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.