Journey to the centre of operations at Reesink
The purchasing and sales office at Reesink plays a pivotal role in connecting its products to its customers and ensuring every customer receives the products and support they need when they need it. This is no mean feat – it requires just the right balance of and investment in technology and the team to ensure the highest standards in fulfilment and customer support.
Here we talk to Michael Hampton, Reesink’s Supply Chain Manager, about what it takes to deliver a seamless service – and the secret to his department’s success. Michael has recently been promoted into this new position. He started in the business 15 years ago and now specialises in end-to-end management of inventory, warehousing, build processes, and logistics to ensure smooth, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
It’s fast-moving, high-volume
We excel in fast-moving parts and achieve a remarkable 95-97 percent fill rate. Quick and easy access to spare parts is vital for customers to ensure the smooth operation of their equipment, minimising downtime, and controlling costs. That’s why we maintain a £1 million parts inventory, with 4,000 stocked lines in a central UK location, contributing to a total of 6,900 stocked lines overall. This extensive inventory ensures we can fulfil orders promptly.
Technology is king
The business places a lot of importance on ensuring its purchasing and sales office has access to the latest technology for efficiency gains and streamlining operations.
We’ve embraced technological advancements with tools such as Slimstock forecasting software to ensure we maintain an optimal inventory and always have the right parts in stock. Webshop on the other hand is a valuable tool for customers allowing them to access pricing, check availability, and process sales orders electronically. These technological tools have helped us to better serve our customers and operate with greater efficiency.
The secret to success
We recognise the importance of building and maintaining strong, personal relationships with our customers. With over 100 years of combined industry experience within our team, we can offer unparalleled customer service and foster loyalty. By providing dedicated, high-quality service and consistent support, we ensure our customers feel valued and remain committed to our brand.
How is that done?
We believe in the power of people, and our purchasing and sales team is a diverse group with eight members ranging from six months to over 45 years of experience. We are committed to fostering an environment that blends experience and fresh perspectives.
We nurture talent and reward it. Adam Thomas is a good example of this – he has been with the company for 20 years and demonstrated impressive growth. He started in the warehouse and worked his way up to become Assistant Manager, having previously held roles as a Warehouse Team Leader and Sales Coordinator. His dedication and commitment to the company reflect the core values of Reesink, where hard work and talent are nurtured and rewarded.
Nurturing the next generation
Fresh perspectives come from our apprentices. Emily Brown joined the department in 2023 and embraced the apprenticeship with enthusiasm, breezing through the programme and demonstrating both growing confidence and a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the industry. She passed the programme with distinction and has already made a significant impact as a Sales Coordinator, where she now supports the team and assists Adam.
Building on this success, we’ve taken on a second apprentice, Isabelle Woodward. Apprentices bring not only new energy but also fresh perspectives, which can have a substantial and positive impact on the business. Their passion for the industry, combined with their enthusiasm, is often contagious, and our view is even if they do not stay long-term, we hope to have left them with a lasting passion for the turfcare industry. That, to us, is a success in itself.
Continuous improvement culture
A key pillar of our success at Reesink is our continuous improvement culture. Our team shares a collective purpose to constantly seek ways to enhance our processes and systems. We take a data-driven approach to decision-making and prioritise open communication and the standardisation of processes. This commitment to incremental improvements helps us deliver better results and drive efficiencies.
The team has a shared purpose of always looking for ways to enhance the processes and systems we work with through data driven decision making and standardisation of processes to bring incremental improvements and gains.
Time critical service
We understand that time is critical in the turfcare industry, and that’s why we offer a next-day delivery service for parts, with orders placed before 5pm delivered before 12pm the next day — free of charge.
If an item is not in stock at our warehouses, we can rely on Toro’s European warehouse in Oevel, Belgium, which ships directly to St Neots, often arriving the following morning. For more urgent requirements, we also have the support of Toro’s USA warehouse, which can deliver within 48 hours.
Driving forward with purpose
By embracing a blend of seasoned professionals and fresh talent, we are positioning ourselves for continued growth and success in the turfcare industry. Whether it’s through offering high-quality products, exceptional service, or embracing new technology, Reesink continues to be a trusted partner in the industry, dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers and driving forward with purpose.
More information on Reesink Turfcare parts and servicing, plus all the reasons why Genuine is best, can be found here.