With two tractors retailed within weeks of signing up to a new franchise, the sales, service and management team at Surrey farm machinery dealership A F Wiltshire LLP reckon they must be on to a good thing.
The business, which was formed by Albert Wiltshire 38 years ago and is now run jointly with his daughter Laura Brown, represents Landini in Hampshire and Surrey alongside existing dealer P J Machinery at Ashurst near Steyning, West Sussex.
"Having given up our previous franchise because we felt it didn't offer what our customers want, our association with Landini has so far been a breath of fresh air," says Laura. "We're very impressed with the positive attitude of the people concerned and the fact that they listen to us – which surely makes sense when we know what's in demand in this area."
Albert Wiltshire is still very much part of the scene at The Agricultural Centre, Dunsfold near Godalming where the business has its base. He says the Landini range is an underrated line-up of tractors.
"We didn't know much about them ourselves until Adrian Winnett, the UK sales manager, approached us and set out his stall," he admits. "He then agreed to ship two tractors down here so that we could get to know them better and within a week one of our regular customers bought one!"
Since then, a second Landini Powerfarm tractor has been ordered and with a start like that it is hardly surprising that Laura and her colleagues feel quietly confident about their future with the Italian tractor range.
"The Powerfarm is ideal for someone needing a 60hp to 100hp workhorse tractor with the necessary equipment but no fancy frills," she says. "This sort of down-to-earth specification is also available with the better equipped Vision and six-cylinder Landpower tractors – but they are also available with semi-powershift, power shuttle, electronic linkage and similar features if that's what buyers want."
With regular customers ranging from smallholdings and private landowners to big estates and arable, stock and fruit farms, the range of tractor models and specification levels on offer from Landini makes an attractive package.
"The prospects are looking good, we're quite optimistic," says Laura. "We're here to supply the right products for our customers and then look after them with our after-sales services."
That customer-orientated back-up includes running three vans driven by Norman Collins, Ian Simpkin and Darren Brown to deliver spares, consumables, hand tools and clothing to farms, golf courses and other rural businesses.
Mark Edgington oversees workshop operations and the experienced service technicians Alan Edwards, Brett de Freitas, Ben Jimmison and Carl Sawkins.
In the sales office, Tim Merritt and David Renmant handle customer enquiries for new and used machine purchases, while Sarah Foster is accounts administrator.
With founding partners Albert and Hazel Wiltshire having pretty much handed over the of day to day management reins to their daughter, Laura is busy juggling the roles of business manager and new mum – to six months old Ella.
"Training and working as a nurse didn't exactly prepare me for the job of running a machinery retailing business," she laughs. "But I've learnt a lot and enjoy the fresh challenges it brings."
