74 | The Stihl Shop - Winton legacy endures One of the biggest growth areas for STIHL SHOP Winton has been robotic mowers. Fraser and Sarah purchased the business from Sarah’s parents Craig and Angela McKenzie just over two years ago. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » Stihl Shop - Winton Southland’s outdoor power equipment hub, STIHL SHOP Winton, has moved into its second generation of family ownership, with Sarah and Fraser Guise bringing fresh ideas and a focus on innovation to the long-standing local business. Sarah and Fraser purchased the business from Sarah’s parents Craig and Angela McKenzie just over two years ago, after her mum and dad had owned and grown it for nearly three decades. “Mum and Dad did such a great job with the business,” Sarah says. “They have been recognised among the best in the country with many STIHL awards over the years, with the highlight being crowned the overall STIHL Most Outstanding Retailer of the Year two years in a row. Fraser and I want to build on what they’ve achieved. They created such a successful business, and we’re proud to keep that legacy moving forward.” Sarah now manages sales, stock, and marketing supported by her mum, who is continuing to help out while the couple’s two young children are still little. Fraser oversees the day-to-day running of the workshop, sales, and parts department. The workshop remains one of the business’s biggest strengths, supported by three full-time mechanics and one part-timer and an office administrator. Investment in a new website, showroom refresh, and a major upgrade of the parts department has already improved efficiency, and the workshop is next in line for an upgrade. “We pride ourselves on our workshop and showroom,” Fraser says. “This building was purpose-built 19 years ago, and it’s still one of the largest Stihl Shops by square metre in the South Island.” One of the biggest growth areas for STIHL SHOP Winton has been robotic mowers, with the store installing robots across Southland and Otago and being recognised as the top seller of Stiga robotic mowers in New Zealand. Fraser says many farmers and rural customers are particularly interested in the technology because it takes another job off the list. “A robotic mower means you’ve got a golfcourse lawn every single day,” he says. “They’re great for busy families, and for farmers it can mean more time to spend with the cows rather than mowing lawns.” STIHL SHOP Winton stocks both the wired STIHL iMow and the GPS-based Stiga robotic mower, offering different features to suit different sections. The STIHL iMow works within a perimeter wire and is controlled by an app, while the Stiga, also app controlled, uses GPS mapping to create systematic mowing patterns, covering lawns up to 12,000 square metres. “The technology has really advanced,” Fraser says. “Earlier versions only worked well on smooth lawns, but the latest models can handle rougher terrain and even lift themselves out of ruts. Some models only cut where they need to, making them really efficient.” Customers buying robotic mowers through STIHL SHOP Winton get more than just a machine. Fraser offers a free lawn inspection before purchase to check suitability, and the team provides professional installation and ongoing service. “That’s what sets us apart from online sales,” Sarah says. “We back up the product with servicing, repairs, parts, and advice. People know we’ll be there to support them long-term.” Fraser’s engineering background has also allowed the shop to expand its workshop capability with the recent addition of a lathe, while the couple prepares the business for wider changes in the industry, including the rising popularity of battery-powered tools, which now account for 50% of STIHL’s sales nationwide. As Sarah and Fraser embrace the changing retail landscape, they remain committed to the values that built the business. “We’re a local family business, not a franchise, and that gives us the flexibility to stock the best products for our customers,” Sarah says. “We’re excited to bring a new generation of focus to STIHL SHOP Winton and to keep serving Southland for many years to come.”
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