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Mancunian recipe is light and versatile
Page 72
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Chapman Commercials focuses its attention on the lighter end of the market — and sees a dealers' market coming...
While it's the high-power tractors that take the limelight.most dealers make their bread and butter at the lighter end of the market.'The size of Manchester and the location of its surrounding towns and cities make this an ideal area for a brisk trade in 73-tonners for own-account and multi-drop operators.
Neil Chapman. MD of Chapman Corn mercials based at Trafford Park,concentrates his business on the versatile lighter end of the used vehicle market.
He's been involved in the transport industry for the past 38 years, starting as a mechanic for Lex Tillotson in Burnley before moving into sales. He started his own dealership in 1986 ir Oldham and has relocated twice since then a the business grew, making the move to Trafford Park a year ago.
However, the effects of the war in Iraq slowed business down last summer and Chapman believes a chan of tack by the manufactur em will produce a shortag of late-year, good quality commercial vehicles.
Hard to get
As a result he predicts thu operators will be paying the same price but for older stock:"Manufactui em are not doing crazy buy-back deals any more and I think it will help IN industry. It needs realign. ment. It will be harder to get good stock and this w create a dealers' market with good margins."
The forecourt can hold up to 120 vehicles at present there are 90 CVs in stock. Half of the 30-35 sales each month are 7.5-tonners but the range runs from vans to 18-tormers with a few tractors.
Chapman gets most of his stock from first. owners and the rental fleets and also takes it part-exchange stock through other dealerships. Most of the tractors he handles are Volvos and Scanias.
Chapman Commercials offer warranties: body work can be handled on site but repair and servicing are contracted out. He emplo) six sales and admin staff and a mechanic. •