19/08/08
A former employee of SCATS, the rural trading co-operative that for many years was the Sussex distributor for McCormick-International tractors, is bringing the historic marque back to the county.
John Weetman is clearly dedicated to McCormick now that he has signed to represent the major tractor maker in West Sussex.
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“Representing the major tractor manufacturer McCormick will give my farm machinery business a real shot in the arm,” says John Weetman. “And it’s come about just as we’re thinking how to celebrate thirty years in business.”
John Weetman Farm Machinery will represent McCormick in West Sussex, in an area stretching from Chichester to Brighton and north into Surrey.
In recent years, John’s firm has focused on machinery repairs and servicing, fabrication work and supplying compact tractors. But with the company’s appointment as a dealer for the McCormick tractor range, he is taking on bigger premises and additional staff.
“It’s an exciting opportunity but also a scary one,” John admits. “Signing up to represent one of the country’s major tractor suppliers is a big step and needs a big commitment but I decided it’s too good an opportunity to miss.”
Fate appears to have had a hand in his decision to go with McCormick because shortly after he first considered the option, John’s landlord offered him the tenancy of a large building adjoining the one he already occupies at Five Oaks Saw Mill.
Then, when he mentioned the possibility of taking on the franchise to a salesman with many years’ experience of the tractors, he said he’d jump at the chance to work with John.
“It seems I was destined to sign up for McCormick because everything was falling into place,” he says. “I had the offer of bigger premises where I’ll set up a sales office and parts store, and then the chance to take on an enthusiastic and experienced salesman who knows the tractors inside out.”
Mick Williams joins John Weetman Farm Machinery having sold McCormick products with a previous employer.
“It’ll be great to get back to the McCormick range, especially to the ‘Doncaster’ models like the CX and MTX that I know so well,” he says. “But it’ll also be interesting to get to know the new tractors introduced in recent years – such as the CT and GM compacts, the C-Max utility models and the high-performance XTX designed for serious arable and grassland work.”
Fellow salesman Chris Adams is equally enthusiastic about having the chance to tell local farmers, contractors and other rural businesses about the McCormick range once more; he also sold the tractors in a previous job. Although semi-retired, the appointment has given him renewed enthusiasm and he plans to continue working with John Weetman for the foreseeable future.
“Chris and Mick have a great deal of experience between them, not only of McCormick tractors and their predecessors but also of farm machinery in general,” says John. “I couldn’t wish for better support on the sales side, especially since my main skills are in service, maintenance and repairs.”
As a long-serving workshop technician with the SCATS organisation, which distributed the McCormick-International, International Harvester and Case forerunners to today’s McCormick range, John certainly has plenty of experience in that field.
“I started with tractors like the International B250 and left to start my own business 29 years ago,” says John. “Now, with the changes I’m making to sell new tractors once more, and support new and existing McCormick users in the area, it’s like starting over again!”
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