Thomas Flynn & Sons Ltd, situated at Junction 14, The Downs, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, is a family owned – customer focused business established over 36 years and specialising in four different but complimentary sectors. Marketing Manager Paddy Marsh told us more.
Since its establishment in 1980, Thomas Flynn & Sons Ltd has steadily grown to become one of the country’s leading agri- stores, offering its customers a range a different services.
Paddy Marsh has been part of the company for nearly three years now and explained the four different groups of the business, which helps to make it the number one choice for its customers.
Along with Thomas Flynn & Sons Agri Store, the company is also made up Flynn Fuels, Flynn Machinery and Flynn Feeds, which is part of the reason why it sees itself as “a one-stop shop for everything farming”.
Paddy, who is in charge of marketing the business, believes in that motto as much as anyone and pushes it when asked to sum up what they’re about.
“The business started in 1980 and today we’ve 55 employees working here,” he stated.
“I’m the Marketing Manager here and I’m also in the retail development end as well. I started two-and-a-half years ago.”
In the short space of 30 months, Paddy has become a valued member of the team at Thomas Flynn & Sons and has got to know the business inside out.
He was even able to fill us in on some of the company’s history, while also describing how it has evolved since its foundation 36 years ago.
“Thomas’s father would have started up the company and then passed it down to him. Now Thomas, his brothers Paul and John and his sister Francis are all directors here.
“Thomas himself is the Managing Director and then you’d also have Samantha Keegan, our fuels manager, and Valerie Fitzgerald over finance.”
He continued: “We like to say that we’re a one-stop shop for everything farming here and back in 1980, it was just started up as an agri outfit. Two years later it started into machinery and then in 1984 it took on Massey Ferguson. By 2001, they became main dealers for Fendt tractors as well.
“We also have a farm store with different sections with a feeds business that would be going for 30 years now. In 1996, they put in a new feed mill to manufacture their own feeds.”
As aforementioned, Flynn Machinery have been dealers for the Massey Ferguson brand for more than 30 years now, offering its tractors, combine harvesters, balers and material handling products to customers nationwide.
In 2001, they became the main dealers in Ireland for Fendt tractors and harvesting machinery and in the ensuing 15 years they haven’t looked back, having enjoyed a healthy working relationship with the AGCO Corporation brand.
Other brands which Flynn Machinery carries include Major, Farmhand, Abbey Machinery, Dooley, Rossmore among many more.
Indeed Flynn Machinery is renowned for its customer service and has a detailed knowledge of the agricultural sector for more than 35 years now. The company prides themselves on attention to detail and the need to cater for all customers’ needs.
A little over two years ago, Thomas Flynn and Sons Ltd teamed up with Dairymaster and Cookstown Dairy Services to add a full Dairymaster Service centre to their facility in The Downs.
To help mark the opening, Thomas Flynn and Sons Ltd hosted two open evening events, attracting farmers from all over the midlands to see the new Service Depo, as well as the extensive range of Massey Ferguson and Fendt tractors.
In excess of €100,000 was invested in fitting out the depot which will allow farmers to avail of a full range of dairy consumables. Also, offering advice and planning on existing parlour extensions and upgrades. It is run on a day-to-day basis by the experts from Cookstown Dairy Services.
Staying with the agri side of the business, it should be noted Flynns is also recognised as one of the leading suppliers of farm hardware, lubricants, clothing and farming related merchandise in the Leinster region.
Located on the Dublin side of Mullingar on the N4 road, it is renowned for its customer service. The experienced team of staff has an unrivalled detailed knowledge and understanding of the agricultural sector, though many years of renowned customer service.
The Flynn family business has always has always prided itself on attention to detail and the needs to cater of all customers. This meticulous way of conducting business that is appreciated by farmers and contractors, has established the company as an agricultural leader in the market for quality farm hardware that boasts the majority of leading brands in this sector.
Add to this a separate fuel service, where they are one of the leading Texaco oil distributors in the midlands, supplying Home Heating Oil, Diesel, Petrol, and Lubricants, as well as machinery and feeds and it’s little wonder why the Flynns’ customers choose them first.
“As I said, we’re the one-stop shop for all things farming – that’s how I like to see it,” said Paddy.
“We can cater for everything and we’ve invested heavily in our website so you can order what you need. The website itself has four different sections and it’s something that we’ve really drove in the last couple of years.”
So how is business at the moment? The candid Mullingar man doesn’t sugar-coat the fact that there is still a hangover from the economic downturn.
“It’s tough – we’re definitely not saying that it isn’t. But because of our diversity we do have a wide spread to offer our customers,” said Paddy.
“We have staff here that are excellent and have a great knowledge of the products that we have on offer. We have the advantage that we are coming from the industry ourselves, which makes a big difference, I think.”
Repeat business is another crucial aspect of the business, according to Paddy, who feels a customer returning for their service comes down to several different factors.
“We do reply on repeat business from our customers, it’s a huge thing for us. We have them for a reason and on top of that we’re constantly getting new ones, either through online or word of mouth,” he explained.
“I think it’s down to the quality of what we sell. We want good quality products and we are very competitive with our prices and employ locally as well.”
The company have provided an efficient and friendly service to customers across the counties of Westmeath, Meath, Longford, Roscommon, Offaly and parts of Dublin and Kildare since 1993.
All of its drivers are local men professionally trained and who are fully committed to ensuring that customers always receive a superb quality service at keenly competitive prices.
“We pride ourselves on the delivery service that we offer customers,” said Paddy.
“Last year, one of our drivers, Ciaran Quinn, won the FPS UK & Ireland Driver of the Year award and was the first driver from Ireland to do so. It’s a credit to him and to the company as well.”
Another valued member of the team is Mullingar man Eddie Byrne, who Paddy describes as being “absolutely excellent” in his role as a rep with Flynn Fuels.
As for what the future holds for the company, Paddy is sure of one thing.
“Online is the future of farming and we’ve really pushed it,” he stated
“We have a massive store with a massive range of products. We have a Dairy Master depot in our store which officially would have started up in March 2014. In May, we had big dairy event here which was very successful for us.”
Great to hear, Paddy.
Thomas Flynn & Sons Agri-Store
Address: The Downs,
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Tel: 04493 76100
Web: thomasflynnandsons.ie
Email: info@
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 7, September 2016
