Two independent farm machinery businesses have teamed up to provide a new sales and service outlet for McCormick tractors throughout Staffordshire and parts of Shropshire and Cheshire.
Julian Kearne of Hilton Machinery and Chris Evans Farm Services are already seeing the fruits of their association with orders for three new tractors, increased parts sales, and bookings for workshop services at their Market Drayton premises.
“There hasn’t been a fully fledged agricultural engineering business in the town for a long time – but we’re now changing that,” Chris Evans said. “Instead of just providing maintenance, repairs and light fabrication, we’ll be working with Julian to also supply new and used tractors and equipment.”
Mr Kearne and his wife Melanie were quick to recognise the potential of the McCormick tractor franchise in an area where the Burgess group closed several branches. Their territory extends from Stourport and Kidderminster north to Birkenhead, and from Shrewsbury eastwards beyond the M6.
“Hilton Machinery’s appointment to the McCormick dealer network adds a new dimension to our business,” he said. “Having Chris, Wayne and their staff supporting us gives us an instant start in the central part of our McCormick territory.
“Chris Evans Farm Services is well known in the Market Drayton area and has an excellent reputation for service,” he added. “Together with my experience in sales with manufacturers, importers and dealers, we should make a very effective team.”
By their own admission, Mr Evans and his wife Carol are approaching the age when most people are thinking of winding down their business interests, so they were understandably cautious about the joint venture idea at first.
“We realised it could set the business fair for the future and our son Wayne and his partner Jenny, who both work with us, and we were keen to give it a go,” Mr Evans said. “Now, Carol and I are wholeheartedly behind the project to develop the business for the next generation.”
The response they received from customers has given them a real confidence boost.
“It’s been tremendous,” Mr Evans said. “We’ve had a lot of positive comments and good wishes – and I’m over the moon that the first three orders Julian’s taken for new McCormick tractors have been from loyal, long-standing customers.”
With Hilton Machinery now based at the Adderley Road Industrial Estate premises and Matt Bufton taken on to provide a parts delivery service and boost sales coverage across the McCormick territory, the informal partnership is really getting underway.
Former Burgess Nantwich agricultural engineer Robert Peacock has joined Chris Evans and Julian Simpson in the parts department at Market Drayton to help cope with extra demand for the stock of McCormick parts, sundries and merchandise they now have in place.
In the workshop, Wayne Evans has experienced technicians Mark Jones, David Hand and Edward Wellings working alongside him.
“We want to be sure of maintaining our current level of service; it’s been the bedrock of our business,” Mr Evans said. “I’d guess that maybe 70% of our customers run a McCormick tractor or one of its ‘Doncaster’ predecessors from Case or International Harvester.”
For more information visit: www.argotractors.com.
