We're six days into it now, but I'd like to start today by wishing all our readers a happy new year!

I do hope you all managed to enjoy a well-earned and peaceful break over the Christmas and New Year period. That rest will prove vital as we progress into all the trials and tribulations that 2023 will no doubt throw at us all.

Looking on the bright side though, a glance back at my first blogs of the year for 2021 and 2022 reveals that we're certainly in a less anxious time now than at the start of both those years.

Last year we were worried about the rise of the Omicron variant and all the mass staff shortages it was causing for businesses with the mandatory 7-10 day isolation period workers were held to. Whilst at this time in 2021 we were commencing the start of the long, strict third lockdown - with dealers back to checking government guidelines regarding how they could trade.

So let's be thankful that whilst 2023 will have its own set of challenges - not least an escalating cost-of-living crisis - dealers are not having to do battle with those direct effects of Covid.

In fact this month we are able to experience tangible evidence that we're emerging from the other side of the pandemic with two of our sector's major trade shows returning to their traditional January slots for the first time since the start of 2020.

Next week, of interest to our agricultural machinery dealer readers, LAMMA is back at the NEC. Whilst in a couple of weeks' time, from the 24th, BIGGA's BTME returns to Harrogate, offering plenty for our commercial turfcare dealer readers to see.

Having these trade shows back in their established places on the industry calendar is reassuring and a sign that the world is doing its best to get back to normal.

Hangover

That's not to say that dealers aren't still feeling the hangover effects of the virus, because they clearly are. One obvious area that it seems like we've been talking about for an age now, but is still a sticking point for the smooth running of the dealership, is the stocking of goods and parts. This remains an issue that needs to be coped with.

I heard from a dealer this week who told me that stock availability is still the biggest thorn in their side. To be fair they did say that acquiring new machines is much better now and so far all the winter stock they have ordered has been fulfilled. However they did say that selling is quite simply a different experience now to what it was three years ago. 

"Where we used to be able to offer the customer what they were looking for," this dealer said, "it is now a case of checking to see what is available to supply before we can even start to give any prices or guidance."

They also spoke of spare parts still being challenging and causing delay for their workshop in getting machines out of the door.

So we know dealers will be drawing on all their entrepreneurial skills once again, to see them through the year ahead. And we here at Service Dealer will be along for the ride to document and highlight what the network is experiencing.

You can read today which stories from this Weekly Update intrigued you the most during the course of last year. Always a fascinating piece to compile, do have a look to remind yourselves of 2022's biggest news and see if you can guess what came top?

As ever this year, please do get in touch with any stories you wish to share regarding your business or to let us know which industry issues are impacting the dealership. Our dealer readers are the magazine's lifeblood - we rely on your amazing feedback and contributions to keep our offering relevant and on-point.

If you've got something to say, always feel free to comment below any articles on here or the website - and please do drop me a line if you have any developments or opinions you'd like to see reflected in Service Dealer.

Let's take this 2023 journey together!

Yamaha Motor UK has furthered its partnership with Tuckwells by adding the full Yamaha range to the Framfield branch in East Sussex.

L-R: Dan Palmer, Yamaha Power Products manager; James Gibbon, Tuckwells sales manager, Carl Stuart, ASM Power Products (South)

Tuckwells has been appointed to provide customers with a greater opportunity to view the range of Yamaha products available in the region. 

Tuckwells was established in 1954 and now has over 300 staff. Their network of dealerships has three dedicated Yamaha showrooms providing the full Yamaha utility and leisure range including ATVs, Side-by-Side vehicles, the electric UMX, and the brand’s golf cars.

Dan Palmer, Power Products manager for Yamaha said, “The partnership between Yamaha and Tuckwells has been established to best serve our customer experience."

Tuckwells sales manager, James Gibbon said, “Tuckwells has over twenty years’ experience of selling Yamaha products and this expansion cements our Yamaha partnership."

By stocking the full Yamaha range across its area, Tuckwells say they plan to expand further into fruit, vineyard and equine sectors.

The Service Dealer Weekly Update was delivered to the industry each Friday at noon on the dot (or thereabouts!) throughout 2022, charting the ups and downs of another fascinating year for our sector.

As we like to do in the first edition back after the Christmas and New Year break, today we look back at which stories grabbed you, our loyal dealer readers attention, across those turbulent twelve months. As you will see, the articles that gained the most click-throughs were surprising, concerning, dramatic and contained a sprinkling of controversy. 

Without further ado, in ascending order, here's what you read the most in 2022:

 
10.
DEALER 'TAKES CHARGE OF OWN DESTINY' - 1st July 2022

Rea Valley Tractors, the West-Midlands and mid-Wales farm machinery business, announced they would become a New Holland dealer from 1st November 2022 - meaning they would separate from their long-established main franchise, John Deere.

9.
DEALER DROPS DOMESTIC TO CONCENTRATE ON PRO MACHINERY - 7th January 2022

Dealers Fentons of Bourne said they were dropping domestic machinery to concentrate on professional equipment and as part of this change they had been appointed by Etesia to offer their full range of products.

8.
ANOTHER BREAK-IN FORCES DEALER TO QUESTION FUTURE - 4th February 2022

Southern Mower Services, a family-run garden machinery dealership trading in Horndean, Hampshire, suffered another break-in losing £30,000 of Echo & Tanaka machinery.

7.
T H WHITE PURCHASE SITE - 25th February 2022

Dealers T H White announced they had completed the purchase of the former J G Plant site in Tillington Road, north-west Hereford.

6.
BRIGGS & STRATTON EXITING PRODUCT MARKETS IN U.S - 14th January 2022

Reports in U.S media suggested Briggs & Stratton would be closing a facility as they exited the North American portable generator and snow thrower markets.

5.
NH CONFIRM DEALERSHIP BRANCH CLOSURE - 12 August 2022

New Holland issued a statement that, further to an announcement made earlier in the year regarding changes to their dealer network in Scotland, confirmed to customers in the Lothian area that Lothian Tractors Ltd had closed their depot at Tranent and had left their network.

4.
FIRST OF ITS KIND DEALERSHIP OPENS - 11th February 2022

In a UK dealership first, Reco JCB opened in Gurney Slade near Radstock, Somerset as the first UK dealer exclusively supplying and supporting the complete range of JCB agricultural equipment.

3.
DEALERS SUFFER MULTIPLE THEFTS AT SHOW - 1st August 2022

Four ATVs belonging to dealers worth around £50,000 (two from MKM Agri, one from Thurlow Nunn Standen and one from N Richardson Ltd) were stolen during the early hours from the Royal Norfolk Show.

2.
TUCKWELLS RELATIONSHIP WITH MAJOR SUPPLIER TO END - 28th January 2022

JCB Agriculture and Tuckwells announced that their dealer agreement for Suffolk and Essex would not be renewed when it expired at the end of the year.

1.
REPORTS THAT PLAYER IS TO EXIT MOWER MARKET - 28th October 2022

A report in the U.S trade magazine Rural Lifestyle Dealer said that according to an announcement posted to the Honda dealer Interactive Network, "Honda will end its lawnmower production by September 2023 and left over inventory will be offered in 2024 until it is sold out."

Henry Sheach Lawnmower Services Ltd based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, have reported that they were visited by the senior management team from Doosan Bobcat recently.

L-R: Ross Sheach, manager, Henry Sheach Ltd; Stefano Ferando, attachments manager, Doosan EMEA; Gul Nalcaci, senior product manager GME, Doosan; Alistair Sheach, managing director, Henry Sheach Ltd; Daniele Paciotti, product line director GME, Doosan; Alistair Jones, Bobcat application sales manager, Doosan

The dealership say the visit confirmed their continued position as UK & Ireland Bobcat zero turn mowers distributor and a key component in Doosan Bobcat’s expansion into groundcare.

Daniele Paciotti, product line director at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, complimented the Sheach family, saying "Henry Sheach’s company has proved outstanding with zero turn mowers and their past 30 years’ involvement and expertise is a great asset that will help to expand the mower business in harmony and synergy with the Bobcat network."
 
Alistair Sheach, md of Henry Sheach, said, “This secure future will enable us to consolidate our business and profile of the brand throughout the region.”

Following last year's postponed event that took place in May, the LAMMA exhibition returns to the Birmingham NEC in its regular January slot on Tuesday 10th and January 11th next week.

As well as the comprehensive display of agricultural machinery, one of the new features of 2023's edition will be a schedule of seminars. Organisers say the ‘LAMMA Torques’ programme will bring farmers and growers up to date with changes to agricultural policy.

“LAMMA Torques symbolises the power of a force to provoke change in the dynamic farming industry,” said Nichola Bell, head of events at Agriconnect which organises LAMMA. “The team has secured an excellent line-up with experts and industry leaders to answer our visitors’ most pressing questions at this time of unprecedented change and uncertainty.”
 
One session that may interest Service Dealer readers has machinery efficiency as its theme. The opening session, it takes place at 9.30am on day one with Chris Sheldon of Brown & Co and representatives from Kubota sharing advice and top tips. Farmer and YouTuber Olly Harrison will also share his secrets to minimising machinery and fuel costs.

Further details on all the LAMMA Torques and free show registration is at: www.lammashow.com

The Toro Company in the U.S has reported record results for their fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal for 2022.

Full-year net sales were $4.51 billion, which is up 14% year on year - whilst fourth-quarter net sales were $1.17 billion, which is up 22% year on year.

Richard M. Olson, chairman and chief executive officer said, "We delivered record top and bottom line results in the quarter and for fiscal 2022, with full-year net sales exceeding four billion dollars for the first time in company history.

"Demand for our innovative products remained strong throughout the year, especially in key professional markets. Our employees and channel partners collaborated to achieve outstanding results in what remained a very dynamic operating environment. Most importantly, we continued to advance our strategic priorities with a focus on driving value now and into the future for all stakeholders."

Richard continued, “In the fourth quarter, professional segment demand was broad-based. Our biggest constraint remained our ability to fulfil the heightened backlog of orders given the current supply chain environment. For the residential segment, retail demand continued to normalise, reflecting more typical seasonal trends and weather patterns. Notably, this demand normalisation is building off the higher base we have established over the past few years with our refreshed product line-up, expanded channel, and enhanced brand marketing.”

Looking ahead to this year, Richard said, "We have started fiscal 2023 with great momentum, supported by substantial order backlogs for products in key professional end markets and expected benefits from our pricing and productivity initiatives." 

He also said the company would be prioritising investment in "the key technology areas of alternative power, smart-connected, and autonomous solutions."

For further details on the company's results visit here.

Organisers of the new trade show set to take place in September, GroundsFest, have launched a new zone at the event dedicated to those involved in the planning, design, and construction of outdoor environments in the landscaping sector. 

They say the Landscape Zone is set to spotlight landscaping technologies, solutions, and innovations, and will be aimed at landscape architects, local authority landscaping professionals, garden designers, landscape contractors, interior designers and facility managers.

The zone will be headed by Jess McCabe, an award-winning event specialist who previously worked on the landscaping event FutureScape. 

“GroundsFest is an exciting concept and I’m delighted to be involved,” said Jess. “After working in the industry for many years, I know that this concept ticks so many boxes for the landscaping sector."

Commenting on the new zone, event director Christopher Bassett said, “Our intention has always been to bring together all corners of the groundscare industry and launching The Landscape Zone is another step towards this goal."

Christopher added, “We would like to extend a warm welcome to Jess. She has an abundance of experience, knows the landscaping sector inside out and she shares our passion for delivering an extraordinary event for both visitors and exhibitors.”

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has named New Holland 2023 Guardian Front Boom Sprayer with PLM Intelligence and Pro-Belt Series Variable Chamber Round Balers winner of a 2023 AE50 award.

Guardian Front Boom Sprayer with PLM Intelligence

AE50 awards honour innovative designs in engineering products or systems for the food and agriculture industries. The AE50 awards program emphasises the role of new products and systems in bringing advanced technology to the marketplace. 

Companies from around the world submit entries to the annual AE50 competition and up to 50 of the best products are chosen by a panel of international engineering experts. The judges select products that will best advance engineering for the food and agriculture industries.

Pro-Belt Series Variable Chamber Round Baler

Carlo Lambro, brand president New Holland Agriculture said, “We are pleased and honoured to receive this prestigious award that is surely one of the most important in our sector. Our focus on innovation and technology is very strong and this recognition is an indication that we are on the right path.

"Congratulations and well done to all the international teams who worked on the two products rewarded.” 

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