Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 3 |
|||||
|
Family garages prove there’ s still the need for local independent motor dealers.
One such business not only survived but grew in the face of adversity. During sweeping changes and a double dip recession witnessing many retailers either see their doors close or becoming swallowed up by larger PLCs, Ramsey’ s in Newton Aycliffe adapted to a new way of doing business.
The family-run garage was set up in 1993 by Jeff Ramsey, Ian’ s brother and Gillian’ s husband who sadly passed away six years ago.
Directors Ian and Gillian are still at the helm along with service manager and Gillian’ s son, Elliott.
“ Surviving 20 years as a small non-franchise garage is some achievement, considering the challenges we’ ve faced,” says Ian.
“ The motor industry was going through turmoil with gray imports flooding the market, the result of an official report in the late 1990s revealing prices for identical new car models were higher in the UK than in other European countries.
“ The government came to the aid of main dealers and manufacturers with strategies to encourage new car sales, all of which did nothing to help the smaller dealer.
“ One such incentive was the Scrappage Scheme, ran from 2009 to March 2010 offering customers the chance to trade in an old car registered before February 29, 2000, to receive a grant from the taxpayer to buy a new car, while the manufacturers reduced the cost by another £ 1,000.
“ All good news for franchise dealers, but for many non-franchise dealers, the market was becoming even more squeezed.”
The company went full circle, recognising to survive they would need to make their own sweeping changes to safeguard their future.
|
Left to right: Ian, Gillian and Elliott Ramsey with the sales and material team
Looking back, both Ian and Gillian acknowledge changes made proved the difference, preventing them from going the same way as so many other dealers.
“ We could see how things were changing, so we set up a series of objectives as part of a plan to steer us through uncertain times,” added Ian.
“ We invested in new equipment and additional staff with new VAG factory-trained technicians. This meant we could now compete with main dealers and, more importantly, offer discounted prices for Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and SEAT servicing.
“ The investment in state-of-the-art Bosch diagnostic equipment( determining fault codes) has resulted in new jobs for local people.”
Other changes include a loyalty scheme for companies and employees on Aycliffe Business Park, offering a collection and delivery service to minimise disruption to their working day.
Ramsey’ s i also an accredited Fleet Assist agent, which means companies such as Pendragon, Hitachi, Arval and Alphabet all now recommend Ramsey’ s for service and repair.
Gillian adds:“ Instead of selling up, we decided to remain faithful to our customers and the surrounding areas.
“ We still hold up the same principles we had when starting out 20 years ago. Jeff was passionate about customer care and relationships. He believed in looking after the small details as well as the large, and when customers became friends you know you must be doing something right.”
Ramsey’ s loyal customer base extends far and wide, with many of the same customers returning, as parents and even grandparents.
“ The family values are what makes all the difference,” says Ian.
“ With so many local shops and stores now being replaced by high street chains, people value the real‘ local’ retailer more than ever before.
“ Here’ s to another 20 years. We still have much to do, but one thing we’ ve learnt over the years is to never stand still.”
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Ramsey’ s is holding a special open weekend on May 11-12 and invite customers old and new to attend. It promises to be an exciting event celebrating a huge achievement.
Ramsey’ s Garage, St Cuthbert’ s Way, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, DL5 6DX. Tel 01325 300200 www. ramseys. co. uk
|
Hi and welcome to the May-June issue of Aycliffe Today Business.
It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword for what I think is a wonderful publication for Aycliffe Business Park.
HPM Group has been in Newton Aycliffe for 13 years now. We relocated from what I’ d call Rabbit Warren premises in Bishop Auckland to our state-of-the-art facility at Park 2000, near Ruff n Tumble.
So we’ ve seen how the park has evolved over recent years, and I can safely say these are the most exciting times I’ ve known for us since we’ ve been here.
Everyone is talking about Hitachi, of course, and that certainly has grabbed a lot of headlines.
But I also think it has forced our hand a little. It has made a lot of people realise we have to get our house in order, so when Hitachi does arrive – and everything that promises to come with it – we’ re not only equipped to accommodate it, but we also look the part.
I’ ve attended a couple of the Aycliffe Business Park meetings and I admire greatly the work they’ re doing in trying to clean the place up and pull everyone together.
WELCOME |
FOREWORD By Richard Mortimer |
I think everyone in businesses can be guilty, at times, of concentrating too much on your own work and forgetting those around you.
I echo a lot of people’ s opinions that, despite an increasingly difficult climate out there, the signs are hugely promising here in Aycliffe.
Real estate firm M7, the main feature in this edition, certainly seem to have spotted an opportunity buy buying around a quarter of the premises on the Park for £ 11m, with a view to spending up to £ 1m on improvements.
I’ m also told enquiries for unoccupied properties on the park are steadily increasing and the actual occupancy levels are gradually picking up already, so there are lots of good news stories to talk about right now.
As usual, there are lots of other news and features included in this issue, from a broad range of sectors, which make it another cracking read.
I hope you enjoy it.
Richard Mortimer Managing Director, HPM Group
|
Included in the MAY-JUNE 2013 issue of Aycliffe Today Business …
/ 03 WELCOME
HPM Group MD Richard Mortimer pens our special guest foreword for this issue …
/ 04 NEWS
Aycliffe companies embrace new businesses initiative
Tekmar accredited
Plus, an exclusive guest column from Alan Foster, Design365
/ 05 NEWS
MP impressed by Ebac
Tallent wins award Plus, Martin Walker talks about‘ PR’
/ 07 NEWS
‘ We’ re entering critical era’ warns driver training company
/ 09 NEWS
New recruits have grand designs for HPM
Wendy’ s helping hand for SMEs
CONTENTS
/ 10 LAND LORD
Real estate boss Matthew Cheyne tells Martin Walker about an £ 11m acquisition of Aycliffe Business Park land in an EXCLUSIVE interview...
/ 13 NEWS
Echo Graphics and Au Fait – the‘ Yin and Yang’ of marketing!
/ 15 COMPANY FOCUS
We talk to Aycliffe-based law firm Hewitts Solicitors
/ 17 NEWS
A new dawn at Itec
|
|
AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS
Aycliffe Today Business is Newton Aycliffe’ s first and ONLY specific Business-to-Business magazine, distributed across Aycliffe Business Park.
We provide companies with a unique platform to tell everyone about their services in what is a classy, business-like magazine as well as a handy reference and marketing tool.
Our next issue will be out in July, and we’ re taking orders for advertising now, so get in touch. We’ re also keen on carrying good editorial content, as well as advertisements.
Our trained journalists can write your copy, while our professional designers can help to put your ads together, so we can help you every step of the way.
Aycliffe Today Business … a quality magazine for a quality Business Park.
Produced by: Mantis Media, www. mantis-media. com Designed by: NEON, www. youareneon. co. uk Printed and distributed by: HPM Group, www. hpm. uk. com
Editor: Martin Walker | Tel: 01325 728024 | Mobile: 07826 525907 For editorial & advertising, email: martin @ aycliffetoday. co. uk Contributors to this issue: Richard Mortimer, Alan Foster, Martin Walker. Photography: Martin Walker, Hewitts Solicitors, Recognition PR.
|
Big Energy reduce costs
/ 18-19 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
A useful guide to who’ s who on Aycliffe Business Park …
|
||||
Follow us on Twitter @ aycliffetoday |