By embracing online sales John Conaty Ltd has consolidated its status as Ireland’s premier supplier of replacement parts for tractors and other agricultural machinery as well as tapping into worldwide markets. As the company approaches its 40th anniversary, we touched base with its director and founder to find out more.
Traditionally, John Conaty Ltd generated a large percentage of their custom through repeat business and positive word of mouth. With an outstanding reputation for sourcing and supplying replacement parts for tractors and agricultural machinery, they attracted customers from every nook and cranny of the island. They still do.
But a new facet of the business has grown significantly in recent years. As well as potentially opening up new markets and more convenient ways of connecting with national and global marketplaces, the IT revolution presented new challenges. The business had to be restructured, streamlined, reinvented. This would require investment and vision. Director John Conaty and his team opted to take the challenge on with both hands and the result has been highly impressive, with their business moving forward in leaps and bounds as the internet sales division took on a life of its own.
Today, the popular website – www.johnconaty.com – features an ever-expanding online catalogue, including an extensive range of genuine OEM and third-party products, with all items numbered and photographed to optimise user-friendliness. John Conaty Ltd have established a reputation for consistently delivering high quality products at the most competitive prices in the industry and their excellent website makes it easy for customers to find and purchase parts online in a matter of minutes.
“We have worked extremely hard on developing our online sales over the past 18 months and the results have been very encouraging,” says Stephen Foley, who heads up the web sales department. “We now ship worldwide, to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, United Arab Emirates etc. and our UK business has increased dramatically through online sales.
“We have a dedicated online sales team working around the clock to get orders out as soon as possible because we understand that machinery owners want their parts immediately. Once an order is received by 2pm, it will be shipped that same day. Every other aspect of the business is still as it was a couple of years ago, but the development of our online sales has been a significant new departure.
“It’s an ongoing process and we are still uploading between 100 and 200 new items per week as well constantly updating the range. So the range of items available is constantly being updated as well as increased…
“We’re very happy with how we are progressing as a business, not just with regards to online sales but in general. Our focus hasn’t changed at all – we are still here to provide the best service we can at the best possible price. That’s what we have always done and that’s what we will continue to do.”
While some companies are reluctant to move with the times or take a gamble, the directors of John Conaty Ltd showed no hesitation when the dynamics of the market started to change: “Credit has to go to John for realising that web sales were the way forward and for having the foresight and courage to invest in it,” notes Stephen. “It has helped us to develop our business and take it to the next level by making our products available to everybody.
“The online business has broadened our customer base substantially and machinery owners can now log on any time of the day or night to find and order their parts 24/7. For Irish customers, the parts will be with them inside an absolute maximum of 48 hours and their downtime is reduced greatly. The website also shows stock levels and, if an item is out of stock, out support team can advise them instantly with regards to future availability. We are available to handle customer enquiries at all times and we do everything to make sure they are looked after and have all their queries answered.”
Conveniently located on the outskirts of Kells, County Meath, John Conaty Ltd is a long-established family business which was established in 1980 and has developed into one of the premier suppliers and distributors of agricultural replacement parts in Ireland. Offering an extensive range of spare parts for all makes including Massey Ferguson, Case IHC, Ford, John Deere, Fiat, Zetor, JCB, Hitachi, etc. John Conaty is the first port of call for anyone who needs to source a replacement part for their agricultural machinery.
All parts are reasonably priced and quickly dispatched, making for a smooth and seamless purchasing experience. Since its inception, the company has been 100% customer-orientated, striving at all times to provide customers with products – and a service – that they can depend upon. An extensive range of stocked parts is held at the company base with the ever-expanding catalogue including components for agricultural tractors, vintage tractors and earthmoving machinery.
John Conaty Ltd. also stocks a variety of new and used tractors, excavators and other agricultural machinery. The company has gained an unrivalled reputation for reliable, high-quality products with the capability, if required, of manufacturing out-of-line parts.
From the beginning, they’ve never seen a customer stuck and they have made their name by finding a solution to even the most difficult, obscure or unconventional requests.
Initially established as Sylvan Tractor Spares on the Oldcastle Road out of Kells by John Conaty, it was incorporated as a limited company in November, 2009, as John Conaty Limited T/A Sylvan Tractor Spares.
The fully-licensed facility is something of a landmark in North Meath and is known far and wide as the place to go if you need a part for a tractor or other agricultural machine.
All parts are carried in stock and are ready for immediate collection / dispatch and it is rare that John Conaty Ltd won’t have the specific part a customer is looking for. On such occasions, the part can usually be sourced in double-quick time.
All major credit and debit cards are accepted and payments can be made online, over the phone or in person. A bank transfer facility is also available. As soon as the payment has been successfully processed, the product will be shipped immediately.
As well as providing an invaluable service to the farming community, John Conaty Ltd also generates gainful employment for a team of eight. With the online sales aspect of the business enjoying rapid growth, the future of this outstanding family-run operation looks every bit as bright as its impressive past.
John Conaty Limited,
T/A Sylvan Tractor Spares,
Sylvan Park,
Kells,
County Meath.
Tel: 046 9241178
(counter sales / second-hand parts) /
046 9247352 (web sale enquiries)
Fax: 046 9249259
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.johnconaty.com
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 6, July/August 2016
