SUCCESSFUL DOE SHOW

Martin Rickatson, Service Dealer's agricultural machinery editor writes . . .

This week’s Doe Show, the annual three-day event held at eastern England farm, turf and construction machinery dealer Ernest Doe’s Essex HQ, drew strong crowds and saw some significant new and used sales made, while marking the first outing for a number of new franchises - and a set of new staff appointments.

After 15 years with the dealer business’s primary supplier, CNH, the show was the first event dealer-side for Ernest Doe’s new division head of agricultural and construction sales, Mark Crosby. He joined the business in the autumn as part of a phased succession to take over from Graham Parker, sales director since 2004. Other staff movements include the appointment of a new Framlingham branch manager, Simon Gardner, who joins from Haynes Agricultural, and the extension of Ulting area sales manager Derek Peck’s remit to also oversee Ernest Doe’s viticulture equipment sales.

Meanwhile, adding to recent franchise announcements regarding Ernest Doe’s appointment as a dealer for AVR potato machinery, and for Merlo’s agricultural telehandler range - in addition to its initial deal to sell and support the Italian firm’s construction machines - a further appointment was revealed at the show. Replacing SIP, Ernest Doe now holds the Pöttinger franchise for the Austrian manufacturer’s grassland machinery - the deal does not include Pöttinger’s arable equipment - across the Doe branch network. The firm, which is currently supporting Case Construction equipment users with parts and service following the failure of former dealer Warwick Ward, is also working on a deal for a new excavator partner, following the dissolution of its partnership with Hyundai.

More on the show and company developments will appear in an upcoming issue of Service Dealer magazine.