As we start to think about winding down for a well-earned break, it's worth reflecting on another year of hard-work.
As we start to think about winding down for a well-earned break, it's worth reflecting on another year of the dealer sector's extraordinary hard-work.
Hearing from our readers throughout the year, and especially during the Dealer Of The Year judging process that I'm privileged to form a small part of, I learn about all the incredible entrepreneurship, innovation and devotion that goes into the running of businesses around the country. For me. it is then immensely gratifying to be in a position to be able to report and shine a light upon dealerships who are doing things their way, for their customers, in their communities.
It truly makes my job as editor for the journal dedicated to the dealer sector, fascinating and ever-changing. For example, just looking at the issue of the magazine we have heading off to the printers now (which will be with you all during the first week of the new year) it's packed full great articles which hold a mirror up to this vibrant sector - penned by a crack editorial team!
We look back at the recent Service Dealer Conference, with summaries written by award-winning ag machinery journalist Martin Rickatson, on all the insightful sessions for dealers held at the Stratford-Upon-Avon Crowne Plaza - and we of course feature all the amazing winning businesses and individuals from our Dealer of the Year Awards.
Elsewhere our regular contributor and editor of TurfPro magazine, Laurence Gale, opens his huge book of professional end-user contacts, speaking to a panel of top commercial practitioners about what they require from their relationships with their machinery dealers.
We are also delighted to welcome to the mag, a couple of new, expert voices for 2024. Firstly, industry legend, ex BAGMA head-honcho, and all round font of specialist knowledge, Keith Christian is joining us a regular contributor. Keith kicks off his tenure with his take on the recent SALTEX show - and shares his thoughts on where the wider UK trade show scene may be heading. Keith will continue to write pieces throughout the year that reflect his particular areas of expertise and passion. We're over the moon to have him on board.
As we say hello to Keith though, at the same time we're bidding a fond farewell to Jason Nettle from Winchester Garden Machinery who so fantastically talked us through his year in our Dairy Of A Season column. We are however, so pleased to welcome Joanne Balmer from Balmers GM, to enlighten us during 2024. Jo, who also helps us out as part of the Machinery Dealer Diversity group, will be keeping us informed each issue, on how things are panning out at her dealership. She begins with a fascinating entry, that considers how dealerships now must sell themselves to potential employees, rather than the other way round.
We also of course, include regular features from our expert contributors Adam Bernstein, Sara Hey and mystery columnist The Sprocket!
Before all that arrives with you though, we have a couple of end-of-term treats in today's Weekly Update. For a bit of a laugh, you can watch our comedian friends Charlie Baker and Rob Rouse backstage at the Service Dealer Awards, confess about their slightly dubious relationship with lawnmowers - plus other assorted nonsense! Do regularly keep an eye on Service Dealer's YouTube channel and other social media outlets, where more treats like this are regularly posted.
And finally today, the clever people at TAP have put together a festive game that you can waste time attempting to master! I had a go and embarrassed myself with my ineptitude - but I'm sure there are some young people reading this who excel at these sorts of things!
Until we're back with you again at noon on Friday January 5th 2024, my thanks to everyone who makes Service Dealer tick (with an especial high-five to Nikki). Have a lovely and relaxing Christmas break when you get there - and we look forward to once again documenting the industry's year alongside our incredible dealer readers, every step of the way.
Live from backstage at the Service Dealer Awards, the top stand-ups hilariously tell us about their adventures in garden machinery, lying on CVs and other assorted nonsense!
Live from backstage at the Service Dealer Awards, top stand-ups Charlie Baker and Rob Rouse, hilariously tell Jenni Green about their adventures in garden machinery, lying on CVs and other assorted nonsense!
In our WEB ONLY story, Danish manufacturing business establishes a UK company headed up by a sales director who has spent the past six years with a UK machinery dealership.
A new president and chief operating officer of Ariens Company has been appointed.
Nicholas Ariens has been appointed president and chief operating officer (COO) of Ariens Company.
New president and COO of Ariens Company, Nicholas Ariens (left) and his predecessor Larry Weyers (centre), with Jochen Schneider, executive vice president for the EMEAA region.
He takes over from Larry Weyers, who will remain with the company as a consultant until the end of the financial year and will take retirement at the beginning of July 2024.
Dan Ariens, chairman and chief executive officer, explained, "Larry has succeeded in driving forward three extremely important aspects of our company. With a strong customer-centric focus, the opinions and needs of our dealers and end customers have become even more important. He also attaches great importance to strategically well thought-out planning and has thus made AriensCo even more disciplined. He has also succeeded in further improving the quality of our products thanks to state-of-the-art manufacturing processes."
Nicholas Ariens, the eldest son of owner Dan Ariens, has now taken over the position of president and COO. "I am proud that all five of my children, and therefore the fifth generation, are now involved in key positions in our family business. I wish Nicholas every success in his new role," said Dan.
Nicholas Ariens has previously held various management positions in the company. Most recently, he was executive vice president for the North and South America region.
Jochen Schneider, executive vice president EMEAA and therefore also responsible for the European locations of the Ariens Company, will report directly to Nicholas Ariens in future.
Company have announced the completion of its 11,500m2 headquarters and state-of-the-art distribution centre.
STIHL GB has announced the completion of its 11,500m2 purpose-designed headquarters and state-of-the-art distribution centre.
Located in Camberley, Surrey, Contra House will serve as their new home.
The company says the expansive site, now ready to welcome nearly 100 employees, features dedicated dealer training facilities, an on-site restaurant, flexible collaborative workspaces, and a cutting-edge technical workshop. The 9,000m2 distribution centre incorporates next generation picking and storage systems. STIHL say this consolidation of logistics onto one site will result in a speedier and more efficient delivery service to their 700-strong Approved Dealer network.
Kay Green, managing director of STIHL GB, said, “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new purpose-built headquarters, marking a significant step in the company’s history. This state-of-the-art facility epitomises our commitment to innovation and sustainability, ensuring unparalleled levels of support for our dealers and end user customers.”
The company boast that Contra House stands out not only for its modern design and functionality but also for its dedication to sustainability. Numerous environmental features have been incorporated, aligning with what the manufacturer describes as their "dedication to responsible business practices".
Achieving BREEAM Certification, the sustainability assessment method for building projects, the facility has two-thirds of its roof area (1,600 square meters) covered with photovoltaic solar panels, harnessing solar energy to power the entire facility. Anticipating the growing trend toward electric vehicles, the site is equipped with 21 electric vehicle (EV) charging points and the capability to add more in future.
Promoting sustainable commuting options, the new headquarters is connected to Blackwater railway station by a dedicated cycle path. Additionally, the landscaped gardens feature native shrubs and trees.
Watch Service Dealer catch up with Craig Hoare of Toro UK & Ireland, who tells us that professional end-users are interested in moving to use of sustainably fuelled tools.
Owner of Service Dealer, Duncan Murray-Clarke, recently caught up with Craig Hoare, sales and marketing manager, UK & Ireland. of Toro UK, who told us that professional end-users are interested in moving to use of sustainably fuelled tools.
Craig says, "Lots of organisations who are using our existing petrol-powered tools, like the National Trust or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, are asking us about sustainability."
The course included a full factory tour and classes on the latest machinery.
Several UK Corvus dealers were back at school for a week in November on the first-ever Boss ORV technical training course at the Corvus factory in Murcia, Spain.
The course, led by Gabriel Motos and José Fernández Blázquez, included a full factory tour and classes on the latest Terrain Diesel DX machines. There was also specialised training on the new fully electric EX4.
The company says the factory visit and course is the first of a series and Phil Everett, Boss ORV managing director, praised the dealers attending for engaging in the training and helping to develop the courses for future attendees.
Manufacturer says expansion is intended to deliver an extended product offering to capture greater market share.
CNH Industrial has announced its intention to expand its longstanding partnership with LS Tractor - the agricultural tractor division of the OEM LS Mtron.
The Memorandum of Understanding and the technical cooperation agreement signed aim at expanding the current cooperation with LS Tractor and delivering an extended product offering to capture greater market share and enhance CNH’s positioning in the compact tractor segment.
This expanded agreement sets forth the financial and industrial terms and conditions to localise the production of select compact tractor models at the CNH manufacturing site in Greater Noida, India and the LS Tractor manufacturing site in South Korea. CNH say this will leverage their manufacturing capabilities and LS Tractor’s components and engineering to increase CNH’s speed to market.
CNH expects that this extended product offering in compact tractors built at their Greater Noida plant will enable them to cater to a broader market.
LS Tractor is the existing commercial distributor for CNH’s New Holland Agriculture brand in South Korea and has a long history of collaboration with their brands stretching back over four decades.
Company secures title of Diversity Leader from Financial Times for the third consecutive year.
Husqvarna Group say they strengthen their position as a Diversity Leader, securing the title from Financial Times for the third consecutive year.
In the 2024 ranking Husqvarna Group is placed 49 among 850 European companies, marking a substantial leap from last year's 177th position. Additionally, the Group secures a fourth position among Swedish companies.
The ranking foundation, based on independent surveys of more than 100,000 employees across Europe, focuses on their employer's diversity and inclusion practices. The result boiled down to a list of 850 companies recognised as business leaders in gender, ethnicity, disability, age and sexual orientation in the workforce.
Leigh Dagberg, executive vice president, People & Organisation at Husqvarna Group, said, "This recognises our dedication to a diverse and inclusive workplace, where our differences are our strengths. It is through different perspectives that we create a company built to last, and this continuous work is critical to the Group's ability to anticipate and surpass customer and employee requirements for the future."
That’s the philosophy of Garden Trader and we have maintained our affordable annual subscription at £96 for the whole year. This equates to 26p per day and an average of just 83p for every potential customer the site delivers to dealers. Garden Trader has 160 skilled dealers subscribed up and down the UK and they are all benefiting from the 1m+ dealer search impressions the site generates each year. People want to buy from people and this highly targeted website is delivering quality leads to subscribed dealers for just 26p per day.
Our 2020 Summer 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. As this dealer site is designed to promote the UK dealer network, all revenues in 2022 will continue 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.
