DEALERSHIP CEASES TRADING

Last Thursday, March 28th 2024, agricultural and groundcare machinery dealers, Collings Brothers of Abbotsley, St Neots, announced that they were ceasing trading with immediate effect.

In a letter sent to customers and in a post to their website, the owners confirmed that the dealership would continue to finish jobs that are currently being worked on but that they could not take on any new workshop tasks. Any job that had been booked in but not started, they said, they would not be able to facilitate.

The owners explained, "The current economic situation has put a lot of pressure on the business with high stocking charges, a reduction of sales due to the state of the market and together with staff shortages has made it impossible to continue."

The statement went on to confirm, ". . the company is solvent and the staff will be supported during this difficult time."

After thanking customers for their support over the years, further explanation was given to the closure, saying ". . it has been difficult since the franchise change and Covid and we have tried to fight through this difficult period against the odds but unfortunately the economic situation has just been too much for this business."

Collings Brothers featured in Service Dealer magazine last year in the July-August edition, when they spoke to Martin Rickatson following industry moves which saw its previous supplier of thirty years sign with a larger dealer group, which then opened a new depot nearby. 

Josh Clayton, who had recently returned to the business as sales manager, said to Martin at the time, "Choosing a new major franchise partner isn’t easily done, and it has meant we have had to refocus some of our target market."

He added, "Getting farmers to change their tractor make isn’t easy, especially when it isn’t to one of the bigger brands, but we’ve found demonstrations are essential."