The Koro Man! R
COMPANY PROFILE
ichard Campey started his working life in farming, before taking a career change to join ICI. In 1976, as a twenty-two year old, he moved
to SISIS, working under the redoubtable Eric Staniforth, founder of the company. It was here that Richard fell in love with turfcare machinery. He was able to travel the world as a sales demonstrator, all the time learning from his straight-talking mentor.
In 1986, Richard decided that it was time for a change. He set up his own company, Professional Turf Care, to carry out sportsturf contracting in and around Manchester. It was a lucrative area and it was, at the same time, that Richard saw a niche in the secondhand machinery market. Richard moved to his present location, just outside Macclesfield, two years later, and the company and premises have gradually expanded year on year. His regular dealings with customers in the secondhand market led to him fulfilling local demand and, eventually, taking on new machinery stock. Richard said, “We were far too small a company at the time to take on products from the big three, but we did have a chance to work with some of the smaller manufacturers. I was down at Saltex in 1989 looking at an Australian Coremaster, when Colin Gregory jumped
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out at me. ‘You’ll be after buying one of these then Richard?’ to which I replied, ‘it looks like a machine that will make us some brass, but unfortunately I haven’t the funds to buy it.’ Colin said, ‘don't worry about that ... and you’ll be needing an Iseki tractor to pull it too!’ Ever the opportunist is Colin!” “Well, that was that. Suddenly I was dealing in new machinery. We next took on the Lesco range and, in the first year, sold thirty-five machines in the North West. But, I was struggling to cope so, in 1990, I took on Ken Heath, who I knew very well from my SISIS days. Ken had retired, but was still passionate about the industry and looking for some part time work. Tony Cundall also joined us as a sales rep at this time. The other key member of the team back then was Jane Middleton, a local girl, who started doing my bookkeeping. She is still with us as Company Secretary to this day!” “We continued to expand, taking on Charterhouse, Saxon, Dennis and Trimax in the early nineties. The staff continued to expand too, as well as the costs!” “In 1994, Iseki went to Massey
Ferguson, so I approached New Holland/Ford and became the local dealer for them.”
At this time all the machines that
Richard was promoting, demonstrating and selling were under dealer licences. Richard is always keen to attend
equipment shows, both at home and abroad, and it was when he was over Holland in 1996, that he first saw a Koro machine.
“I was very impressed with the machine’s simple, yet effective, design and, as a contractor, I could immediately see a good market for them.” In that same year the Koro Field
Topmaker was stripping off the first football pitches in the UK, courtesy of Richard. Next to catch his keen eye was the
Dakota range of topdressers and, in 2001, a distribution deal was agreed, but this time with European rights included. In addition, Campeys added to their own Raycam range of innovative products, including Hi-lift Trailer, Striegel Harrows and Speedresser large capacity drop spreaders.
The contracting side of the business was sold to Souters in 2005, although a close working relationship still remains. This sale gave Richard and his team the opportunity to concentrate on selling products, as well as freeing up much needed space at the premises for more new equipment.
What stands out, above all else, is
Richard’s ability to recognise an opportunity when he sees one, and turn it into an industry standard. He has a gut feeling for the business he is in, acquired not just through experience but through
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