloner, Managing Director of Cobra commented “I’m incredibly proud to reflect on the tremendous success of our Fortis cylinder mowers. Since their launch, these mowers have surpassed all expectations, proving to be an exceptional choice for both professional and residential gardeners alike. The unique blend of precision, durability, and ease of use has resonated with our customers, establishing the Fortis range as one of the true leaders in its class.

“We’ve been delighted by the overwhelmingly positive feedback and growing demand, which has reaffirmed our commitment to quality and innovation. As we look ahead to 2025, we are particularly excited about the next phase of Fortis development. 

“We will be expanding the Fortis range with larger-cut models specifically designed to meet the needs of professional groundskeepers, football pitches, and sports fields. These new models will bring the same precision and durability that Fortis is known for, but with enhanced capabilities for larger-scale, high-performance applications. We will also be adding a range of enhanced ‘Sports Turf’ cartridges to the lawncare range.”

Standard Fortis mowers all feature a six-blade precision ground-cutting cylinder for a beautiful finish, while the enhanced Fine Turf Fortis models feature a 10-blade cylinder, grooved roller and turf rake as standard to give the finest, most precise cut possible. Ideal for sports pitches and fine turf areas. The finishing touch to the perfect cut comes from the steel front rollers giving an enhanced definition to the iconic lawn stripes.

What makes the Fortis machines the ultimate in lawncare, however, is their ability to transform into seven other machines to ensure that lawns are immaculate and healthy. The Fortis six-bladed cassette can simply be removed and replaced with another accessory cassette in the range to switch its use. Other cartridges include a verticutter, scarifier, dethatcher, aerator, turf rake, lawn brush and ten-blade cassette. 

For more information on Cobra visit: www.cobragarden.co.uk

or to become a Cobra dealer, please contact Andy Marvin on: 07771 581 296 or call our sales team: 0115 986 6646 today.

Our 2020 Summer research showed that on average, each Garden Trader dealer will be sent 114 new customers (or people with a buying intention walking through your door) per year.  This works out at 83p for each new customer. A subscription rate designed to be all inclusive delivering unrivalled online results.  

This site was purpose-built just for skilled servicing ground care dealers by the team that bring you Service Dealer Magazine. It is easy and quick to register and costs just £96 + VAT per year for a full listing.  As this dealer site is designed to promote the UK dealer network, all revenues in 2022 will continue to be reinvested into promoting the site online and so supporting the dealer network.

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.

Map of dealerships registered with Garden Trader

FIND OUT MORE