Well after last week's massive upheaveal, the year is still marching on!

And as such thoughts are turning to our Service Dealer Conference and Awards which takes place this year on Thursday 17th November, once again at the Oxford Belfrey Hotel.

Loads of work has been going on behind the scenes here at Service Dealer Towers, pretty much since we packed up at the Belfry last year - all with the intention to make this year's event even better and more valuable for specialist dealers.

Today we are very pleased to share with you news about the first Dealer Panellists who have signed up to share their knowledge and experience on a variety of topics related to the conference theme of The Customer Is King.

And also I'd like to remind all dealers not to forget that nominations are still open for our prestigious Dealer of the Year Awards – and this year dealers are able to enter themselves in the competition.

We are looking for excellence across the Garden, Professional Turfcare, Farm Machinery, Forestry Equipment, and ATV/Quad sectors.

Also very exciting this year is the addition of two new awards to the ceremony which takes place after the Conference. We want you to tell us who really goes that extra mile to help make your business a success.

We are now taking your nominations, via our website, for:

2016 STAR OF THE DEALERSHIP AWARD
Dealers will be asked to nominate a member of staff from the sales, parts, service or support team who have demonstrated exceptional skills, commitment to customer service or any other compelling reason during the 2016 season - and who are deserving of industry recognition.

2016 APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Similarly, we wish to recognise an Apprentice who, during the 2016 season has demonstrated the desire, willingness and ability to progress within the dealership and the industry.
You can nominate deserving candidates for these awards on our website now. Please visit www.servicedealer.co.uk and head to the 2016 Conference and Awards section.

Customer feedback
This year the finalists for the Dealer of the Year awards will be assessed via feedback from your customers. If nominated, we will send you a link which you could email to your customers which will take them to a page on our website where they can submit comments in favour of your dealership. We will also provide you with a logo you can add to your own website and a Word document you can print off and hand out at your premises.

We are gathering this feedback from now up until 30 September 2016.

So please, get involved, don't be shy, let us know how wonderful you and your team truly are!