McCormick has signed up five more sales and service dealers to back-up its growing tractor range.
In Derbyshire, John Ayre of Alkmonton Tractors Ltd is determined to put customer service at the top of his priorities as a McCormick dealer.
“We’ve built our reputation on carrying a good stock of spares and being able to handle just about anything in our workshop,” he said.
The dealership, at Alkmonton, near Ashbourne, now represents McCormick in an area previously serviced by the Burgess Barton and Leek depots, which closed towards the end of last year.
Former Burgess salesman Dylan Williams has recruited experienced workshop technicians to the new PGF Agri business he formed in North Wales with his fiancée Amanda Ormerod. Operating from newly-converted premises at Llanerch-y-Medd, they have been rewarded with the McCormick franchise for Angelsey and north Gwynedd, an area previously serviced by the closed Burgess Llangefni branch.
“Continuity and good service based on experience, that’s what we have to offer,” Dylan said. “My brother Dilwyn is a qualified workshop technician and we both have 26 years’ experience, as does Alan Edwards, who joined us from Llangefni as a fully-trained McCormick technician. It’s the same people and the same machines but providing better back-up.”
McCormick’s first dealer on the Isle of Man is another new venture based on long-standing experience. Ballacrye Engineering, at Ballaugh, to the north of the island, is run by Carl Huxham, with his brother Ian managing the workshop and parts side of the enterprise.
“Ian has an excellent reputation for his abilities in the workshop,” Carl said. “Together with a strong following on the island for tractors related to some of today’s McCormick models, we’re confident of attracting new customers.”
East Sussex dealership Curtis & Shaw has been signed to supply new McCormick tractors and service existing users from workshops, stores and showroom premises at Cowbeech near Hailsham.
“We’re a relatively small company, but that means we’re all hands-on and make looking after our customers a priority,” Director Carl Pope said. “For example, to make sure we could supply parts right from the start, we made a point of getting stock organised before announcing we had the franchise.”
Two McCormick demonstrator tractors – a 127hp MC135 Power6 and a 213hp TTX210 – are now doing the rounds of potential customers.
The latest recruit to the dealer network in Scotland – joining John Drysdale, Fraser C Robb and CAM Engineering, who signed up last year – is RiteWay Plant & Machinery, at East Calder, Edinburgh.
“This is a brand new venture and we wanted a prestigious tractor make from the start,” said sales manager James Brown. “I felt the McCormick name struck a chord because of its familiarity and history, it has a good following, and it’s also a good product range.”
For more information visit: www.argotractors.com.
