1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194 
A river of trucks
Page 70
Page 71
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Last year saw strong sales performances at the auctions. CM visits Manheim Auctions following its first sale of the year at Leeds.
Leeds has benefited from substantial growth in recent years. Businesses have relocated from the south to its revamped city centre giving it the cosmopolitan ambience of a mainland European metropolis rather than the cold concrete jungle it resembled pre-1995.
In tandem with this regeneration is the rising success of Manheim Auctions situated south-east of the city next to Rothwell.And 2004 could prove to be a vintage year for all the industry's auction houses.Throughout the previous 12 months, year-on-year performances have improved, sales and turnover reaching and breaching targets. conversion rates higher than ever, and more punters vying competitively for the best stock.
There are many reasons for this prosperity The auction houses have worked, and continue to work, hard to develop their customer bases, casting their nets wider to get better stock and fill the wants of an ever more demanding marketplace. When CM calls in at Manheim Auctions it is the day after its first sale of 2005.The site is busy as buyers collect trucks from the previous day and the auction house prepares for its upcoming van sale.
Relaxed and upbeat
National HGV and plant manager Jeremy Martell chats quietly on the mobile, while offering a handshake. He looks relaxed and upbeat, and is confident about 2005 but won't be drawn on predictions for fear of complacency."Ws been a good year," he smiles.
The truck side of the business increased 36% during 2004 from sales with flagship sites Colchester and Leeds leading the way."The increase has come from volume across the board rather than growth in one particular area," he says,citing plenty of groundwork in 2003 to strengthen the company's operation and improve customer satisfaction.
Export has been an important factor as well, which Martell estimates has increased 15% as Russian and Ukrainian markets flourish. Fridge trailers, MAN and Scania tractors, plus a mix of older stock form the bread and butter trade, while the domestic market prospers in utility and municipal vehicles.
Conversion rate
It's still big cabs and big engines that draw the eyes and top price bidding, but a mixture of fresh faces and old friends are helping to improve the conversion rate.The first sale of the year at Leeds saw 72% of stock sold, producing £890,000 turnover for the day.
There was a solid mix up for grabs, ranging from ex-Co-op 18-tonne Scania fridge trucks to Scania, MAN and ERF tractors_Two 2003 Iveco Stralis tractors also went under the harnmer,both snatch backs. Stuns should start appearing later in the year and the MercedesBenzAxor, both eagerly awaited by Martell.
The flow of stock is so strong Martell intends to provide, sales on a fortnightly basis rather than a three-weekly cycle.At the moment Manheim is holding stock back rather than push it through too quickly.
Martell won't be drawn too much on the subject orally other launches, but promises the CV Show should offer more tools for customers to get the best from the auction houses.
C'M will publish more. details when the zhange comes. For further information log on to the website (wwwmanheimeurope.com) and go to Manheim Auctions. •