November 19th, 2010
Investment of nearly £2m has put a family-run Bradford business firmly on track to become the UK’s number one in its field.
The Allan Jefferies BMW motorcycle dealership is already the maker’s number two outlet in terms of sales, close behind its outlet in Park Lane in London’s posh Mayfair district.
Many of Jefferies’ customers travel from as far afield as Scotland and the south coast for sales and service.
According to BMW motorcycles UK boss Adrian Roderick, the new Allan Jefferies is the brand’s largest dealership in Europe and one of the top ten in the world.
Jefferies’ new base in Otley Road, Baildon, is more than double the size of its previous site in Shipley and provides a state-of-the-art showroom and workshop.
The new set-up will enable Jefferies, run by a family whose name is synonymous with competitive motorcycling and bikes, to develop its ambitious expansion plans.
The dealership employs 19 staff and will be looking to take on another nine or ten people over the next 12 months.
The new 16,000 sq ft base, built by Shipley-based developers New-mason Properties, will provide a springboard for the firm to build its turnover from £7.3m to £10.5m over the next three years.
The business is headed by former TT champion rider Tony Jefferies, who is managing director. He is supported by daughter Louise, also a director of the family firm, which had its origins in a garage business which started in Saltaire in 1917.
Tony said: “Some people thought we were crazy to invest in this scheme at a time when the economy and the motor cycle industry in general were going through a tough time. But we saw the potential to grow the business further through selling quality BMW products that we have specialised in since 1971 and focusing on excellent customer service.”
By the end of this year, Allan Jefferies will have increased its sales of new motorcycles by 40 per cent over 2009 to 380, with the total number of machines sold rising to 800.
Tony said: “We hope to build on the success of 2010 with an even stronger performance in 2011. The new showroom gives us the ideal environment, space and enhancement to the customer experience to enable us to achieve our goals.”
BMW’s Adrian Roderick paid tribute to Jefferies for the decision to invest and expand at a difficult time.
The business is named after Tony’s father Allan Jefferies, who was a champion trials rider. The family’s first motor trade deal was clinched by Tony’s grandfather Joseph in 1901 when he sold a single car.
Source: Telegraph & Argus
