WHAT GRABBED DEALER ATTENTION IN '23?

The Service Dealer Weekly Update landed in Inboxes across the industry throughout 2023 every Friday at noon (or as close as possible!).

As ever, we charted all the news positive and not-so-positive, surprising, controversial and intriguing - always looking to reflect the voices of our loyal, dealer readers.

As has become traditional in our first edition back following the Christmas and New Year break, we take a look back at what were the ten stories that were read the most by our readers during the previous 12 months. This year for the first time, six of the ten stories relate to just two dealerships!

Without further ado, in ascending order, here's what you read the most in 2023:

 
10.
PERSONAL THREATS & ONLINE ATTACKS - 21st July 2023

Following F.R Jones entering administration, Justin Jones, ex-managing director issued a statement to Service Dealer saying it had been the hardest time of his life and that he'd also experienced personal threats and online attacks.

9.
HENTON & CHATTELL CONFIRM ANOTHER NEW PARTNER - 28th July 2023

Yamaha partnered with Henton & Chattell to extend its dealer network with the appointment providing customer service in the East Midlands region for ATV, side-by-side and golf car customers.

8.
HONDA RESPOND TO DEALER DISSATISFACTION - 30th October 2023

With Honda issuing a short statement to Service Dealer following contact by a dealer reader who voiced dissatisfaction over payment of warranty claims, many dealers joined in the discussion, airing their own views.

7.
HENTON & CHATTELL TO TAKE ON ANOTHER MAJOR FRANCHISE - 6th October 2023

Dealers Henton & Chattell announced their appointment as a Baroness dealer in the East Midlands region.

6.
ARIENSCO TO CEASE UK PRODUCTION - 30th October 2023

AriensCo informed their dealer network that all UK production at the Great Haseley factory in Oxfordshire would be ending, with the manufacturer deciding to transform its UK business operation from a production facility to a sales and service model with domestic distribution.

5.
STIHL TO ACQUIRE MANUFACTURER - 6 January 2023

The STIHL Group announced they were planning to acquire Cosmos Manufacturing Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of mufflers.

4.
HENTON & CHATTELL TO PART WITH JOHN DEERE - 13th January 2023

Nottingham-based turf and ground care machinery distributor, Henton & Chattell, announced they were to stop selling John Deere machinery in Spring 2023, following successfully representing the manufacturer for two decades in the Midlands.

3.
TRAGIC ON-SITE DEATH OF DEALERSHIP'S TECHNICIAN - 3rd November 2023

Following Northallerton-based dealership Brian Robinson Machinery Ltd reporting the death of one its service technicians in a tragic, on-farm accident, the dealership established a Just Giving page to help offer some financial support to Martin Coates' young family.

2.
LESSONS MUST BE LEARNED AFTER DEMISE OF F.R JONES - 14th July 2023

Editor, Steve Gibbs, wrote an editorial saying there must be significant questions raised over how one of the highest profile outdoor powered machinery dealerships in the UK was controlled, which led to it failing so spectacularly, mid-season.

1.
F.R JONES IN ADMINISTRATION - 14th July 2023

F.R Jones And Son Limited, one of the most well known names in the UK dealer sector, ceased trading and entered administration.The Swanley, Kent based dealership that specialised in gardening and arboricultural products, had been established since 1963 and was one of the largest dealerships in the UK.