Speaking to dealers, we're hearing supply of parts is leading to increased hold-ups in the workshop - is this something your dealership is facing?
Plenty of positive dealer stories in today's Update.
We have dealers being presented with awards for their exemplary service by their suppliers (here and here) and dealers expanding, taking on new brands. We even have stories of suppliers picking up prizes and making acquisitions to expand their product offerings through their network.
These upbeat stories come off the back of a month that saw two well attended and upbeat trade shows for both the agricultural and turfcare sectors. LAMMA and BTME each saw increased crowds and atmospheres that implied the sectors are looking to get on with business this year.
So whilst national stories of inflation, costs and strikes can make for pretty gloomy reading, if we're trying to use our glass-half-full goggles, perhaps we can find a few reasons to be cheerful? Or if like me your goggles can be pretty misty at times, more accurately we can find a few reasons to be a bit less downbeat than the past couple of Februarys?!
Speaking of which, it would be great to receive some feedback from our dealer readers today, on a subject we've quizzed you about around now for the past couple of years. We'd like to hear how your winter servicing has been going.
If you cast your minds back to this time two years ago when we asked about this subject, we were in the midst of another strict lockdown which brought with it a myriad of hardships for dealers - not least all the hoops needed to be jumped through to collect, service and return customers' machinery.
Moving on to last year when we asked, winter servicing levels seemed to have bounced back from those direct effects of Covid, but it was struggles to recruit staff to cope with the increased workshop demands that many of you told us about.
We heard comments like:
"There is a very limited number of engineers out there and it is almost impossible to find decent staff."
"We are having to cope with massive volumes of work without increased staffing," and
"Too many jobs, not enough staff and hours in the day."
I suspect many will be expressing similar feelings to these this year, but please, let us know.
Speaking to dealers recently, we're hearing that supply of spare parts, whilst not exactly ideal last year, might have now overtaken supply of wholegoods as the biggest bugbear that the dealership is facing. Does this sound familiar to your business?
One dealer who we've talked to for a feature in our upcoming magazine told us, "Waiting for spares has slowed us down in the workshop . . meaning we are keeping machines for longer than we need."
Another dealer we've heard from for the mag says, "Spare parts are still challenging and causing delays for our workshop in getting machines out of the door."
Two completely separate dealers there, with different suppliers, in different areas of the country, both essentially telling us the same tale. And they won't be alone.
So how is your workshop faring this winter? Is business up, and if so, are you coping with the workload? If circumstances around recruitment and supply went more in your favour, would you have capacity to take on more work and increase profits?
Please take our short survey today and let us know. As ever we'll publish the results in the next issue of Service Dealer magazine - alongside a selection of your comments.
The manufacturer says purchase will mean new products will be introduced as Kverneland branded and be available through their dealer network.
Kverneland Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in French company BC Technique SAS, which produces the Phenix Agrosystem brand of inter-row cultivators, rotary hoes, guidance interfaces and tine harrows.
L-R: Yasukazu Kamada, the president and CEO of Kverneland Group with Mathias Bounon, the current owner of Phenix Agrosystem
The manufacturer says this latest acquisition is a move that provides access to range of sustainable farming solutions, enabling growers to achieve efficient, accurate and consistent mechanical weed control.
While the Phenix brand will continue to be available in those markets where it currently exists, these products will be introduced as Kverneland products, available through the Kverneland dealer network.
Phenix inter-row cultivators, rotary hoes, guidance interfaces and tine harrows will be available as Kverneland-branded equipment
The portfolio includes the Helios star-wheel equipped rotary hoe; Lynx guidance interface with colour scanning self-steering camera for use with any existing hoe; and the high-tech X-Green guidance interface solution that can be equipped with up to two colour scanning self-steering cameras.
In addition, the product range includes the Onyx series of row-specific tined hoes offering working widths from 3-12m.
Product specifications and pricing details are still to be announced, with the first models expected to arrive during Spring 2023.
Success down to the "incredible drive and determination from the top downwards".
Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor of the Ventrac compact tractor, have been named European Distributor of the Year and were presented with Ventrac’s Platinum Award for Sales Achievement at last week's BTME show.
L-R: Tyler Dickie, Ventrac’s international sales manager, Rupert Price md of Price Turfcare and Henrik Lund, Ventrac’s European sales manager
Commenting after presenting the award, Tyler Dickie, Ventrac’s international sales manager said, “The effort that Rupert Price and his small team put into generating new business in the UK and Ireland is phenomenal. Since the formation of the business just 6 years ago, they have seen year-on-year increases in sales and they are our flagship European dealer.
"If I could clone their business model I would, but I also know that their success is down to the incredible drive and determination from the top downwards. They thoroughly deserve this recognition.”
Also visiting from Ventrac’s headquarters in Ohio, USA was Isaac Roth, the company’s marketing director. He said, “The Price Turfcare team did a fantastic job of producing an eye-catching stand at BTME and an innovative way of presenting our unique products. They also organised a product review seminar with leading landscape and golf course professionals to help us understand the different environmental conditions and the requirement for specialist equipment here in Europe.
“Price Turfcare is a case study in how to launch a brand. Just six years ago our products were unknown in the UK, but with a defined marketing strategy, dedication and hard work Ventrac is now a recognised, established and respected brand over here. It has been a fantastic visit and I have learned so much in a short timespan.”
Dealerships won best newcomer, outstanding dealer service, forever forward award, three-star dealer and dealer of the year prizes.
Polaris UK and Ireland held their 2023 dealer conference in January with the event finishing up with the annual dealer awards ceremony.
Awards were given for the best newcomer, outstanding dealer service, forever forward award, three-star dealer and dealer of the year.
Richard Coleby, Polaris UK national sales manager said, “The dealer awards are our way of saying a big thank you to our dealers for all the hard work they have put in over the past year. Bringing our dealers together is a great way to work as a team taking on feedback and learnings to continue the success that our dealers are providing for the brand.”
L-R: Steve Brinkley, Nick Briggs (Power HQ), Neil Everett
The award of Best Newcomer went to Stag Environmental for making huge strides forward in such a short space of time.
L-R: Steve Brinkley, Dave Webb (Dave Webb Engineering), Pryderi Gruffyd (Clwyd Agricultural), Paul Luke (Reiver Garage), Kevin Davies (Davies Tractors), Neil Everett.
The Outstanding Dealer Award was given to Davies Tractors due to their forward thinking and always maintaining a solution- based focus. Polaris said the team embraces all the modules and training courses they offers and the dealership has earned a great reputation in the local area with an extremely loyal customer base.
L-R: Neil Everett, Conor Gribbon (Stormtec), Nick Briggs (Power HQ), Mark Paterson (Paterson ATV), Steve Brinkely.
The Forever Forward Award went to the dealer who was the most proactive, forward thinking, adaptable and resilient. The was presented to Dalton’s ATV who Polaris said truly excelled in every aspect of the award from huge increase in sales through their proactive and versatile approach, going above and beyond the Star Dealer targets and went one step further with their content creation on their YouTube Channel.
L-R: Neil Everett, Pryderi Gruffyd (Clwyd Agricultural), Kevin Davies (Davies Tractors), Mark Paterson (Paterson ATV), Steve Brinkley
The Polaris UK & Ireland Dealer of the Year award went to Clwyd Agricultural. Polaris said customer-centricity is a key value for themselves and Clwyd demonstrated this through expectational levels of customer service, aftersales, business development and growth.
L-R: Steve Brinkley, Colin Martin (4 Dirt), Pryderi Gruffyd (Clwyd Agricultural), Conor Gribbon (Stormtec), Mark Paterson (Paterson ATV), Andy Weinel (Turf Machinery Engineering), Neil Everett.
Phill Hughes, sales director, said, “BJT are a UK based family manufacturer that are known for making market-leading quality assured trailers, so we are really pleased to have teamed up with them across all of our branches to supply sales, parts and service to both our existing and new customer base.
"We will be stocking a range of plant, general purchase, flatbed and tipper trailers, as well as supplying the more specialist enclosed transporters to order. Having visited the factory in Daventry and seen the trailers being built I am confident that our customers will love the quality that these trailers offer.
"In addition our parts and service departments will provide full aftersales support for trailers sold by us, and any previously purchased in our area.”
Position will be leading research and development, as well as heading up technical support for dealers, customers and OEMs.
Stocks Ag has promoted Tim Farrow to the recently created position of technical director.
Tim Farrow
In his new capacity Tim will be leading research and development, as well as heading up technical support for dealers, customers and OEMs.
Since joining Stocks Ag at the end of 2020, as UK field sales manager, Tim has become increasingly involved in product development at Stocks.
Tim has worked in agriculture for more than 30 years. His new position will see him setting up the technical support department, as well as taking charge of research and development.
James Woolway, md at Stocks commented, “It was clear from before I took ownership of Stocks Ag that research and proactive product development needed investment and time. Having experience in aftersales and being technically minded, has put Tim in a strong position to lead this exciting development in the business."
Tim added, “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. With so much innovation in agriculture bringing product opportunities for Stocks I believe we will continue to improve our product offering to give farmers and contractors exactly what they are looking for.”
Rhodri Jenkins joins to support the company’s grassland and livestock team, and Edd Fanshawe will cover their connected services and arable machinery.
Rhodri Jenkins
Rhodri said, “It’s been a very busy first three months, with visits to the factories in France and plenty of events in the UK too. I look forward to growing into the role and supporting dealers and farmers throughout the UK.”
With Rhodri managing forage related products, Edd Fanshawe joined the company at a similar time to support the connected services and arable products. Previously a trials manager at NIAB TAG, he also has the benefit of a degree in agriculture, and Velcourt management training scheme experience.
Edd Fanshawe
“My focus is on the range of drills, sprayers, spreaders, and cultivation equipment. I also provide the team, dealers, and customers with KUHN Connect and CCI support to help them make the most of their machinery by using our technology,” he says.
A new website has been launched by a major manufacturer that aims to help customers under the themes of innovation, sustainability, connectivity, automation and efficiency.
This new platform is an initiative from Kubota Holdings Europe (KHE) that they say is designed to bring together customer solutions from multiple brands under the Kubota Group umbrella. These include Kubota, Great Plains, Kverneland, Vicon, Fede and ROC.
The company says the site brings together various customers' stories that enable users to overcome industry challenges, under the themes of innovation, sustainability, connectivity, automation and efficiency.
A spokesperson said, "Each story describes the challenge faced and the solution provided from each brand, along with videos and customer testimonials. And at the conclusion of each story, there is a description of how these solutions specifically contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals."
Visitors to the site can discover various stories shared by Kubota’s tractor, construction and engine divisions, as well as from Kverneland Group (Kverneland, Vicon and ROC), Great Plains Manufacturing and Fede.
Tracked Dingo® models deliver the durability and reliability that professionals and Do-It-Yourself customers trust, combined with powerful performance and incredible versatility.
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The Toro Dingo TX 700 is a workhorse of a machine, providing remarkable power in a compact package. The Dingo TX 700 adds to Toro’s already-extensive Dingo line-up and will be available in 2023. Due to the Dingo TX 700’s small size and powerful punch, it’s the ideal machine for contractors working within the confines of tight spaces. It packs 700 pounds of rated operating capacity into its small footprint, bringing Toro-level power to everything it touches.
MANY ATTACHMENTS, ONE GOAL: PRODUCTIVITY
With a wide variety of attachments available, the Dingo® is a more cost-effective choice than a dedicated piece of equipment. Using Toro’s Quick Attach System, these genuine Toro® attachments are designed specifically for the Dingo, offering the best assurance of long life and peak performance. Choose from a range of compact utility attachments designed for earth moving, material handling, tree care, trenching, ploughing and boring.
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