Exciting Times Ahead for John Bownes Ltd in 2017!
www. johnbownes . co.uk
A BRIEF HISTORY OF JOHN BOWNES John Bownes Limited is a family run business dealing in farm tractors and machinery dedicated to providing a good quality service to all our customers. We have a plan for continued growth and development by supplying and servicing quality products. We also maintain a friendly, fair, and creative work environment, which respects diversity, new ideas and hard work. The ‘Bownes’ family have been in business for over 100 years. We started off with shops in the high street in our local town of Winsford. As the next generation took over the business, changes were made to suit the customers’ needs and allow the company to expand into different areas. The agricultural part of the business started life under the name of E H Bownes & Son which was ‘Ted’ Bownes and his son J E Bownes. In later years other members of the family joined the business and in 1979 upon the death of Ted Bownes the company became limited and changed its trading name to John Bownes Ltd. The company was then owned by 3 shareholders, J E Bownes, Mrs E M Bownes and J C Bownes. In later years Mrs E M Bownes transfered her shares and passed them to her grandson J D Bownes. The business has seen many changes, and in the early years we dealt in small agricultural sundry items, with a few farm machines and second-hand tractors. The business then gained various new machinery franchises and a new IMT tractor franchise. The business maintained the IMT tractor franchise for a number of years but it didn’t last. We then became Roadless Tractor dealers but only for a short while as the Roadless business dissolved shortly after we became agents. After a gap of a number of years we were appointed Renault
John C Bownes recently commented on the following: 2016 Business And Trading Results Although 2016 has been a difficult year with generally poor returns for our farming customers, I am pleased to report a significant increase in our turn-over. It is difficult to ascertain why exactly (Brexit?), but we remain optimistic for the future with both milk and grain prices promising to be better this year. Farmers do still appear to be investing in bigger and better machinery with the running and service costs now being included into the finance calculations. JCB Agriculture - New Appointment in 2017 We are extremely pleased and excited to have been appointed as JCB Agricultural dealers from 1st January 2017. This will fit in very well with our current range of franchises and will be a major factor of the company’s overall expansion plans. We currently have new and demonstration machines in stock or on order with a high level of enquiries, so please contact us sooner rather than later - we are very keen to secure orders! Investment Plans With the business developing we will be investing in all aspects of the business. This will include computers and telephones, commercial vehicles and vans, parts and machinery stock, plus a general “re-vamping” of the premises. Most important will be the appointment of extra service and parts staff coupled with the all important training requirements, which is absolutely essential for our ongoing commitment for customer care. We have also recently been joined by Gary Bailey in our sales department, who is well known and respected throughout the industry, having gained several years of experience with a leading grass and forage equipment supplier - Krone UK. Parts and Service Departments
Tractor dealers in 1988 which was developed into an important part of the business. Unfortunately, Renault were then purchased by Claas and we subsequently lost the dealership. Later in 2005 we were appointed with the Valtra Tractor franchise and have now become the UK’s leading Valtra dealer. Agco UK also appointed us as a sub dealer for Fendt tractors in 2012. In 2016 we started selling the New Solis compact tractor range combined with additional compact machinery. This forms part of our new small holders section which we will be developing in the future with other leading suppliers. On 1st January 2017 we will be officially appointed as a JCB Agri- dealer. This is a key appointment for the company and we will be investing significantly with additional staff, machinery stock, parts and vehicles. Staff will be trained as in accordance with JCB requirements and we aim to be the county’s number one supplier of Telehandlers. The business name John Bownes Ltd is a well-recognised name within the agricultural market. We have a good reputation within the community for buying second-hand tractors, selling new and used tractors and machinery and new tractors supported by a good back up from our parts and service departments. We currently have 24 staff in the company, nearly half of whom are family members all working in different areas of the business. Further information on the history of John Bownes is available from our company secretary, Mrs Sue Langley.
Our aim is to give an even better customer service than at present with some additional focus on the “after sales“ part of the business. We will be offering some extended warranties and fixed service costs for new tractors or telehandlers, so the customer will know what their fixed running costs are likely to be. This will also increase the part exchange value of the tractor with a comprehensive service record enhancing the resale price.
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