WR Shaw has been trading successfully for over 30 years across Laois, Offaly and north Tipperary. Proud to be dealers for New Holland tractors and spare parts, Managing Director Billy Shaw has no intention of resting on his laurels.
It could be said that it is by accident rather than by design that Billy Shaw finds himself at the helm of one the leading agricultural tractor dealers in the country.
His interest in second hand tractors stemmed from his work on the family farm at Rosenallis, Co Laois and sowed the seeds for the formation of the company back in 1982.
Initially, there was just Billy and his wife Essie employed but today the company boasts a workforce of 15.
“I started out as a farmer and started dealing in a few second hand tractors, importing second tractors and spare parts from the UK, and it just picked up from there,” Billy revealed.
The popularity of the New Holland brand has laid the foundations for WR Shaw’s success story.
In 1984 they were appointed Fiat tractor dealers for Laois/Offaly and part of north Tipperary.
Following the merger of Ford Newholland and Fiat in 1992, the New Holland brand came into existence and WR Shaw was one of four Fiat dealers in the British Isles to be chosen to represent New Holland in their area.
Their partnership with a world leader in the production and sale of agricultural machinery has blossomed ever since.
“The New Holland tractor has gained in popularity, it’s a great tractor and people are beginning to realise that now,” Billy said.
“It’s reliable while the cost of repairs and service are relatively low. As regards fuel efficiency there are none better and that, of course, is a big consideration for farmers.
1995 was a landmark year in the history of the Laois based outfit as it started its profitable relationship with Bord na Mona, supplying tractors for milling and harvesting the peat.
“That was a major stepping stone. They have purchased all their tractors and spare parts across the line from us and, with over 1100 tractors, Bord na Mona has the biggest fleet of agricultural tractors in the world.
“We also have a three year contract with the Dublin Airport Authority to provide 17 tractors to Dublin airport for snow clearance.”
With such high profile clientele on their books, it’s doesn’t come as any surprise to learn that business is good for WR Shaw at this point in time.
“It is one of the better years for quite some time, we’ve had our best first six months had in long time,” Billy added. “As a result, we would have plans to expand our workshop and storage area in the future.”
WR Shaw New Holland ensures maximum satisfaction to their tractor customers by providing outstanding tractor service and support.
Their commitment is to ‘help ensure our tractor customers can be as productive as possible’.
To that end, they have extensive resources to resolve customer issues as quickly as possible while very tractor service inquiry is handled professionally to review the issue and provide the best possible solution.
“We firmly believe that back-up service is everything, that is what we have built our business on. Coming from a farming background, I realise you can leave any man idle.
“All our lads are fully trained up on New Holland and that gives us a head start when it comes to repairs and service and trouble shooting potential problems.”
All at WR Shaw’s share Billy’s passion for the New Holland brand.
“The staff make any business and we’re very lucky in that we have a very hard-working and experienced staff, many of whom have been with us since they were young lads. Without that you can’t run a business.”
WR Shaw’s offer a fast and competitive sales service, tailored precisely to their customers needs, with over thirty years of satisfied customers to prove it.
Open Monday to Friday (9am to 6pm) and Saturdays (9.30am to 1pm), potential clients are welcome to call to the company’s Rosenallis premises to see for themselves.
WR Shaw
Whitefields, Rosenallis, Laois, Ireland
Tel: 057 862 85 75
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wrshaw.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 1 No 1, September 2013
