For a customer buying a new vehicle can be a stressful time as they want to get the best deal for themselves. Since the last recession, people are far more conscious of the price and therefore want to go to someone that they feel they can trust.
That is why many people opt to stay with the same dealer that they have been with for many years. Repeat custom is a massive part of the retail sales trade and to ensure that people come back through their doors, dealers have to go that extra mile to make their customers feel welcome.
One Cork business that prides itself and offering that personal touch is Colemans of Millstreet who have been providing a top quality service to a large customer base since the 1940’s.
The Coleman brothers Jerh, Paddy and Tim began selling Ford tractors in the early 1950s before becoming main Ford Tractor Dealers in 1954 and they still fly the New Holland flag over 60 years later.
Ford Tractors was then owned by the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. Some 20 years later Ford acquired the New Holland machinery business from Sperry and hence Ford New Holland was born.
The new Company continued to trade successfully throughout the 60s and 70s, during which time the Ford 5000, 7000, 6600, 7600, 6610 and 7610 tractors became household names in farms throughout the world. In 1996 Fiat Auto purchased the entire equity of Ford New Holland and merged it with its own Fiat Agri business and the Company is now known as New Holland Agriculture.
The amalgamation afforded Colemans, as dealers, the opportunity to offer their customers, the largest and most versatile range of Tractors in the market place.
These days, John Coleman as dealer principal has carried on the tradition set by his father and uncles of ensuring customer satisfaction all the time.
John, along with Tractor sales manager Ben O’Connor and the rest of the staff have worked tirelessly over the years to continue to provide a quality service to their customers.
Colemans Millstreet offer much more than just tractor sales as they are also main dealers for the Kia range of cars and SUVs. Kia is now part of the fourth largest motor manufacturer in the world and is the world’s fastest growing car brand in terms of global sales. As a result of this phenomenal success Kia is now rapidly growing its market share in Ireland. No other product in the Marketplace carries a seven-year, 150,000 km, bumper to bumper warranty, which represents Kia’s confidence in the quality of its products.
The site also includes a 4000 sq. foot Centra Store and Maxol forecourt. This is managed by John’s wife Mary and daughters Linda and Emma. It is open seven days a week, Monday toFriday 7.30 am to 11 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 11pm and provide the following services: Off Licence, Home Baking, Hot Deli, Coffee Dock, Lotto, Payzone, Cash Back, Solid Fuel, Calor Gas and Ample Parking. The latest addition oto the site is the Revolution Laundrette.
Indeed, the shop is a focal point for Lotto users as they have sold not one but two winning tickets over the years.
“One lucky family purchased a €3 quick pick in our Centra store and scooped a 9.6 million Euro Millions jackpot. Our second winner picked up a cool €500,000, also in the Euro Millions in return for their lucky €12 quick pick,” said Mary.
John, together with his wife Mary and son Patrick run the the car and tractor franchises and including the shop we employ 40 people.
“Thankfully with the improvement in farming, tractor sales have recovered in the last couple of years. We are fortunate to be selling a superb product in New Holland whose tractors continue to be very popular with farmers throughout this country.”
John added that New Holland’s determination to keep improving sees them regularly bring new models on the market and their tractors are the most modern and up to date operating in the market.
“We would have a lot of repeat custom and many of our customers are with us for years. They have been very loyal and our aim is to continue providing them with the quality of service that they have become accustomed too. “We are always looking to expand our customer base and under new structures, we now represent New Holland in Kerry as well. Our ‘on the Farm service’ is proving an essential tool with farmers.”
John admits that offering that personal touch means so much to the customer. “When someone comes through the door here, they want to see a knowledgeable and familiar face and in Ben O’Connor, you don’t get any better.
“Ben joined our agri sales in the Spring of 1973 and his dedication and expertise has been instrumental in building our tractor business to what it is today.
“Being a farmer himself and coming from a farming background, he knows exactly what the farmer needs. His knowledge of ‘The Blue Tractor’ has few peers in the business and the trust and respect with which he is held by his customers is testimony to his success and the volume of repeat business we receive.”
John himself is no stranger to the public as he is something of an icon in these parts and indeed across the province. He played Gaelic football with his native Millstreet and the firm have been club sponsors for the last 14 years. His inter county career with Cork spanned 14 years, winning All Irelands medals in minor in 1968 and 1969, under 21 in 1970 and 1971 and was centre half back in the senior team that defeated Galway in the 1973 All Ireland Final. Five All Irelands in six years – not bad for a twenty two year old at the time.
Having won a Munster Junior Cup rugby medal with Rockwell College in 1967 and with the abolition of the infamous ‘ban’ on so called ‘foreign games’ in 1972 it was only natural that he would try his hand at rugby again. He played the oval ball with Highfield RFC in Cork from 1972 to 1975 during which time he represented Munster on 12 occasions, one of those was against the famous New Zealand All Blacks in Thomand Park in 1974 and in 1975 became the first All Ireland football medallist to play rugby for Ireland when he lined out against France in the first B international ever held in Landsdowne Road. Ironically another member of that team, Ned Byrne of Kilkenny became the first hurling medallist to wear the green jersey.
John is not the only well known sporting member of the Coleman family as his older brother is none other than the legendary Billy Coleman who was Irelands Top Rally Driver back in the 70`s and 80`s during which time he became the first Irishman to win the British Rally Championship in 1974 driving a Mk 1 Ford Escort RS. Billy also secured victories on The Circuit of Ireland,3 times in 1975,1976,and 1984 as well as finishing 4th overall in the 1985 World Championship Rally Tour De Corse driving a Rothmans Porsche 911.
John Coleman remains a folk hero in his native Millstreet. Still as affable as ever, as business like in the motor showrooms as he was on the football field. A monument to versatility and sociability, in fact.
Colemans Millstreet Ltd.,
Minor Row,
Millstreet,
Co. Cork
Car/Tractor Sales & Service
T: (029) 70011
F: (029) 70247
E: [email protected]
Centra Store
Store: (029) 70205
Deli: (029) 30543
E: [email protected]
After Sales
KIA SERVICE: (Cars, LCV and 4X4’s)
Reception: Trina Murray (029) 70011
Service Manager: Mike Healy (029)70011
NEW HOLLAND TRACTOR SERVICE:
Reception: Trina Murray (029) 70011
Service Manager: Pat Guerin (029) 70011
PARTS DEPARTMENT:
Millstreet; Michael Healy,
Pat Murphy, Peter Lawlor (029)70011.
Mallow New Holland Tractor Parts
Depot situated at Shortcastle, Mallow –
Managed by: Tadgh Breen (022)22922
E: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 4, May 2015
