Wildwood Machinery’s first Open Day brings out the big guns!

A host of the biggest brands in ground and turfcare were on show at Wildwood Machinery’s first Open Day, at East Horton Golf Club on 3 July, attended by groundcare professionals and buyers from across Southern England.

Wildwood Machinery Managing Director, James Bastian said: “We put on the Open Day to thank our partners, suppliers, staff and customers. It was an opportunity to showcase our growing range of state-of-the-art machinery, and I wanted to do it in an environment where everyone could relax and have a bit of fun, but also try put all of the machinery through its paces.”

“We’re very lucky that East Horton Golf Club is a core part of our family business and it proved to be the perfect venue. Lots of our guests were also able to enjoy a round of golf as part of the day – a perfect mix of business and pleasure!”

“We can all sit at our desks sending emails and making phone calls, says James, “but ultimately, we want the end user to get their hands on this equipment and see just how good it is.”

Manufacturers showcasing their wares included: Aspen, DeWalt, ECHO Robotics, Gambetti Amenity & Golf, INFINICUT, ISEKI, Jacobsen, Ransomes, Raymo, RovMo, Stogger and Wessex International.

According to James Bastian, the Wildwood Machinery Open Day was “such a huge success that we’re already looking forward to doing it again next year – but bigger and better!”

Here’s what our partners and clients who attended our groundcare industry Open Day had to say:

James Browning, Global Sales Director at Wessex International:

“I think seeing is believing with some of these machines. Getting your hands on the product, and being able to talk around it, just puts everything in perspective. So that has been the catalyst for a lot of future conversations and demonstrations and so on.”

Sam Daybell, Head of Robotics UK & Ireland, FGM Claymore & ECHO:

“Events like this are hugely important. It gives us the opportunity to discuss the new elements of what we offer, how we can implement it, and to give customers the confidence that Wildwood Machinery and ECHO Robotics are at the forefront of the newest technology. I hope this becomes an annual event because I think it’s very good for the industry and all of us exhibitors.”

John Clifford, Regional Sales Manager, ISEKI UK & Ireland:

“Holding the event at East Horton, where you’ve got grass and greens and turf meant potential customers could go out there and try a machine for themselves, whilst we could be on hand to give them some instruction on how to use it … we’ve got leads that we can follow up on, so it’s been a very successful day so far.”

Sam Green, Area Sales Manager, Turney Group:

“The beauty of East Horton as a venue is that all the demo machines could be tried out. We literally had someone on the greens-mower just earlier, cutting the whole putting area. For us it’s probably the best way of engaging with customers – we’re all human, we all love having a chat, so it’s just been fantastic.”

Alan Jack, Sales Manager, INFINICUT:

“It just shows you what level of business Wildwood Machinery is – all the staff are here, all the mechanics are here. And for me, it doesn’t matter what you’re selling, sales is all about people and James has shown the importance of that today.”

Richard Mallison, Commercial Director, Stanley Black & Decker:

“I think we can always measure these kind of events based on the quality of people we’re talking to, the quality of the users. This is opening up new opportunities for us, and based on the network that James Bastian has got, I think we’re really going to get the benefit.”