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MV sets up a one-stop shop
Page 70
Page 71
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MV Commercial has stepped up its battle with used dealerships by opening a service,
repair and preparation centre. Kevin Swallow went to Livingston to check out its
version of the one-stop shop.
Tom O'Rourke, MD of MV Commercial. readily admits that he should have set up his own body, parts and vehicle preparation site years ago.
The advantages of taking control of this aspect of the rental and leasing company's Scottish arm became apparent as soon as the doors opened."We have gone from selling i8 a month to 30— that's a 40% increase in business," O'Rourke reports."lt's been a revelation. We should have done it three years ago: it's infinitely quicker.
"Because we're on the up we have 70"/. fresh customers through the door. Once they are in we tend not to lose them. It was a hopeless situation... tiniescale, work ethic, waiting on companies to do work, being told when it would be done.We IMV Commercial] need to be on top of it.
Bringing the repair and servicing of it's defleet hire stock in house has given the company more control of its growth.And as well as improving sales figures the move has :ut costs and delays.'"The benefits are, we've io drivers' costs,O'Rourke explains,"That is he siOle biggest thing,plus we know what work needs doing and can complete the -epairs quickly.
"This is helping us realise the potential of he company," he adds."We're trying to :ompete with a [used vehicle] dealer.We can )ffer the customer the complete package.We :an hire them one, we can sell them one, and we can prep them one."
The investment is significant £750,000 has Yen spent on the ex-Foden dealership in ,,ivingston previously owned by Wm krmstrong of Longtown. But the location is deal being less than a mile from MV 2om inercial's head office and right next door o an LGV test centre.
Tilt. four-bay centre includes a £70,000 paint wen. 'The spray oven can complete a job in 40 ninutes from spraying the truck to being :ompletely dry," says O'Rourke.
It can currently handle six vehicles a week m one-shift/six-day week, hut within three nonths he plans to go 24/7 with a two-shift settp, and he doesn't expect to have too many lroblems finding the right staff:"Scotland is oing through industrial genocide at the noment.We are hoping to get good people root declining industries."The first phase of he operation is flourishing: in time it will be xpanded into a 10-hay workshop,doubling he current eight-strong workforce.And the me-stop-shop philosophy won't stop there/Rourke aims to roll out th is concept to lolton and Luton so the entire 500-strong ental fleet will he looked after directly by MV Tommercia I's personnel.
"We would like to augment this centre at lolton and Luton for its fleet there," )'Rourke concludes. "This site is for Scottish iork; it'll he a couple of years before that will appen." •