A Cut Above The Rest
Seventy years’ experience, enviable service and product knowledge that can’t be beaten, keep this Lancashire business ahead of the competition. Photography: Lee Parkinson
Most gardeners agree that nothing shows off beautiful beds and borders like a perfectly manicured lawn. Keeping your grass in tip-top condition needn’t be a bind either, so long as you have the right equipment.
That’s where the Webster family steps in, owners of Mowerpower, the garden machinery business with showrooms in Lytham St Annes and on the A6 at Brock, between Preston and Garstang.
At the helm of the business is David Webster, grandson of Bill who first set it up with his own father back in 1948. “We’ve been on Alexandria Drive in St Annes for 70 years,” says David. “Then in January 2016, we bought the garden machinery arm of Horns Agricultural in Brock.”
David manages the two sites alongside his parents, Richard and Lynn. Both their showrooms are bursting with every kind of quality garden machine imaginable, from Countax ride-on mowers to Stihl hedge trimmers.
Mowerpower has approved retailer status with all the top manufactures of garden equipment, including Hayter, Mountfield, ATCO, Stiga, Viking and Masport. Alongside the gleaming, ride-on machines, they have walk-behind mowers in electric, petrol and cordless options.
As well as the choice available, customers also benefit from the Webster family’s huge reservoir of product knowledge. Anyone looking for a mower will be asked several questions including the size of lawn, any obstacles they need to mow around and whether they want a standard cut or stripes.
“We can then advise them on the best machine for them and their lawn,” says David. “And, because we match the machine to the customer’s needs, we fully expect them to get 20 years or more from their lawn mower.”
This commitment to customer service extends beyond the sale too. Mowerpower offers repairs and servicing, to keep machines running smoothly for years.
“If we can’t provide that back-up, by having immediate access to spare parts, we won’t sell the machine,” says David, who knows all about spare parts, often ordering up to 2000 a week!
The Websters also employ five full-time mechanics across their two workshops, in Blackpool and at Brock. They use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to locate faults and can usually repair machines within days.
“Sometimes customers will tell us they’ve seen cheaper, alternative mowers elsewhere,” says Lynn. “But there are rarely any spare parts available for these machines, so they simply cannot be repaired if something goes wrong.”
David smiles and adds: “It’s true, there are places you can buy a cheaper moweror hedge cutter in a box, but if you have to go back two years later to buy another, that’s false economy.”
Hand held machines at Mowerpower include hedge cutters, strimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and pressure washers, again all from leading brands. There’s also a range of traditional garden tools as well as some more up-to-the-minute surprises.
In the last five years, robotic lawn mowers have become increasingly sophisticated and, consequently, more popular with customers. Programme in details like the area of your lawn, which days and times you want it to be cut, and the robot will mow the grass for you.
“We sold a robotic mower to the owners of a holiday home and they only wanted it to come out at night, so that guests wouldn’t see it and be tempted to play with it,” says David. And didn’t it wake up the holidaymakers? “They work almost silently so that’s not a problem.”
As well as its loyal and ever-expanding domestic customer base, Mowerpower also supplies machinery and servicing to several commercial and community customers including schools, sport clubs, churches, residential caravan parks and local authorities.
As with many high street or out-of-town retailers (and Mowerpower is both), competing with online operators is a challenge, but this traditional family business hopes it has the answer.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to a personal approach and the after sales service we offer,” says David.
“People can see the machines here, get a feel for them, their size and weight. But most of all they’ll get very good advice and sound product knowledge to enable them to make the right choice and to buy a machine that will last.”
Mowerpower – Brock
Garstang Road
Claughton-on-Brock, Preston PR3 0RB
01995 643999
Mowerpower – St Annes
10 Alexandria Drive
Lytham Saint Annes, Blackpool FY8 1NL
01253 722065
