MasterPart – From strength to strength
Enhancing its profile
Despite sharing a building, MasterPart is a separate company to Johnson Bros and is effectively a tenant, hiring space from the operator’s premises. The storerooms it is hiring have been well stocked, filling up considerably since my last visit, a sure sign of an even busier operation. This facility is proving big enough for the company so far and Jon said it will be in it for the ‘long haul’. In the future, MasterPart aims to continue this growth, seeking to develop its brand and product range, as well as its customer base. The plan is to enhance its profile in the industry, to become even more well known.
Being based in the same building as Johnson Bros means it can draw on the operator’s knowledge and experience to further improve its own service
Jon has already made efforts towards this, having made its first standalone appearance at a trade show at the recent Coach & Bus Live. Previously, Jon would be present on Irizar UK’s stand to promote the business. Launched at the show was a new range of battery boosters, the SOS Booster. A promotion was also run that saw anyone ordering parts worth over £200 at the event receiving a free fleece. He said more of this sort of activity is planned for next year, so we may be due to see him again at the NEC in the near future.
Additionally, Jon said MasterPart is to further develop its relations with Irizar UK and the Irizar Group. Having a close relationship with the manufacturer is beneficial because instead of stocking the components in Worksop, it is common for them to arrange for parts to be sent directly from the factory in Spain straight to the customer. Jon said, ‘We like to do this because it cuts all the lead times down to a minimum.’
Jon believes an area where sales growth is possible is in his All Makes package. It is an area he wants to develop in, particularly as he believes many operators do not realise he provides it. He said, ‘It just provides a different option to contacting dealerships for parts, it’s a good option too.’
Behind this effort to expand and enhance its offerings is a team that Jon said ‘cares about the industry and the customers’. He said, ‘There is me and Steve here that head this business. Basically, we are bus and coach people. We understand the markets, we understand the customer and we understand the industry. We have always been involved with the CV and PSV parts sector, with around 34 years experience in it.’
Over those 34 years, Jon said there had been a number of advances in the products he sells. One of the most pronounced changes is to brakes, which he claims have become much more technical. He often contacts manufacturers of these products to stay on top of developments in the technology involved in the parts he supplies. Jon said, ‘We regularly work with manufacturers to make sure our staff get a heads up about new releases and the properties of their new products. No one knows the products better than those who made them.’
As well as providing the most up to date components available on the market, MasterPart also supplies components for older models. For instance, it sends out a lot of parts for Leylands, with Jon being able to get them specially made. He said, ‘We’ve always looked at that, at keeping the older vehicles on the road. Because of that, we get a lot of museums contacting us.’
Last word
After seeing the company develop so much in such a short space of time, the idea it can grow even more is very believable. If the past couple of years have proved anything, it is that the company has a lot to look forward to. Jon said, ‘We would like to thank customers for their continued support over the years. As we move forward, we will look to develop staff and our product knowledge and to establish new customers, while all the time looking after our existing ones.’