Printer Friendly Version

EDITOR'S BLOG

THE BEST YET
Service Dealer Conference & Awards 2024
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

Last week I was invited to attend this year’s Service Dealer Conference and Awards, an event dedicated to our amazing dealer network who serve the turf professional sector which utmost care and dedication.

Last week I was invited to attend this year’s Service Dealer Conference and Awards, held for the second time at the Stratford-Upon-Avon Crowne Plaza.

A superb venue in many ways, not only for its location and historical association with Shakespear, but it also provides the perfect setting for the conference’s needs.

This larger venue enabled even more dealers from across the country to come together, share experiences, and learn from an impressive lineup of speakers and breakout sessions throughout the day.

And after a busy schedule of guest speakers, the evening is devoted to celebrating this year’s Dealer of the Year Awards, presented during a gala dinner.

I, along with my colleague Steve Gibbs, editor of Service Dealer, spoke to many of the delegates who were pleased with the style and organisation of the day’s Conference and with evening’s entertainment and awards ceremony that was slick and enjoyable.

The day started with the dealer delegates being welcomed to the Conference by host and owner of Service Dealer, Duncan Murray-Clarke
Duncan set the tone for the day, speaking on how dealerships will need to adapt over the coming years to meet the demands of the industry.

"Tomorrow’s dealerships still have an important role to play - but we need to accept some changes that technology brings and evolve to work in those spaces that are profitable and relevant. Ag dealers of course have their own challenges - especially with wholegood sales being so far down this year and no doubt there is a fair bit of expensive kit sitting on your forecourts at the moment."

First up to address the Conference was Ellis Watson, a business leader, whose impressive career has taken him on a journey including senor roles with Mirror Group Newspaper and Simon Cowell, leading businesses through change and disruption.

Ellis went down an absolute storm with delegates. Funny, affable and a natural communicator, he had people buzzing about his presentation all day. He talked about how dealers should build their passion into their work. He told the room how it's vital to make customers feel that as businesses, we are really pleased to see them.

He also stressed how dealers need to be open to change and disruption. He said a dealer's greatest strength will be their years and years of experience - but how their greatest weakness could also be their years and years of experience! He said, "It's so bloody important to challenge your own model."
He went on to tell delegates, "The joy of surpassing your own ceiling of potential, is so fulfilling." He said dealers have the ability evolve themselves and their businesses, concluding, "You'll say with this disruption has come this amazing opportunity."

Loz Gale with (l-r), dealer Peter Hough from Middlewich Machinery, Karl McDermott and Jim Buttar

The rest of the day was taken up with two breakout sessions and three guest customer speakers - two of whom I personally managed to persuade to come to the conference, knowing full well they would both deliver interesting and relevant presentations about their career to date and talk on how they rely on the expertise of their machinery dealers.

Karl McDermott, head groundsman at Lord’s explained to the dealers in the room that he sees them as his partners in an incredibly important, two-way relationship.

He told our delegates, "I need you guys. I rely on you. I'm trusting you to tell me that the machine you are recommending is going to work for my needs." He went on to explain how at Lord's they desire to be the most innovative cricket club in the world, and therefore they need their dealers to tell them about the latest machinery developments.

He summed up by telling the audience, "Do not underestimate your place and value in the industry. My dealers are part of the success of Lord's."

Meanwhile, Jim Buttar, head groundsman RFU (Twickenham) emphasied how important trialing potential new machinery is to him and his team at the home of rugby. "I don't want to just see a bit of kit on a stand," he said. "I want to see how it performs over a 6 month period. After that, I guarantee you I shall give you nothing but honest feedback."

Speaking on what he wanted from his dealers Jim said that what is vital is a can-do attitude. "I need to know they are on the end of the phone. I need to feel our relationship is continually developing." He went on to stress, "I can't afford to have a machinery break-down on a match day."

Jim summed up by saying of his relationship with suppliers, "I need to know that I've got support there."

The third speaker was Andrew Ward MBE, farmer, who told the audience that a dealer's relationship with their farmer customers is vital. "We both rely on each other," he said. "So know your customer and know their requirements."

As for the breakout sessions these two sessions focused on Cyber Crime and AI Technologies. The first one AI in Action was presented by Neil Wilkins, marketing consultant and senior tutor at Cambridge Marketing College, Neil delivered a practical and engaging workshop exploring AI applications, demonstrating the tools and techniques that he said can deliver measurable business value.

The second session was quite an eye opener. Presented by Warwickshire Police Cyber Crime, in company with the Regional Cyber Crime Unit, the hosts of the workshop (who have requested we don't use their names or share pictures of themselves) gave delegates an insight into how cyber criminals use team members to gain sensitive information from businesses.

The Conference drew to a close, with what has become a traditional Q&A panel session with some of the guests who had spoken throughout the day.

The evening’s awards saw over 200 delegates enjoying some fine food and excellent entertainment. Charlie Baker, comedian and actor, was again tasked with hosting the event, along with fellow comedian Rob Rouse who brought the house down with his unique style of comedy, and funnily picked on me for one of his gags.

You can read more about all the Dealer of the Year Award winners here.

I thought the whole day and evening was a truly memorable and proved the strong link that we turf professionals have with our local, independent machinery dealers. Without a doubt a great day was had by all. Great speakers, quality content and fab awards. Congrats to the TAP team for delivering a great event in a wonderful location. And of course, many thanks to all the sponsors who make a wonderful day like this possible.

Principal Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Societe Generale Equipment Finance

STIHL

Toro

Yamaha Motors

Networking Sponsors

Garden Trader

TAP

NEWS

DEALERS OF THE YEAR 2024 UNVEILED
Honours presented

In our first WEB ONLY story, the winners of 2024’s Service Dealer Awards were announced and presented at a celebratory gala dinner, held last night at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon.

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED
For GMA awards

In our next WEB ONLY story, this year’s shortlist was decided by a panel of ten leading turf professionals, tasked with selecting the standout candidates across seventeen different categories.

SKY SPORTS PRESENTER SET TO HOST
BIGGA Celebration at BTME

Best known for her work with Sky Sports, where she has been a leading voice in golf coverage since 2012, Sarah Stirk will guide the evening’s festivities.

BIGGA has announced that renowned TV presenter and journalist Sarah Stirk will host the BIGGA Celebration, held on the opening evening of BTME in January.

Best known for her work with Sky Sports, where she has been a leading voice in golf coverage since 2012, Sarah will guide the evening’s festivities. The Celebration highlights the achievements of the Association's members over the previous year, including the unveiling of the BIGGA Awards winners.

With a career spanning roles at Sky Sports, the BBC, Setanta and Sky News, Sarah has covered DP World Tour and PGA Tour events and interviewed some of the biggest names in golf. A 7-handicap golfer herself, Sarah also champions women in leadership roles within golf, having launched the Women’s Leadership Summit supported by The R&A.

Sarah said, “It’s an honour to celebrate the incredible work of BIGGA members and I look forward to a fantastic evening in Harrogate.”

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said, “Sarah’s experience and passion for the game make her the perfect host for this landmark event. We’re excited to welcome her to BTME and encourage all attendees to join us for an unforgettable evening in Harrogate’s historic Royal Hall.”

BARONESS ACQUIRES SHIBAURA
Reaches agreement for turf care machinery business

Owner says they have been looking to enhance production capacity and expand sales and customer service to meet future domestic and international demand.

Kyoeisha Co., Ltd. (Baroness) has reached an agreement with IHI Corporation to acquire Shibaura - the turf care machinery business of IHI Agri-Tech Corporation.

Kyoeisha say they have been looking to enhance production capacity and expand sales and customer service to meet future domestic and international demand. They say the acquisition of IHI Agri-Tech Corporation's turf care machinery business aligns perfectly with these goals.

An established manufacturer of turf care equipment, IHI Agri-Tech Corporation boasts state-of-the-art facilities, a skilled workforce and a reputation for high-quality products both in Japan and overseas. The Shibaura brand features a range of walk behind mowers, 3-gang and 5-gang reel and rotary ride-on mowers, front mowers and other ride-on implements - such as top dressers and bunker rakes - for maintenance tasks on the golf course.

Recognising the strategic fit and potential for growth, Kyoeisha engaged in extensive discussions with IHI Corporation. It was formally announced on 25th November 2024 that Kyoeisha had reached an agreement for its acquisition of the Shibaura brand and portfolio.

More details have been promised in due course.

MAKING A CASE FOR HEAVY USE BATTERY POWER
New Whitepaper launched

A new battery power Whitepaper has been published

A battery-powered outdoor power equipment specialist has launched a new whitepaper to educate heavy commercial users about "the benefits of switching to battery power".

Battery-powered outdoor power equipment specialist, EGO Power Plus, say they have launched a new whitepaper to ".. educate heavy commercial outdoor power equipment users about the benefits of switching to battery power."

EGO believe that despite progress in the domestic and light commercial sector, petrol is considered the ‘go-to’ for many heavy commercial users, however their ‘Battery Power, Performance, and Public Spaces: A Case for Battery-powered Equipment’, builds the case for battery powered OPE equipment, demonstrating how batteries and tools have evolved to meet the exacting demands of professional users since the early days.

The manufacturer says that beyond providing insight into the evolution of battery technology, the document also shares " . . the stark differences between petrol and battery-powered tools in terms of noise and vibration levels and also reveals the results of emissions testing conducted by one of the UK’s leading emissions testing specialists on behalf of EGO."

In addition, the whitepaper also highlights what EGO describe as "the financial benefits of switching to battery power" and showcases a range of efficiency advantages that can be discovered by heavy commercial users with the growing range of IoT-connected equipment.

Vince Brauns, product director for EGO, said, “It is fair to say that a certain ‘range anxiety’ exists for many professional OPE equipment users. In our early days as a manufacturer, domestic tool users were quicker in adopting the new technology compared to heavy trade users, with many unconvinced that the performance and run time of petrol could be surpassed. We have put all our efforts into the research and development of producing a battery platform that is arguably one of the most advanced in today’s market and the whitepaper will hopefully help to challenge any remaining misconceptions.”

This year, EGO launched its reimagined Pro X series, designed to meet the demands of heavy-duty commercial users. With upgrades and developments based on user feedback, the Pro X series EGO say this is their first big step in breaking down barriers to the adoption of battery power. They say the whitepaper examines these perceived barriers head-on and gives readers a look at their latest developments, which they believe should reinforce commercial users’ confidence in the capabilities of battery power.

Vince added, “Our findings build the case that petrol has had its time. Battery technology is now at the point where it can meet the needs of the most demanding users, with fewer environmental or health risks and lower maintenance costs to support businesses. The time to switch is now”.

HUSQVARNA RECOGNISED AS A DIVERSITY LEADER
Named one of the top in Europe

Husqvarna have been recognised for the fourth consecutive year

Manufacturer is reaffirming its position as a Diversity Leader, securing the prestigious title for the fourth consecutive year.

Husqvarna Group say they have reaffirmed their position as a Diversity Leader, securing the title from Financial Times and Statista for the fourth consecutive year.

In the 2025 ranking the manufacturer is placed 141 among 850 European companies.

The FT-Statista Diversity Leaders ranking is based on the views of over 100,000 employees across Europe, combined with three objective indicators:

The share of women in management positions (e.g. executive committees, boards of directors, supervisory boards)
Diversity communications (e.g. diversity policy or diversity communication on corporate website and in social media)
Diversity score (from Denominator, a data provider in social and diversity performance)The employee surveys account for 70% of the final score, while the above indicators contribute 30%, providing a comprehensive and definitive measurof workplace diversity.

Leigh Dagberg, executive vice president, people & organisation at Husqvarna Group, said, "This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard. As we celebrate this recognition, we remain mindful of the journey ahead and are committed to continuous improvement in our diversity efforts. By embracing diversity in all its forms, we not only strengthen our workplace culture but also drive innovation and resilience, ensuring that Husqvarna Group continues to thrive in a rapidly changing world."

Sponsored Content

STIHL LAUNCHES MOST POWERFUL BATTERY-POWERED KOMBIMOTOR
KMA 200 R

With even greater power than the largest petrol KombiEngine, the new AP System KMA 200 R offers professional landscapers unrivalled performance and versatility.

STIHL has launched the KMA 200 R, its most powerful battery-powered KombiMotor to date. With even greater power than the largest petrol KombiEngine, the new AP System KMA 200 R offers professional landscapers unrivalled performance and versatility.

STIHL KombiMotors are compatible with over ten robust attachments, including a brushcutter, pole pruner, sweeper brush, blower, edgers and hedge trimmers. With a maximum power output of 1.5 kW, the KMA 200 R boasts 50% greater power compared to the KMA 135 R and 7% higher power than the petrol KM 131, allowing the most power-intensive tasks to be completed at a faster rate.

The optimised controls of the KMA 200 R allow users to cycle between 3-speed settings and best match the RPM to the task at hand, as well as maximising battery working time. The maximum RPM output of the KMA 200 R is 9500, 1000 RPM higher than the KMA 135 R, also resulting in higher performance.

In addition, its adjustable loop handle can be moved easily along the shaft for greater comfort while working, and the harness attachment point can also be adjusted for perfect balance.

For brushcutting applications, the KMA 200 R must be used with the new FSS-KM attachment. The FSS-KM features a wider 45cm cutting diameter, meaning grass and tough material to be cut with greater speed and efficiency.

In addition, the new KombiMotor is compatible with STIHL’s Smart Connector 2 A. The connector plugs directly into the control module of the machine to collect useful operating information. The STIHL Connected App can collect this information via Bluetooth and process it to create bespoke maintenance schedules, as part of a wider fleet management system.

For more information on STIHL’s range of professional tools, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

JOBS

PRO PRODUCT APPLICATION SPECIALIST (SOUTH)
Husqvarna UK

An exciting position to join a team focused on developing the Husqvarna brand in the professional sector.

An exciting position to join a team focused on developing the Husqvarna brand in the professional sector. Focused on demonstrating and training of products to key customer segments; landscaping, groundcare, sports and treecare. Start date: January 2025.

Responsibilities & Tasks

Field based role working with the professional products within the Husqvarna UK business. A key area for growth with industry leading technology. The candidate will be working with professional end customers in collaboration with the Husqvarna dealer network to develop the product category within landscaping, groundcare, sports and treecare. Covering the South, based ideally South of the M4 corridor.

Relationship building with key professional accounts
Product demonstration to end customer
Lead follow up. Leads generated online and at events
CRM - All leads and activities logged and maintained in CRM (Microsoft Dynamics)
Dealer training; Sales training
Operator training; safe usage, machinery setup, features and benefits
Sales quotation including lease and service packages
Roadshows and events support
Products: chainsaws, blowers, hedge trimmers, brush cutters, pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers and robotic mowers
Working in an outdoor environment with varying weather conditions
Extensive travel within focus area with the possibility of overnight stays, some international travel may be required for training purposes

Additional Skills/Qualifications Required

Previous experience of machinery sales or technical support in the groundcare, garden machinery or agricultural sector would be advantageous
Self-motivated with the ability to work remotely
Strong communication skills and relationship builder
Willingness to work in a demanding and customer focussed environment
Computer literate - Microsoft Office including CRM
Full UK driving licence, trailer and tachograph training will also be provided

Offer

Competitive package
Training: online, workshop and field based learning
Company vehicle: VW Transporter Auto or Ford Transit Custom Auto (business and personal use)
Husqvarna branded clothing & PPE
Company laptop & IT equipment, iPhone, expenses credit card

Please supply a covering letter and CV before the closing date of 19th December 2024

Applications should be emailed to: pno.sscwarsaw@husqvarnagroup.com

ADVERTISE YOUR JOBS HERE
Amazing success rates!

Advertise your jobs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing

Advertise your recruitment needs on TurfPro Weekly Briefing and reach our targeted audience of recipients every week.

Contact Nikki Harrison for details - 01491 837117