Outdoor power tool specialist STIHL had more than its 85th Anniversary to celebrate last year, with 2011 figures showing yet another strong year. In Great Britain, Camberley-based STIHL GB achieved an impressive 4% turnover growth during 2011 and the company is getting 2012 off to another excellent start with news that it is to create no less than five new positions during the first quarter of this year to further expand its Dealer support team.
STIHL GB is the wholly-owned sales and marketing subsidiary of the global STIHL Group and is responsible for both the STIHL and VIKING brands across Great Britain. Products are retailed exclusively through a network of over 500 specialist servicing Dealers and the five new STIHL appointments are all specifically focussed on building the company's impressive standard of Dealer support.
STIHL Dealers around Britain already benefit from what the company believes is some of the best and the most extensive support available in the outdoor power tools sector, with dedicated customer services and training provided both through the Head Office teams and by field-based specialists.
New positions being created include an Application Specialist to provide in-store product training and familiarisation, plus the support of Dealers' show presence and their presentations to key customers. Two Application Specialists already provide this highly valued support; the third will be appointed in early spring to work with Dealers in the north of England and Scotland.
STIHL is investing heavily in improving its presence in stores, and as part of that ongoing programme is now also investing in two further personnel to support its goals. A new role of Merchandiser is being created, and a second Dealership Development Manager will be appointed to assist Dealers in the northern region.
Two Technical Services Trainers are already employed by STIHL, delivering a programme of formal courses and tailored training to Dealers' sales and workshop teams, both from the Camberley Head Office and across the regions. A further Technical Services Trainer will be sought this spring to cover the Midlands region, and STIHL is also creating a new position of Commercial Learning & Development Manager to lead and extend its training and personal development programmes, thus ensuring the expertise and professionalism of Dealers and internal teams.
Commenting on the trend-bucking creation of five new positions, Managing Director of STIHL GB, Robin Lennie said: "2011 was yet another growth year for STIHL GB, and these new appointments reflect our ongoing strategy to give our valued Dealers the most comprehensive support available, and in turn to ensure our customers receive the best and most professional service. STIHL worldwide is absolutely committed to the distribution of its products exclusively through a specialist Dealer network, providing our customers with high standards of service support from point of sale and throughout the life of our tools. Maintaining and building our Dealers' service standards is an ongoing process, because in a dynamic world we believe not only in keeping pace with but in leading the field. And that is why as an organisation we are investing in new people specifically to support our Dealers' growth and success."
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