Busy open day for long-established dealer
Case-IH main dealer Collings Bros traditionally hosts its annual open day on the Wednesday before Easter and this year was no different. David Williams enjoyed attending the busy show. The event was at Collings Bros main Abbotsley, Cambs depot from where the dealer looks after customers in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and parts of Northamptonshire, in conjunction with its northern Brigstock branch. With Case IH, main franchises include Kuhn, Bomford, Richard Western, Stocks, Cousins, Cherry Products, Suffolk Farm Machinery, Kramp, Draper Tools, Martin Lishman, Husqvarna and Yamaha, and specialists from all the suppliers were on hand at the open day helping sales staff deal with enquiries. Big news this year included Collings Bros appointment as a Case IH Farmlift telescopic handler dealer, after supplying an alternative brand for many years. Another new franchise is Suffolk Farm Machinery - importer of several premium brands from across Europe whose products Collings Bros started offering from the beginning of March. Also attracting high attendance was a recent management change, which saw Jason Weston, formally of Great Plains, appointed sales manager and new and existing customers came along to discuss his thoughts regarding future developments. “We enjoyed fantastic attendance and it was great to see everyone enjoying the evening and socialising while looking at all the machinery displayed,” said Jason. “Our sales team got to meet a lot of people who haven’t previously dealt with us but who were keen to find out what we offer, as well as our regular customers from across the trading area. It was a great event and on behalf of the Collings Bros sales and service teams and myself I would like to thank the suppliers and attendees for making it so successful.” Case IH was well represented with all sizes of tractors displayed including the Luxxum, Maxxum, Puma, Optum, Rowtrac and the latest Axial Flow
combine, sold to a local customer, and the latest Farmlift telehandler. Case IH business director Paul Harrison also attended and commented, “This year’s Collings Brothers event has been superb, very well attended by customers and well supported by suppliers. It’s clear that recent changes have been well received by customers and employees alike which is reflected in the incredible increase in sales we’ve seen in all sectors in recent months. Collings Brothers has always been linked to the supply and support of large-scale, productive farm machinery and this trend is certainly continuing when I look at the high volumes of Puma, Optum, Rowtrac, Quadtrac and combine sales the team is now achieving. Customers can purchase machinery with the confidence that Jason and his team will always be there to support them, essential for today’s farming businesses.” ■ Crop storage equipment specialisat Martin Lishman arranges moisture meter grain clinics held across the UK allowing interested farmers to bring moisture meters of any make for checking and calibration. Collings Bros hosts a clinic at its open days attracting cereal growers from across eastern England. Pictured (l-r) are Martin Lishman service manager Richard Jagger, David Clarke of GC Dixon & Sons who is having his moisture meter tested, and Thomas Smyth with Gordon James both of Ashfield Farm, Keysoe, Beds.
A new franchise for Collings Bros is Laumetris specialist trailers from Suffolk Farm Machinery, which imports brands including, Hawe-Wester, Reiter Engineering, Saphir and Fransgard as well as Laumetris. A Reiter crop merger also attracted considerable interest, mainly from contractors specialising in large square baling, along with the Hawe-Wester chaser wagon according to managing director Richard Carr (centre), pictured with Todd Roberts (left) and Jason Weston.
Case IH Farmlift telescopic handlers are now supplied and serviced by Collings Bros. The company’s sales manager Jason Weston is pictured with Case IH area sales manager David Redman and the dealer’s Farmlift 742 demonstrator. Demonstrations have also been undertaken with Case IH’s 735 model demonstrator which has left operators impressed with the ease of use and performance, explained Jason.
Sales of toppers and arm mowers have enjoyed a busy start to the year according to Bomford representatives at the event. The Kestrel Evo S 5.7m model is currently the dealer’s best seller, and several units are kept in stock along with other machinery from Bomford’s range. “We have seen strong demand for parts this year,” said Bomford area sales manager Graham Cooper (left), “which reflects customers’ confidence in the dealer team to carry out reliable servicing and repairs.” Parts sales manager Sam Sharp agreed, saying that early 2018 had seen Collings Bros’ highest parts sales for many years.
May 2018 www.farmersguide.co.uk 47
34-65 ROP MAY.indd 47
21/04/2018 15:15