Growing business for new Landini tractor retail dealer
10/10/06

Just nine months after taking on its first tractor sales franchise, farm machinery retailer G & S J Johnson has supplied eight new tractors worth more than a quarter of a million pounds at retail prices.

Les Bailey, sales manager at Cheadle-based farm machinery retailer G & S J Johnson with Landini Powerfarm and Mythos tractors destined for farms in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

According to sales manager Les Bailey, agreeing to represent Landini throughout Staffordshire and Derbyshire could not have been a better decision.

“We’re expanding by developing the new farm machinery sales side of the business and considered one or two other tractor franchises,” he explains. “But we decided to go with Landini, partly because of the product range, which is well-suited to the area, but also because of the firm’s forthright attitude to business and after-sales support.”

Delivering eight tractors in nine months from a standing start in January is clear evidence of the appeal of Landini tractors, says managing director Gary Johnson, who owns and runs the operation, based at Cheadle, Staffs, with his wife Susan.

“People who like the Perkins engine tend also to like the Landini tractor because they are both known for reliable performance,” he says. “And in terms of the suitability of these tractors to the mainly livestock and mixed farms we supply, they’re as good as anything on the market.”

Although the 60-100hp Powerfarm, with its synchro- and power-shuttle transmission choice, is Landini’s best-seller in Britain, it is the higher performance Vision and Legend models that have caught the eye of Johnson’s first new tractor customers.

“The Vision comes in three sizes from 80-100hp, has a power-shuttle gearbox with two-speed powershift and is a very neat and compact package that’s ideal for both yard and field work,” says Les Bailey. “We’ve supplied four so far – a 95 at 92hp and three of the 99hp 105 models – all fitted with Landini’s new TurboLift hydraulic loader.”

The four six-cylinder engined Legend tractors supplied by Johnsons – two DT135s of 134hp, a DT145 at 146hp and 184hp Legend DT185 – will be used for heavier-duty field work in the hands of farmers and contractors.

Potential buyers will be able to try out the 134hp version of this tractor in its recently updated form because Johnsons have recently purchased a demonstrator. The Landpower, as this tractor is now called, has been given a number of improvements, including engines with electronic fuel injection, which on two models provides extra power when operating pto-driven equipment.

In addition to new tractor sales, the Johnson dealership is also getting more service work from existing Landini users for the new workshop building erected last year and which provides a more comfortable and more efficient environment for the company’s service technicians and staff manning the spares department.

“Back-up service is our number one priority – it’s what our reputation is built on,” says Les Bailey. “As long as we’re not asked to come out for something trivial, we’re happy to provide parts and our service expertise 365 days of the year to keep tractors and equipment in good working order.”

A new service van in Landini livery but also proclaiming the new implement franchises that the firm has taken on is another sign of G & S J Johnson’s commitment to its growing farm machinery operation.

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