MEMBER PROFILE
‘Why we moved at our busiest time of year’ Neil Taylor, who runs Kalehurst Garden Machinery with wife Gill, explains how robotic machines have increased workshop income and why they only offer service and backup for brands that they have sold. Report by Mary Perry KALEHURST GARDEN MACHINERY has been in Newbury, Berkshire, since the late 1980s. Over the years the site comprised a garden centre as well as six other businesses. Today, Kalehurst Garden Machinery and Hillier Garden Centre are the only two businesses operating out of the site – offering customers a complete answer to their gardening needs! Today, Neil Taylor and wife Gill run the family business with their team, remaining passionate about offering the best service around for sales and back-up – an approach that has resulted in a very loyal customer-base within the area. The business was started by Neil’s father, Bob, in 1982 at a site in Aylesbury. Mechanically minded, he was passionate about focussing his attention on the workshop and ensuring they provided top-quality service, something they remain passionate about today. Neil stepped into the driving seat in the late 1990s when Bob reached the point where he no longer wanted to continue with the business. From a more sales-focussed background, Neil wanted to implement more of a sales strategy to grow the business. They have managed to do that despite Covid shutdowns and no e-commerce presence. Last month, they even moved into a more modern building. How have the last few years been for the business? “The last few years have been a big shock for us all. No one could have anticipated the events
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that would take place and we have had to adapt and overcome the constantly changing situation. In terms of business, we did think that Covid could mean shutting the doors for a long time. But it has ended up being good for business, it all went a bit mad! Our showroom was shut in total for three months and we have always promoted Kalehurst as having the ‘largest garden machinery showroom in the area’, so for us to have to close was a worry. “When we found out, with BAGMA’s help, we were still allowed to operate without the showroom open, we quickly made changes to ensure that we could still do as much as possible. We got a mobile card machine, put up sheep fencing out the front and we served people from the gates. It worked well, and surprisingly we had our best March ever in 2021 with the doors closed! When we were allowed to open the showroom, we were probably over the top with safety measures; we implemented a oneway system, put up screens, stickers on the floor and lots of hand sanitiser. We were strict but we wanted to ensure everyone was safe and I believe the customers wanted to see that. “During Covid we realised the demand for stock was high and we had to become very organised when it came to acquiring parts and machines. Before Covid, we could order a machine and it would arrive within days, but with the rapid rise in demand we had to look almost every other day at our future stock needs and get things ordered far in advance to keep BAGMA BULLETIN JULY-AUGUST 2022
