| 65 Loyal customers and renewed confidence Kelly Deeks Now celebrating nine years in business, Westland Farm Services is riding a wave of strong sales, loyal customer support, and renewed confidence across the West Coast, with record results and an expanding machinery offering setting the pace for further growth. Owner Colin Redpath says the business has built its reputation on consistent service and long standing relationships with suppliers, local farmers, and contractors. “We are not a big corporate business,” Colin says. “We have got good loyal customers that keep coming back, and that is what this business has been built on.” That connection remains central as farmers navigate a challenging season, with a wet summer bringing an early end to production for many. “It has been a tough season,” he says. “We have not really had a summer. We would get three days of sun and then three days of rain, and that has been the pattern. For a lot of farmers the season has finished at the end of March when normally it would run through to May.” Improving milk prices are now helping to lift confidence. “The payout coming back up is a positive. It gives people a bit more confidence to spend and invest in their gear.” In the middle of that environment, Westland Farm Services continues to strengthen its machinery offering, including its role as the West Coast dealer for Strautmann equipment through Strautmann Hopkins. Strautmann Hopkins was founded in 1983 after John Hopkins identified the durability of Strautmann loader wagons during a Nuffield Scholarship in Europe, and has since grown into a RURAL SERVICES » Westland Farm Services Hokitika “The payout coming back up is a positive. It gives people more confidence to invest in their gear.” nationwide supplier known for quality machinery and strong support. “We are very lucky to be their dealer on the West Coast,” Colin says. “The machines are built in Germany and known for their strength and reliability. They do mixer wagons, muck spreaders, and loader wagons, so it is a really good fit for our customers.” A standout period came at the end of last year, when the business recorded its highest ever monthly result for Massey Ferguson. “We broke a record in December, across sales, workshop, parts, and wholesale,” Colin says. “We sold five brand new Massey Ferguson tractors in that month, worth about $1.6 million, which was a great way to finish off the year.” With demand expected to lift in springtime, Colin says the focus will be on building capacity within the team. “We will likely be looking for a junior salesperson and another mechanic,” he says. “We want to make sure we can keep up with demand and continue to provide the level of service our customers expect.” The milestone of ten years under Colin’s ownership is also approaching. “Next year will be a big one for us,” he says. “It is a good chance to celebrate how far we have come and the people who have supported us along the way.” “We take a lot of pride in what we do,” Colin says. “At the end of the day, it is about backing our customers and making sure their gear is working when they need it.” www.elitetrailers.co.nz For all your trailer needs Proud to be associatedwith our West Coast agent Westland FarmServices Proudly supportingWestlandFarmServicesHokitika The business has built its reputation on consistent service and long standing relationships.
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