Firstly, welcome back Kress as Principal Sponsor of the Service Dealer Conference & Awards! It's great to have the guys back on board for our event dedicated to the dealer network. And stay tuned, because there's more information regarding what's in store for November incoming . . .
But back to this week, and phew what a scorcher!
With the warm weather, I do hope our domestic machinery dealer readers saw some customer interest, from those looking to spend some quality time in their gardens?
The weather feels like it's been all over the shop so far this year. The extremes that it has swung to, will have directly affected the end user customers of agricultural, commercial and domestic machinery dealers alike. At different times, and in different ways. But nonetheless, dealers of all specialisms will have experienced its knock-on effects - as they do every year.
It's been said forever, but it still holds true. Whenever we ask you, our dealer readers, for the most influential factor on your business' success or otherwise in a given season, there is only one answer that dominates. And it's the one that nobody has any influence over!
Show season
One way that dealers can arm themselves will all the latest product information that can help their businesses, whatever the weather, is of course by attending industry events and shows.
Following on from the agricultural focused shows we've seen recently like Cereals, Groundswell, the Game Fair and the plethora of county shows up and down the land, once we get through August it'll be time for the professional turfcare machinery sector to take centre stage.
As happened for the first time last year, 2024 again sees two shows catering for a similar audience and featuring a crossover of exhibitors - taking place within weeks of each other.
New kid on the turfcare block, GroundsFest, presents its sophomore effort on 10th and 11th September at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire.
Whilst the GMA’s long-established SALTEX will be celebrating its 78th edition from 30th to 31st October at the NEC Birmingham.
Whether this is the new normal, time will tell. The question remains whether the industry wants and is able to sustain two comparable exhibitions, within quick succession of each other. Not forgetting that BIGGA’s BTME show also follows only a couple of months after SALTEX closes its doors.
Of course, organisers of both would argue that their two shows are different and distinct from one another – and to be fair, each does indeed have its own identity and unique selling points.
A decision to be made
Whilst each show undeniably has their own distinct personality and standalone content on offer to visitors, there is no getting around the fundamental fact they are principally professional turfcare machinery shows, taking place within a short space of time of each other.
For our dealer readers, choices will need to be made. Do they attend both? One or the other? Or neither? Dealers will weigh up if all the brands that they represent in store are at both shows, or will their manufacturers have decided to commit their budget to a particular event? Meaning of course, potential separate trips if a dealer wants to catch-up with all their marques.
Autumn is traditionally a busy time for the network. September especially tends to see many supplier-run dealer conferences and roadshow events, which our readers will want to attend.
Time availability away from the dealership is likely to be the deciding factor. Dealers will be considering attendance at one, two or zero shows.
Clearly both can be valuable days out but, looking forward, will this be a tricky choice that dealers will be faced with each and every autumn?
