You may remember last week we were discussing the notion of winter stocking requirements being placed on dealers. This conversation was framed in the context of what, for many, has been a tough season.

All seasons present their own challenges, of course. However this year we have been hearing anecdotally that many of our dealer readers still have plenty of stock sat unsold in their businesses. Perhaps the word 'plenty' isn't even adequate here. Too much, some might say.

So we were, and indeed still are, interested to hear our readers' thoughts on the subject. Our mystery columnist in Service Dealer magazine, The Sprocket, addresses the area in his upcoming missive. You'll be able to read his opinions in full when the mag is with you in a few weeks' time, but I will tease you with a short quote. 

The Sprocket talks about how the amount of stock that dealers are sitting on due to the dry weather, is a big concern for many. How they are going to deal with the demands from suppliers for pre-season orders is also at the forefront their minds.

Reflecting on recent conversations with dealers, The Sprocket says, "Some were hoping or expecting the suppliers to be understanding and allow orders that reflected the stock the dealer was sitting on. Others were expecting a hard time with a possible threat of a lost franchise. A couple just said if they got pushed too hard, they would walk away."

You can read the rest of The Sprocket's thoughts on the subject when the magazine arrives with you at the start of November.

Following my call for readers' opinions last week, Dan Bowden from Spaldings Groundcare & Central Spares got in touch and left some some interesting thoughts under my blog about how manufacturers and suppliers could better support their dealers this winter. He said they should be listening closely to feedback from the ground - via their area reps and sales managers - especially when dealers are struggling with reduced showroom traffic or slower sales because of unpredictable weather or other factors.

Dan suggested a more flexible approach to stock management. If a dealer is left holding on to unsold or slow-moving machines, suppliers should consider taking those back and swapping them for alternative models that might sell better locally - even in smaller quantities. He believes this kind of cooperation would ultimately help both sides shift more stock overall.

He also questioned whether it’s fair for suppliers who sell directly to end users online to still demand high winter stocking levels from their dealers, when that direct competition is eating into dealer sales.

Finally, in his post Dan says he would like to see more collaboration between dealers selling the same brands in nearby areas. If one dealer has machines or parts that aren’t selling, and another 30 miles away can’t get enough, why not swap? He says this “pay it forward” system could make life easier for everyone, helping customers find what they need and building stronger relationships between local dealers rather than rivalry.

I'd like to thank Dan for his well-considered contribution - and indeed throw it out to our dealer readers once again for your thoughts. Do you agree that manufacturers should show more flexibility when it comes to returning or exchanging unsold stock? Is this something you’ve ever successfully negotiated?

Also do you think more cooperation between neighbouring dealers, such as swapping unsold machines or parts, would actually work in practice? Or would competition and logistics make it too complicated?

Please let us know your thoughts on these areas - or any takes on 2025's winter stocking demands - in the comments below or by dropping me a line in confidence.

As ever, your feedback is much appreciated.

EGO Europe GmbH (EGO) and Royal Reesink have announced that they have reached an agreement on the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Stierman De Leeuw B.V. that will take effect on 1 November 2025.

Stierman De Leeuw are an importer and wholesaler of forestry, garden, and park machinery for the Benelux market.

EGO say the acquisition will allow them to "respond quickly to market developments, streamline the supply chain, and further strengthen its competitive position."

Peter Melrose, MD of EGO Europe said, “We are very pleased to welcome Stierman De Leeuw (SDL) and its employees into the EGO organisation. Over many years, SDL has played a crucial role in building the EGO brand in the Benelux market. By bringing the business directly into our European structure, we can further invest in the dealer network, strengthen service and support, and accelerate growth in this important region.

"As part of the broader Chervon Group, SDL will now benefit from the resources, stability, and innovation strength of a global leader in battery-powered outdoor power equipment. For our dealers and customers, this acquisition secures the future of EGO distribution in the Benelux. This step reflects our long-term commitment to the European market and enables us to be closer to our customers, respond faster to their needs, and introduce new categories, including next-generation robotic mowers.

"We look forward to working with our new colleagues to continue delivering innovative, sustainable solutions and the highest levels of customer satisfaction.”

Stierman De Leeuw B.V. and its entire team will continue operations from their current location in Apeldoorn.

Bernhard and Company is deeply saddened to announce that its founder, Stephen Bernhard, passed away peacefully at the weekend at the age of 79.

In an official statement the company said Stephen was a visionary leader whose influence shaped not only Bernhard and Company, but the global turf and agronomy industries. His passions for innovation, education, and excellence have inspired generations of turf professionals and remain embedded in the culture and values of the company today.

Stephen founded Bernhard and Company in the early 1980s and over several decades, guided the business from its roots in precision engineering and horticulture to become a world-renowned leader in turf technology. His philosophy, that success comes from continuous learning, collaboration, and a genuine care for the craft, continues to define how the company operates and serves its customers across the world.

Driven by his belief in lifelong education, Stephen established the Bernhard Academy in 2019, designed to provide outstanding opportunities for professional growth and knowledge sharing within the turf industry. His commitment to nurturing talent and supporting others has touched an immeasurable amount of lives and careers, and his legacy will continue to inspire the next generations of turf professionals for years to come.

Throughout his distinguished career, Stephen contributed enormously to the advancement of the industry. For more than 25 years, he was actively involved with the BIGGA Delegation, providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for British turf professionals to visit the USA’s GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, in the process mentoring and supporting countless individuals. His achievements were recognised with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2008 - an honour he was immensely proud of. Most recently, at this year’s BTME, Stephen was also awarded BIGGA’s Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising his lifelong dedication to supporting the industry that he so much loved.

Steven Nixon, managing director of Bernhard and Company, said, “Stephen’s passing is an immense loss to the global turf industry and to all of us at Bernhard and Company. His influence is felt in every part of our business - in the way we innovate, the way we work, and the way we support each other and our customers. Over his many years of involvement with the BIGGA Delegation and beyond, he touched so many lives with his generosity, wisdom, and passion. His legacy will continue for years to come, inspiring us to uphold the values he lived by every day.”

Bernhard and Company concluded that Stephen will be remembered as a pioneer, mentor, a friend, and a man whose vision and compassion transformed an industry and built a company that continues to thrive on the foundations he laid.

According to figures released by the AEA, for the first time since December 2023, the number of agricultural tractors registered in September 2025 was higher than a year earlier.

The monthly total of 932 machines was 4% more than in September 2024. However, taking a longer-term perspective, the figure is still 16% below the average for the time of year over the previous five years, although that is the smallest shortfall so far this year.

Agricultural economist at the Association, Stephen Howarth said of these figures, "It is too early to conclude that the market has taken a decisive turn for the better, especially as the number of tractors registered so far this year [7,083] is only around three-quarters of the average for the same period and is 14% lower than in January to September 2024."

Boss Off-Road Vehicles recently welcomed the senior management team from International Tractors Limited, their partners in the Yanmar Stam BV and Yanmar Agribusiness Co. Ltd., to their headquarters in Staffordshire.

The senior management teams

Established in 2019, Boss were appointed as the UK and Ireland distributors for Yanmar Agribusiness at the beginning of 2025, following a contract agreed at the EIMA exhibition in Bologna.

“It was an honour and pleasure for us at Boss ORV to host Mr Gaurav Saxena CEO and the senior management team from International Tractors,” says Phil Everett, Boss MD. “Our thanks to him, Vishal Kumar and Himanshu Rawat for spending time with us and contributing to a positive meeting for our journey together, building the Yanmar Compact Tractor business in the UK and Ireland.”

Following their visit, Himanshu Rawat, leading sales and business strategy for their international business development, thanked Phil, saying, “We indeed had a very productive and fruitful meeting. Looking forward to working more closely with you and the team.” 

Gold Service is a powerful mobile app and web portal designed to help your engineers and back-office staff improve customer service, drive efficiencies and boost the bottom line.

The app has now been enhanced to work with Serial Part and Plant Equipment jobs. This means our Groundscare and Plant Hire dealers can make full use of Gold Service!

By using the Gold Service App for your Serial Part and Plant Hire jobs, your data is instantly uploaded to the Portal. This eliminates the need to wait for engineers to submit paper job cards, and reduces the time spent manually entering the data into the system, saving your business considerable time and effort.

What are the key benefits?

Go Mobile and Paperless

• Eliminate costly, outdated hardware like barcode scanners used for job time tracking.
• Remove the need for paper job cards and timesheets. 
• Speed your processes up with instant data visibility. 

Streamline Engineers’ Admin Duties

• Let engineers log job details and hours anytime, anywhere via the app.
• Less trips back to the office provides more free time for the engineer to work on jobs.
• Enable your engineers to start and stop time on jobs with a single tap.
• Use the option to record stories and tasks by speaking into the mobile app.
• Record travel time, checklist completions and parts usage from van stock - all in one place.
• Capture multiple electronic customer signatures on the spot on the app. 

Improve Your Finances 

• Reduce fuel costs with fewer trips to the office.
• Maximise billable hours with engineers spending more time on-site.
• Invoice faster and more frequently to boost cash flow.

Speed Up Approval Process & Save Time

• Track job progress in real-time from the office.
• Review and approve submissions from the mobile device in the portal.
• Edit as needed, then approve without delay. 

With the latest enhancement, the Gold Service App now fully supports Serial Part and Plant Equipment jobs, unlocking even more value for Groundscare and Plant Hire dealers. By going mobile, reducing admin time, and streamlining processes across the board, your business can improve efficiency, strengthen cash flow, and deliver faster. If you're ready to modernise your operations and maximise productivity, now’s the perfect time to make full use of everything Gold Service has to offer.

Visit our website to learn more or contact our Sales team today for a demo.

Our Briggs & Stratton Pre-Season Offer order form & brochure are now available to download by clicking the links below.

Please refer to the order form for full terms & conditions.

Briggs & Stratton Brochure Download

Briggs & Stratton Order Form Download

Our Kawasaki Pre-Season Offer order form & brochure are now available to download by clicking the links below.

Please refer to the order form for full terms & conditions.

Kawasaki Brochure Download

Kawasaki Order Form Download

Please only use the downloadable order forms to place your orders and email them to: info@uni-power.co.uk

The latest independent 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.

Since the site launched over 7 years ago, it has raised the profile of listed dealers to well over half a million potential customers and as the site is designed to promote the UK dealer network, all revenues have continued 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.

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