GETTING BACK TOGETHER Looking forward to Service Dealer Conference & industry events restarting by Service Dealer Editor, Steve Gibbs
It's exciting news with the announcement of November's Conference & Awards - whilst this week I faced the heat at the sparsely attended, Festival Of Turf.
First up today, I hope you've read the exciting news that the Service Dealer Conference & Awards is back this November. And not only back, but back in-person and to as near to full capacity as guidance at the time will allow.
It was so disappointing for everybody involved to cancel the event last year, but of course, the way that 2020 panned out, it was unfortunately inevitable. I'm therefore looking forward to what's coming up with such huge enthusiasm. Announced today is the theme for the day, which is the ever-so-topical subject of 'Smart Working'.
This was intended to be the focus in November '20, so there was already plenty in place to share with attendees before this year's event even began its planning. However with the extra experience that all these months working under quite exceptional circumstances have afforded, there will be even more for our line-up of expert speakers to get their teeth into - and more stories for our attendees to share with one another regarding how their own dealerships have fared.
Our experts will be sharing best practice and handy hints across the day's presentations, workshops and breakout sessions - further details of which shall be revealed over the coming weeks.
Also worth keeping your eyes peeled for will be information regarding how your dealership could be in the running for a prestigious Dealer Of The Year award. As you might imagine, we couldn't simply run our regular competition and award categories this year due to the highly exceptional set of circumstances that everyone has been trading under for the last 18 months. To reflect the times we've been living in, new awards shall be unveiled soon, which all dealers can enter, that will reflect the amazing hard work, the creative thinking and the community spirit, displayed by independent dealers all around the country.
Again, watch this space!
Getting back together
As a first step on the road to getting the industry back together in a face-to-face environment after this enforced separation, the first exhibition for the turf care sector since the pandemic began, took place this week on Wednesday and Thursday. BIGGA laid on their first ever Festival Of Turf in the indoor and outdoor setting of the Warwickshire Event Centre.
Straight off the bat, it must be said this didn't appear to be the best attended event ever. I'd say well done to BIGGA for simply getting something on and for getting a mix of exhibitors together, but it certainly felt to me on the first day that it was sparse on visitors through the gates.
There's probably a myriad of reasons for this. It's a busy time of year for professional greenkeepers and groundsmen for one. There was some quite extreme weather mid-week (unusually for the UK this meant incredibly hot temperatures rather than downpours!). There's a pingdemic on. People are going on holiday as the schools are breaking up. People wouldn't want to risk getting pinged because they're about to go on holiday. And indeed some people are likely to still be nervous of mixing in groups.
Whatever the reason, speaking to exhibitors on Wednesday afternoon, I certainly picked up a disquiet regarding the number of dealers or end users they were seeing come on to their stands.
Now of course, the value of any trade exhibition is not judged purely on numbers. From an exhibitor's point of view, it's always quality of visitor over quantity. And speaking to the representatives on the stands on that first afternoon, most were telling me they'd had one, two, a handful even of decent contacts thus far. The problem was though as they saw it, with so few people arriving at the showground, their odds of meeting a new potential customer or a dealer for their range, were shortened.
Certainly by 2pm on Wednesday I got the distinct impression most stand holders were talking amongst themselves and each other - doing their best to find whatever shade was available.
To be fair to BIGGA, I don't know what expectations they had set for themselves before the show or indeed what the final numbers were following close of play? In a press release issued yesterday afternoon, BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said, "While visitor numbers were not as high as hoped for, those who did attend engaged meaningfully with the exhibitors and reconnected with friends and peers."
I do suspect that the greater intention was simply to stage something with a more social feeling, following so long with nothing whatsoever able to take place. And of course, to attempt to make up for missed income from January's cancelled BTME.
From a personal perspective, it was great to catch up with industry peers in real life, who I've only be able to speak to via little squares on the internet for so long. There's a real value to this which we've always been aware of - however I do believe that people will become more acutely attuned to its importance as we begin to venture out more.
It was encouraging to hear from the exhibitors who I spoke to, just how positively business had been going for them during the past 18 months. New ways of working had proven successful for everyone I chatted with. The turfcare machinery sector certainly sounds like it has experienced a buoyant period.
Of course many were now talking about the delays that manufacturing around the world is facing currently. Lack of supply of components to factories was a common theme, leading to delays in supply of stock. Some felt the situation was starting to improve, but combined with the attendant huge increase in shipping costs, it was clearly still causing significant headaches.
Around the showground
Looking round the stands there were some interesting developments on show, either available now or coming soon - and it was valuable to gauge the opinion of stand holders about the value of shows in general.
Husqvarna were displaying the new Ceora, large area robotic mower. Hoping to build in-roads into the golf market for the machine, the team on the stand talked about how there will be a specific fairway attachment for the unit down the line.
The company was confident that the supply of the new robots are on track for Spring 2022 and they were pleased how interest in the concept has been growing via the online marketing they have been undertaking.
Overton had the new Altoz machines on their stand, including a tracked stand-on version. These are newly certified for use in the UK and I was told they are generating interest amongst end users who are interested in the machines' ability to work on slopes.
Grillo had plenty of machines on their stand and told me they had experienced a great year of business. The TS unit and the 4x4 Climber are performing particularly well, finding favour with contractors.
Iseki had a selection of machinery on show and said they'd made a couple of new contacts during the first morning of the show - as well as catching up with colleagues they hadn't seen in a while.
Kioti told me they'd also enjoyed an excellent 12 months of business. Being back at a show, alongside competitors was important to them and they hoped industry events would kick on from here.
Redexim were displaying their new name and new specialist turfcare kit, following their change from Charterhouse Turf Machinery. They told me they had been pleased with the mix of representatives from different sporting disciplines come by their stand.
GreenTek said they'd had a steady flow of people on to their stand during the first morning - mostly people known to themselves.
Overall, I would congratulate BIGGA for managing to get the first turfcare industry event for 18 months staged. I would argue that perhaps the timing wasn't ideal - and I don't know, but I'd be surprised if this particular event was held for a second time in the same format.
What I do think perhaps, despite the stonking heat, is that the Festival Of Turf might revive a desire for the holding of an outdoors show for the sector?
It may sound obvious, but viewing these large pieces turf care machinery outside on, you know, turf, kind of makes sense.
VIEWPOINT
WHITHER BAGMA NOW? 'Should be like an industry G7 sitting round as equal partners' by Chris Biddle
The news that AEA and BAGMA had joined forces wasn't the most surprising aspect of last week’s announcement.
It wasn’t the news that AEA and BAGMA had joined forces that was the most surprising aspect of the recent announcement – it was the fact that the manufacturers trade association had bought the organisation representing the interests of sales and service dealers.
Such a 'merger' had been mooted for many years. In a fascinating catch up with former BAGMA Director General Jonathan Swift for my Inside Agri-Turf podcast this week, he revealed that the subject had often been discussed over Sunday lunch with his father, Dean Swift, during the time Jonathan was running BAGMA – and his father was Director General of the AEA!
It was Jonathan who was responsible for moving BAGMA from its independent status in 1994 into the BHF Group (now BIRA) after he had become Director General of the British Hardware Federation after leaving BAGMA in 1986.
In the early 1990s, BAGMA had run into administrative and financial difficulties partly as a result of an ill-fated move to run its own turfcare show at Kempton Park in 1990 in direct competition to the IOG Show (now GMA) which had relocated to Peterborough.
BAGMA has been under the wing of BHF/BIRA for 27 years until the AEA came on the scene. During this time it was able to offer its members a valuable portfolio of benefits including preferential finance deals and legal advice, that it would have been unlikely to have negotiated as a small independent association.
I am somewhat surprised that the ‘merger’ hasn’t received more comment - at least publicly in industry forums. Perhaps the timing of the announcement had something to do with this sporting summer bonanza - or perhaps it is that the industry has changed from the days when trade associations were part business, part social in equal measure.
There has also been a distinct blurring of the role of manufacturer and dealer.
Manufacturers now set up sales and service operations (eg Reesink) whilst many dealers have become importers and distributors of machinery and equipment.
That’s the world we live in, but imagine the difficulty and awkwardness in the AEA camp should a leading manufacturer - and member of AEA - decide to cut out its dealer network and go direct.
Fair and equitable dealer contracts were a thorny issue back in Jonathan Swift’s days – and remain so as the consolidation of global manufacturers and suppliers continues apace.
Bigger picture
These and other issues will raise their head and need to be addressed. But it is clear that the bigger picture, that of representing the industry as a whole, particularly in the corridors of power, is enhanced by strength in numbers.
AEA and BAGMA have always worked closely together, none more so than recently when presenting the industry case at a time of Government imposed restrictions during the pandemic.
Governments need trade associations in order to assess the impact on every sector of business, and trade associations themselves must be able to communicate the decisions and interpretation of rulings back to the industry in a clear and unambiguous manner.
In my podcast conversation last week with Ruth Bailey, CEO of AEA and Keith Christian of BAGMA , they put a very positive case for togetherness, saying that there will be clear demarcation between the two associations. They will retain the current officers positions and offer exclusive benefits to their respective members.
It is early days, the ink on the deal is hardly dry. There has been no real indication on the reason for splitting from BIRA. Who wanted who gone – or indeed the financial terms? I understand AEA paid BIRA for BAGMA out of its cash reserves.
In many respects this is a sensible move for two relatively small associations, both with a long heritage, to combine their resources in these changing and challenging times.
However, perception is everything. The fact that AEA now owns BAGMA will raise question marks. Jonathan Swift says there should be clear and transparent parity. “They should be like the G7 of the industry, sitting round as equal partners”
I would agree. The danger may be that if the combined association is seen to be 'singing from the same hymn sheet', that may open the door for a new dealer exclusive grouping to be established.
Our WEB ONLY story this week is the Conference which takes place on November 25th 2021, will focus on how technology and communication tools can help us work more efficiently and ultimately more profitably.
Service Dealer are pleased to announce Kramp UK as Principal Sponsor of the 2021 Service Dealer Conference & Awards which returns to the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry this November.
The date of this year's event has been confirmed as Thursday November 25th 2021.
Des Boyd, Sales Director of Kramp UK (2nd from right) presents Jason Nettle of Winchester Garden Machinery with their Overall Dealer of the Year Award at 2019's Service Dealer Awards - with Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke (left) and comedian Charlie Baker (right)
Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "We are delighted to once again announce Kramp UK as Principal Sponsors for Service Dealer's Conference & Awards.
"We have established a fabulous relationship with Kramp who have supported our Conference and Awards on five previous occasions and we couldn't be more pleased that they are returning in November for what is lining up to be another valuable day. We are also grateful to Kramp for standing by the Conference through the enforced cancellation of 2020's event."
Lexi Gilders, UK and Ireland marketing manager at Kramp said, "Kramp are incredibly proud to be sponsoring Service Dealer once more at their conference and awards! The Service Dealer Conference has always been invaluable in providing the most up-to-date insights for businesses, and this year promises to be the best yet, with the theme of ‘Smart Working’ being more relevant than ever. We can’t wait to be a part of it and look forward to seeing everybody."
Des Boyd, sales director, Kramp UK and Ireland added, "We have such a fantastic dealer network and we’re thrilled to be able to support them and celebrate their hard work and achievements. These awards are always a brilliant occasion and we’re delighted to be sponsoring the event."
More details about this year's Service Dealer Conference & Awards will be announced in due course.
You can watch an interview with Des Boyd from 2019's Service Dealer Conference below:
Cobra has announced its continued support of research and care charity, Breast Cancer Now, throughout 2021.
Following a successful partnership over the last two years, Cobra has announced its continued support of research and care charity, Breast Cancer Now, throughout 2021.
The garden machinery manufacturer has raised £10,000 for the charity over the course of the partnership and hopes to raise more this year than ever before, with the machines now available at dealerships across the country.
Money will continue to be raised through the sale of its limited-edition pink GTRM38P mower (above), with £25 from every purchase of the model going to Breast Cancer Now to help make world-class research and life-changing support happen.
The electric mower comes equipped with a range of features, including a 15” cutting width and provides seven cutting heights.
Support for people affected by breast cancer has never been more needed due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 say Cobra. At the same time, the pandemic has significantly impacted Breast Cancer Now and the charity urgently needs support so that it can continue to be there for people affected by breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Now is steered by world-class research and powered by life-changing care. The charity works with hospitals and patients to improve breast cancer services and makes sure anyone affected receives the best possible treatment and care. It is there for anyone affected by breast cancer, the whole way through, providing support for today and hope for the future.
Lisa Gilmour, head of regional community fundraising at Breast Cancer Now, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Cobra for their wonderful support over the last two years and are excited to work with them once again this year.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK, and the impacts of the pandemic mean that people affected by this devastating disease need us now more than ever. As such, support from businesses like Cobra has never been more needed and we are so grateful to them and their customers for their unwavering support – together we can help change the future of breast cancer.”
The Game Fair runs at Ragley Hall in Alcester from the 23rd to 25th July and features a Smart Garden display that will include Cub Cadet's XR5 robotic mower.
The Game Fair is being held at Ragley Hall in Alcester from today, 23rd July, to Sunday 25th.
One of the attractions sees Pershore College and Moreton Morrell College, both part of college group WCG, brought together to create a 30m by 17m show garden.
The Smart Garden is a modern contemporary garden, which shows how modern technology can be integrated - with features including a solar-powered electric car charging station, a vertical living wall and a Cub Cadet XR5 robotic mower.
“We wanted to make sure that getting the perfect lawn was as easy and efficient as possible” said Phil Noble, divisional sales manager, Lawn and Garden, E.P. Barrus “This new machine handles challenging terrain, 45% slopes and tall thick grass up to 100mm with incredible accuracy whilst cutting beyond the edge of the wheel gives beautifully finished edges. It’s self-cleaning deck and wheels and replaceable parts make it easy to maintain. We are proud to be showcasing our machine as part of this great project”.
Mike Roberts, garden design and horticulture lecturer at WCG, is managing the design and planting and has award-winning success of creating show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
He said: “This is by far the largest show garden we have every undertaken and we’re all excited to get to work on site at Ragley Hall to create something truly special for The Game Fair.
“We appreciate the support from Cub Cadet with loaning us one of their new robotic mowers to help us make the design a reality.
“It’s set to be a brilliant weekend. I know the students are looking forward to seeing their designs come to life and it will be a proud weekend for everyone involved.”
BOSS ORV has announced they have been appointed distributor for the range of rollover solutions for the outdoor power equipment industry.
BOSS ORV has announced they have been appointed as the sole UK and Ireland distributor for all Air-Rops products.
The company says Air-Rops offer a range of rollover solutions for the outdoor power equipment industry. In a statement the company explained, "ROPs on ATVs has always been a contentious issue but BOSS believe that in certain applications, and after a thorough risk assessment, they do offer additional protection for the operator. Air-Rops have the advantage over traditional ROPs of not raising the centre of gravity of the machine as it sits lower than the operator when not deployed."
The first Air-Rops product BOSS ORV has introduced is the AR Quad safety bar, for ATVs and agricultural machinery.
The company says this product uses Air-Rops technology in a fully automatic Roll Over Protection System. They base the technology on what they describe as "state-of-the-art automotive components, including safety electronics and proven and reliable airbag gas inflators".
The AR Quad electronic control unit continuously monitors the behaviour of the quad and warns the rider with acoustic and visual signals when the vehicle is about to reach a state where stability is compromised. The system automatically evaluates the rollover condition until a tilting state is reached and, only when the tilt takes place, activates the rollover bar. The electronic control unit operates the inflator, and the gas is fully released, extending the bar and the mechanism locks. The system only operates when the rider enters and cannot avoid the full tilt. The final position after deployment of the ROPS is limited to a maximum 90°, preventing full rollover which BOSS says not only helps minimise personal injury it also reduces damage to the quad.
The company says the universal AR Quad design fits most ATVs with independent suspension using bolts on the luggage carrier and towbar. Installation is easy as the system comes fully assembled and only requires the ATV dealer to perform simple electrical and mechanical actions. It requires no scheduled maintenance and is reusable after a rollover. It requires inspection and approval by an ATV technician, and the gas generator can be replaced to return the bar to its original condition. The system is SGS Certified and CE marked, adhering to environmental and regulatory standards.
Air-Rops will only be available through specialist approved dealers and regional distributors and will not be available by mail order or directly online. This, says BOSS, is to ensure that every unit is correctly installed and able to be monitored by the supplying dealer.
Reesink Turfcare’s new East Anglian branch in Burwell between Cambridge and Newmarket, which will open this autumn has appointed its branch manager.
Reesink Turfcare’s new East Anglian branch in Burwell between Cambridge and Newmarket, which will open this autumn has appointed its branch manager.
The successful applicant for the role is Trevor Chard, an industry - and Reesink - stalwart.
Trevor Chard
Trevor Chard is a name well-known by those in the golf and fine turf industry having been national accounts manager for Reesink Turfcare for 25 years. The move to branch manager is, he says, one that will give him a new experience and challenge, along with the opportunity to share his knowledge from years in one of the company’s key customer-relationship roles.
Trevor says, “The opening of the East Anglian branch is widely-anticipated for customers in the area, and I am really excited to be heading up the branch. I’ve worked for Reesink for years and loved it, but it was time for a new challenge in a role with fewer miles travelling the country. The new branch will focus on dealing directly with customers, adding value and building relationships, and that takes the part of my role that I’ve loved so much up until now and continues it in a new and fresh way.
“The branch has an extensive catchment of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and includes some key Toro customers. Our role will be to provide those customers, and new ones, with dependable maintenance and genuine parts after-sales service. There will be a demo fleet to use for new business and a range of other services available such as NSTS testing and on-site servicing.”
Similarly to the other Reesink branches, the East Anglian one will be an independently-run business, about which Trevor says: “Removing the element of being centrally-controlled and being more local to our customers will allow us to react quickly. We will be focussed on fast, easily accessible, friendly help and support.”
The East Anglia branch will follow the same business model applied by Reesink Turfcare to the Sheffield Park branch in the South East and the Livingston branch in Scotland.
David Cole, Reesink Turfcare’s managing director, said, “When investing in a new location, the leadership of that branch is of paramount importance to ensure that each individual shares and understands the Reesink passion for machinery and a down-to-earth approach to providing solutions. When filling that role for our new investment for the East Anglian region we quite rightly encouraged internal applicants to step forward, but they had to win the position based on skill set, experience and above all, attitude, against outside candidates. We are very pleased that Trevor won through in the process.
“We look forward to our Burwell location opening in the early autumn, and know that Trevor, Liam Pindred, the service manager and the rest of the team are excited and ambitious about making a difference to our customers across the region the branch will serve.”
The company says the opening of the branch will be celebrated with an Open Day, to be announced in due course.
Kubota Corporation has officially joined the 170 members of Inno’vin, one of the leading clusters in Europe dedicated to viticulture innovation.
Kubota Corporation has officially joined the 170 members of Inno’vin, one of the leading clusters in Europe dedicated to viticulture innovation.
L-R: Gilles Brianceau, director of the Inno’vin cluster; Dominique Trioné, president of the Inno’vin cluster; and Hervé Gérard-Biard, VP business development Kubota Holding Europe
The manufacturer says this partnership will allow both organisations to work together to identify and respond to the current challenges faced by the wine sector, including labour shortage and issues related to the development of sustainable agriculture.
Thanks to the various actions carried out by the Inno'vin cluster, Kubota say they will be able to access high-tech startups in vineyard automation and boost new collaborations, such as pilots and proof of concept projects to deliver integrated solutions with the cluster’s members, or directly invest in companies.
According to Kubota in recent years, labour shortages have become a global problem, especially in vineyards, which use labour-intensive practices and are currently in need of a skilled and non-skilled workforce.
“Through its membership of the Inno’vin cluster, Kubota aims to find partners and start-ups that might have an impact on growers’ sustainability, profitability and well-being. We are also looking into the possibility of establishing innovation projects with cluster members experiencing cultivation issues, which will allow for technology transfers,” said Daria Batukhtina, business development manager at the Kubota Innovation Centre Europe.
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From robots and drones designed to help winemakers get the best out of their vineyards to consumer-oriented apps, the wine industry is already taking advantage of new technologies. In areas such as wine growing and harvesting, in which mechanisation has not yet been fully implemented, Kubota say they are already collaborating with start-ups that rely on advanced technologies to provide a connected service that anticipates the issues that farmers will be facing in the future.
“Innovation is achieved through different synergies: between people, between areas of activity, and between technologies. All of them share a common focus on farmers’ needs. In this regard, Inno'vin makes every effort to ensure that these activities are carried out efficiently. We are glad to have Kubota among our members and closely working with players within the ecosystem,” said Gilles Brianceau, director of Inno’vin cluster.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Bobcat has won an EquipmentWatch HRV Award. These are described as the only awards in the industry that use third-party, unbiased data to identify equipment that is projected to best hold its value over the next five years.
Jarry Fiser, loaders product line director Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said, “We are delighted to win awards in two different categories - they are a testament to our commitment to customers, and recognition of the significant work hours and value owners receive from their trusted Bobcat equipment."
The EquipmentWatch HRV Awards cover 30 categories across agricultural equipment, construction and lift/access. The categories capture the most popular types of equipment based on annual observed market activity.
The new name will debut at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show Feb. 5-10 in San Diego.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has announced the world’s largest golf course management event has been rebranded to the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. The new name will debut at the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show Feb. 5-10 in San Diego.
Known as the Golf Industry Show since 2005, the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show will continue to offer a week of education, networking opportunities and access to golf course and facility management solutions for golf industry professionals.
The event is produced by GCSAA along with presenting partners, the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) and American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and participating partners, the United States Golf Association (USGA), National Golf Course Owners Association of America (NGCOA) and National Golf Foundation (NGF).
“The GCSAA Conference and Trade Show rebranding is not about changes to the event, but is based on the strength of the GCSAA brand,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “As GCSAA’s brand recognition has grown over the years, it makes sense to have our premier event share in that. Along with our partners, we’ll still feature opportunities for collaboration and team building among superintendents, architects, builders and more.”
The GCSAA Conference rebranding is part of a strategic effort to bring all GCSAA entities under the association name and comes on the heels of the rebranding of its philanthropic organisation to the GCSAA Foundation in May.
“As we move closer to our 100th anniversary in 2026, bringing all aspects of GCSAA’s operations under the GCSAA name not only makes sound business sense, but also gives a clear tie to our long history,” Evans said.
The 2022 GCSAA Conference will return to an in-person gathering after the 2021 event was held virtually due to the pandemic. The event will kick off with the GCSAA Golf Championships Feb. 5-7 in San Diego and will include play at Torrey Pines, site of the 2021 U.S. Men’s Open. The conference portion will begin with a Welcome Reception on Monday night. The bulk of education and the trade show will be condensed to Tuesday through Thursday in order to offer attendees the full event experience while requiring fewer days away from work and home. In addition, a virtual learning component will be offered after the in-person event for those who want to take additional education or for those who were unable to attend in person.
Registration for the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show will open Nov. 2, 2021.
The Areas Sales Manager is responsible for developing and managing Sparex business within a defined geographic territory and making sure all local sales and margin objectives are achieved.
Job Title: Area Sales Manager (South West)
Reports to: Managing Director UK and Ireland
Sparex is global supplier of tractor parts operating in over 80 countries.
The Areas Sales Manager is responsible for developing and managing Sparex business within a defined geographic territory and making sure all local sales and margin objectives are achieved. They are completely market oriented and sales driven, recognise market opportunities and have the ability to create and install action plans in order to translate opportunities into results.
Main Responsibility:
Effectively manage a given territory and grow sales
Identify customer potential and key accounts
Develop a business strategy for your 40 top accounts
Develop a business strategy for smaller accounts to be co-managed by the internal sales team
Plan all visits, including appointments with key accounts minimum one week in advance
Manage (including initial sale, implementation and follow up) dealer showrooms
Promote, demonstrate and implement Sparex Connect to key accounts
Drive sales for new products and product management projects as set out in the annual business plan.
To train your customers to use our website and e commerce solutions
Manage customer database and market segment information
To attend and support dealer open days
To meet targets for turnover, margin and product sales
To carry out any other duty as required
You will have an established background in agricultural parts after market, along with a proven track record demonstrating your ability to meet targets. You’ll need to be commercially orientated and be willing to travel extensively within your region.
To apply for this position, please send your CV and cover letter to careers@sparex.com
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BOOST MOWING POWER With the ‘Award Winning’ 80V Lawnmower range from Cobra
The new 80V cordless range of lawnmowers from Cobra packs double the punch, with twin 40V Lithium-ion batteries delivering 80 volts of pure cutting power.
The new 80V cordless range of lawnmowers from Cobra packs double the punch, with twin 40V Lithium-ion batteries delivering 80 volts of pure cutting power.
Cobra has the UK’s largest range of powered lawnmowers and is constantly expanding its range and developing its products to further its position as the expert in the lawncare market. The 80V range is the latest extension of this, with its three models being packed with innovative features and technology.
The three mowers in the range offer 17”, 20” and 21” cutting widths, generous run times and even rear rollers on the 17 and 20” models for a traditional, striped finish. Each machine is powered by two 5Ah 40V Lithium-ion batteries that drive the 80V brushless motors. The Cobra 40V Lithium-ion technology means the mowers are always ready to use, will hold charge capacity and have no memory effect.
The RM43SP80V is the most compact of the three, with a 17” cutting width, and it is a great all-rounder, with a 50 minute run time. It is self-propelled, so it’s ideal for sloping gardens and has seven different cutting heights ranging from 17mm for a super low finish, up to 75mm for tackling longer grass. The mower also benefits from a 50 litre grass bag to hold more cutting for a longer time between bag emptying. Its rear roller means that a professional, striped finish can be created too.
The RM51SP80V keeps all of the impressive features of the RM43SP80V, including a steel rear roller, but increases the width to 20” and the grass bag to 70 litres. With the ability to run for up to 45 minutes between charges, the mower can complete medium to large sized lawns in one run.
The final, and largest, mower in the range is the Which? Best Buy MX51S80V. Again, the mower features a self-propelled drive system to allow for ease of use, and has a 20” cutting width and a running time of 55 minutes. This model benefits from a mulching function, allowing the grass to be recycled by finely cutting and re-cutting the clippings. As the clippings decompose, nutrients and fertilisers are returned to the soil meaning grass can be cut and fertilised at the same time – creating a healthy, green lawn.
Peter Chaloner, managing director of Cobra, said: “The 80V range sets a new standard for battery powered garden machinery, providing more power and convenience than ever before. Cobra prides itself on being at the forefront of innovation to help people maintain their gardens with the minimum of effort, and this range is the epitome of that.”
Each of the models comes complete with two 40V 5Ah Lithium-ion batteries and two Fast Chargers. The 40v batteries are compatible with Cobra grass trimmers, chainsaws, hedge cutters and garden vacs.
In Garden Trader user research conducted over the Spring/Summer (February to July) of 2020, 79% of the 67,000 users found the site helpful or extremely helpful. But even more encouraging was that 77.4% of site users were likely or extremely likely to visit the dealership they were looking at on Garden Trader. This is the best proof yet that people want to buy from people and this highly targeted website is delivering quality leads to subscribed dealers for just 26p per day.
Our Summer research shows 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. As this dealer site is designed to promote the UK dealer network, all revenues in 2021 will be reinvested into promoting the site online.
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.
