Record results for Scottish motor group
The John Clark Motor Group has bucked the recent motortrade trend by announcing record results for its 2007 financial year (ended December 31, 2007). The announcement comes just weeks after the group’s Chairman and Managing Director John Clark received a Scottish Autotrader lifetime achievement award.
The all-time record turnover of £258 million represents a 17% year-on-year growth with sales of new and used vehicles close to 12,000. The profit figure will be finalised after the year-end audit, but the group expects a figure approaching £2 million.
Against a UK background of near-static sales volumes and falling profitability, the John Clark Motor Group achieved a 6% growth in new car sales. A particular focus on used car sales resulted in a 17% growth compared to 2006. Service department sales grew by 13% to £10 million, while the vehicle parts business increased by 18% to £15.5 million.
Commenting on the results, John Clark, Chairman and Managing Director of the John Clark Motor Group said:
“While the on-going strength of the oil sector within the Grampian economy was a key factor, all of our operations in Aberdeen, Dundee, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh made progress. The fourth quarter did show some signs of an economic slowdown, due to reduced consumer confidence, but our results held up well overall.
“The strong results were helped by major investments in 2006, with new state-of-the-art facilities for our Aberdeen Audi and Dundee Audi dealerships. We also added Specialist Cars SEAT to our dealerships during the year, giving us the full line up of Volkswagen mainstream brands in Aberdeen.
“This programme of investment, combined with a strengthened management team at both operational and financial levels, contributed to the 2007 results. Despite a slowdown in April, the first four months of 2008 show that we are in line with our budget. Overall results continue to be ahead of those for 2007.
“During 2008 we are committed to making further substantial investments at our John Clark BMW and Mini dealerships in Aberdeen and Dundee, as well as expanding our Pentland Land Rover dealership in Edinburgh. We are also planning to develop our Volkswagen van business in Edinburgh and Dundee and our Volkswagen car franchise in Fife.
“At the same time, we are progressing a couple of potential acquisitions, meaning that we are looking at another busy year for the group, which is established as Scotland’s fourth largest motor trade group and within the top 30 across the UK.
“As a wholly family-owned company, we believe that turnover means nothing in itself. We operate a management structure that allows each of our dealer principals to run the day-to-day aspects of the business autonomously. This helps to ensure that they focus on meeting the needs of their customers.”
ends
For further information:
Ken McEwen
AVC PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216067
Mobile 07768 105449
ken@prpartnership.co.uk
Rhea Hussey
AVC PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 217376
Mobile 07738 995058
rhea@prpartnership.co.uk
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE JOHN CLARK MOTOR GROUP BY
AVC PR PARTNERSHIP LTD
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
John Clark (60) started his first motortrade business in 1968 with a business partnership in Edinburgh, expanding into Aberdeen in 1972. In 1977, he bought out the Aberdeen business and opened the first John Clark BMW dealership.
John Clark (Holdings) Limited is wholly owned by John Clark and Deidre Clark, along with their son, Christopher, and daughter, Victoria Reid – who both work within the business.
From twelve sites, the group’s current dealerships are:
BMW Aberdeen and Dundee
Mini Aberdeen and Dundee
BMW Motorcycles Aberdeen and Dundee
Volkswagen cars Aberdeen and Kirkcaldy
Volkswagen vans Aberdeen and Edinburgh
Audi Aberdeen and Dundee
Skoda Aberdeen
SEAT Aberdeen
Land Rover Edinburgh
The John Clark Motor Group also operates White Flag Assistance, a vehicle rental company associated with accident damage repairs, and a specialised mini-bus division, which trades as Commercial Vehicle Innovation (CVI). CVI is a UK wide operation, which is attracting growing business, particularly from local councils, but also from some major vehicle rental companies.