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Dorset Rocket
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    Steel City gains two new MG dealerships

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    Post by patpending Thu Jul 18, 2013 11:17 am

    MG Motor UK press release, as posted in the "News from MG Motor UK" thread and quoted in http://www.ilovemg.org/?p=1292&fb_source=pubv1


    First city in Britain to get two new MG dealerships


    Sheffield is to become the first city in Britain to have two new MG dealerships.

    Eric Stead (Garages) Ltd in Ecclesfield will cover the north of Sheffield and Grant & McAllin in Rother Valley Way, Holbrook, will cover the south side of the city. They are both on target to open by the end of August, just ahead of the launch of the new MG3 supermini.

    By the end of 2013 a further six MG dealerships are expected to open at key sites across the country. Discussions are also currently taking place with several other prospective dealers in major UK towns and cities.

    MG has always been at the heart of Eric Stead (Garages), a former MG Rover outlet. The dealership on The Common, Ecclesfield has continued to have a new, unregistered MG on display – it’s currently one of the last MGB GTs to be built.

    Trevor Stead, the firm’s Managing Director, said: “MG has always been an important brand for us and it’s steeped in history and heritage. But it’s the MG of the future that really excites me – I can honestly say that winning the MG franchise was one of the proudest and most exciting days of my life.”

    The dealership, started by Trevor’s father in 1963, has a 10 bay workshop, a modern, open nine new car showroom and employs 23 people.

    Four generations of the same family are behind Grant & McAllin, now run by Lee Atack. It’s one of the oldest automotive businesses in South Yorkshire and began life in the bus and coach business.

    In 2007 Grant & McAllin moved to a £2.2 million site in Rother Valley Way, just minutes away from Junction 31 of the M1. The 1.5 acre site includes a 10 bay workshop and a 25 car showroom.



    Lee said: “MG has always been a brand that people love and respect and I share the same feelings. I can’t wait to start selling the new breed of MGs. I think that the MG6 is a highly competitive vehicle and from what I’ve seen of the MG3 it’s a brilliant package.

    “Now everyone in Sheffield will have a local dealer and I look forward to working alongside Trevor in such exciting times.”

    _____________________________________________________________

    What an interesting press release. That's two long-established businesses: Eric Stead, an ex-MGR and current Hyundai dealer:

    http://www.ericstead.co.uk/5600/about.htm

    Steel City gains two new MG dealerships Mg-rover-banner



    _____________________________________________________________



    and Grant & McAllin who sell used cars including recent Chevrolets and (say) five-year-old models from premium brands:


    http://www.grantmcallin.co.uk/


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    Post by Dorset Rocket Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:25 pm

    At last some good news on the dealer front with these first new appointments so far this year. The quote that 'By the end of 2013 a further six MG dealerships are expected' is a little disappointing given that they only had 8 new appointments in 2012 and these have been more than offset by those who have given up in the last 12 months. A long way to go to Guy Jones' target of 75 dealers by the end of 2014, but it's a start..
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    Post by patpending Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:49 pm

    Dorset Rocket wrote:At last some good news on the dealer front with these first new appointments so far this year. The quote that 'By the end of 2013 a further six MG dealerships are expected' is a little disappointing given that they only had 8 new appointments in 2012 and these have been more than offset by those who have given up in the last 12 months. A long way to go to Guy Jones' target of 75 dealers by the end of 2014, but it's a start..
    yes, and William Wang was forecasting higher numbers [50 main dealers + 100 subdealers] for end 2012 which didn't materialise either...

    http://www.mguk.org/t957-july-2012-william-wang-planning-150-outlets
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    Post by littlechicken Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:49 am

    It could be that the extra 6 MG dealers includes a large one thatis currently having a fair bit of success with the used MG6's ?
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    Post by Morris Motors Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:04 am

    They MUST get one open in Manchester. All the big cities in fact. Nobody here is going to go to Wigan or Bolton for a new car!

    It's very odd though - you'd think they would have *started* with all the major cities. Very strange way to run things...
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    Post by Windy Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:18 am

    I guess having two in one city may help both of them as more MG3 will be seen around the city?

    (Can a decent dealer sell lots of MG3 even though there are very few dealers, or do you need lots of dealers before a decent dealer can sell lots?)
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    Post by Morris Motors Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:49 am

    I've always thought that a decent dealer would have enough contacts and local knowledge to sell anything. They're supposed to be sales people. 22 MG6s in June - what are they playing at? Most of them will be Longbridge Sales Centre cars or demo units of the 3 and 6.

    I don't blame MG, I blame the dealers.

    My history with MG Rover dealers was appalling - they were lazy, shoddy and couldn't be bothered. They expected the business to fall in their laps and they'd sit there and process the order forms. Well they obviously got a bit of a shock with the new TF and the 6; they were required to work HARD to sell them. In fairness the odds *were* stacked against them, but they are salesmen so it should be what they do. I think this is why we see MG dealers fold - they don't actually want to SELL, they want MG to push customers through their doors and MG don't have the resources to do that.

    The MG3 is an easier car to sell, especially if the price is right; it's a second car, a fun car and something customers may be more inclined to 'take a gamble' on as it might be half the price of a 6. The 6 is a family hatch/saloon and is an important segment for them to be in, but it's not core to the range. It isn't particularly sporty and nor is it particularly interesting to look at. Nor is it much 'FUN' either!

    The MG3 is a car that dealers will be happier to buy from MG to have sat on the forecourt - I would imagine most dealers would take 3 or 4 at least, and have no trouble shifting them. I think enough will be on the road soon enough to show quite quickly which are the decent dealers.
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    Post by patpending Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:53 am

    I think MG3 is the sort of car that can drive good sales and is the egg that may attract the dealer chicken. I must say how surprised I was to see that in Germany the Insignia and Mondeo are outside the Top 40!

    but only another six before the end of the year, even I will think twice before having to drive for at least an hour to get warranty work done...
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    Post by docjunior2008 Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:23 pm

    Newcastle USED to have one, but they moved it, then closed it.  Don't know why...!!!
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    Post by Dorset Rocket Fri Jul 26, 2013 12:57 pm

    Given that MG seem to be attracting, or perhaps returning to, some well established MG specialists and former dealers such as Brown and Gammons and now Eric Stead recently and clearly need more presence in the south and west, I was interested to see the half page ad from former MGR dealer SMG Rover of Bristol in the MGE mag this month. They have a good selection of newer MGs including two 2008 TF's and what must be one of the last ZT's still with delivery miles only. Perhaps they are warming up to replace their defunct Daihatsu and Proton (have they given up in the UK now or has the importer just folded?) dealerships and are planning a return to the MG fold. It would be good to see them back again...

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