After a year’s absence in which it won the Best New Initiative category at the 2021 Service Dealer Awards for the development of its online ‘Doe Show with a Difference’, south-eastern agricultural, groundscare and construction machinery dealer Ernest Doe reintroduced its annual ‘physical’ event last week with a few changes to keep coronavirus spread at bay – and visitor turnout would suggest the firm made the right call. 

The fine February weather undoubtedly helped, but doing away with temporary buildings and opening up the shutter doors on the permanent ones of the site at Ernest Doe’s Ulting, Essex, headquarters branch allowed the firm to make changes that minimised the risk of Covid spread and gave all present plenty of space to keep a distance while still retaining the established atmosphere of the show.

“We’ve been really pleased with the turnout, and with the response of both the visitors and our suppliers,” said sales director Graham Parker, speaking to TurfPro on the first day of the three-day show on Tuesday this week.

“There have been some very favourable comments, and it’s clear that, across our agricultural, construction and groundscare customer bases, people are keen to see some return to normality. Opening up the site has really helped the visitor flow, and we’ve certainly learned a few things for future events.”