Exciting announcements for our November event dedicated to the dealer network are now coming thick and fast!
Following confirmation of some of the content to be enjoyed during the day's Conference (covering branding, customer experience and sustainability) comes the first update regarding the always popular and hard-fought Dealer Of The Year awards.
Today we unveil which categories the competition is running this year. This sees our core machinery specialism awards joined by several prestigious prizes to be won by individuals within the dealership.
You can't enter just yet however, that will kick off in a couple of week's time. For now though, have a read through the categories and get thinking which awards - or indeed awards - you feel you should be in the running for come November.
This year the following titles are up for grabs:
- Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year
- Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year
- Forestry Equipment Dealer of the Year
- Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year
- ATV/Quad Dealer of the Year
- Best New Initiative
- Star of the Dealership
- New Technician of the Year
- Leadership Award
So do please give some serious consideration as to which areas you, your business and your valued team-mates should be competing in this year. Over the next couple of weeks, when you have a moment (!), it might be helpful to start to think about and gather together the supporting material you'd like to submit to bolster your entry. This might be evidence such as pics, videos, testimonials, social channel links - anything you believe would convey your story to our judging panel.
Because that's what our judges want to hear from our dealer readers - their story. Facts and figures and pie-charts are all well and good of course, but the team really wants to hear and what and who truly makes your dealership tick. We want inspirational, uplifting and unique tales of how your business and your people have come together over these past twelve months to help each other thrive and offered your customers - be they domestic, commercial or agricultural - a truly exceptional experience.
As Duncan says today, do please get creative with your entry. This is one of those times where blowing your own trumpet is positively encouraged!
And to manufacturers and suppliers, don't forget we also want you to blow trumpets on behalf of valued members of your dealer network too! Who represents your brand to the absolute fullest and always goes the extra mile for their customers? We want you guys to get in touch to tell us.
As ever, there are many reasons why winning an industry award such as one of these is a valuable endeavour. Foremost arguably, is the fantastic publicity opportunity it represents for your business. Shouting about triumphs via PR to traditional local news outlets and through your social channels is a fantastic way to generate a real buzz around your dealership. It's a way to get people talking about you both within your community and nationally.
So when you can, have a real good think about which categories you'd like to throw your hat into the ring for this year. And most importantly, formulate a plan of how you might best convey what your dealership is all about, to our judges.
All the details you'll need to be in the running for an award will be revealed in this Weekly Update in a few week's time - so keep 'em peeled!
