John Clark expands into Perthshire 01 | 02 | 2012

    ONE OF SCOTLAND'S leading motoring dealership groups, Aberdeen-based John Clark Motor Group, has expanded into the Perth area for the first time.

    The muti-million pound company has purchased the Thomson and Potter Skoda dealership. Based in Burrelton, 10 miles from Perth, Thomson and Potter has held the Skoda franchise in the area for more than 25 years.

    Under its new ownership, the business will continue under the Thomson and Potter name and all 17 members of staff, plus joint owner David Gilbertson, are being retained.  

    The acquisition of Thomson and Potter comes just a year after the John Clark Motor Group opened its new Specialist Cars Skoda dealership in Dundee. This now means the group represents Skoda across the whole of Grampian and Tayside. 

    “Under the ownership of David and Sarah Gilbertson, Thomson and Potter has developed a strong customer base and built an excellent reputation for customer service," John Clark, chairman and MD of the John Clark Motor Group, said.

    Read our roadtest of the Skoda Fabia 1.2TDI

    “I am delighted we have reached agreement to acquire the business and particularly pleased that David Gilbertson and his team will be staying with Thomson and Potter as part of the John Clark Motor Group.

    "That continuity is particularly important in a business whose culture rewards, respects and develops individual talents and also has a strong focus on customer service.

    “The acquisition is also a strategic move for the group as it takes us into the Perth area for the first time, extending our coverage of the east of Scotland from Edinburgh, through Fife, Dundee and now Perth, north to Aberdeen.

    "It also puts us in a very strong position with the rapidly-developing Skoda brand, as we now operate the three adjoining territories for Skoda covering Grampian and Tayside.”

    The new development was also welcomed by David Gilbertson.

    “We see this as the best way forward for Thomson and Potter to progress," he said. "By becoming part of a bigger group we can benefit from the managerial and financial resources it can offer to develop the business. 

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    “I look forward to working with John Clark and his team and I am delighted that this deal will keep Thomson and Potter in local ownership with a family-owned group who enjoy a reputation for maintaining the personal approach in customer service.”

    Thomson and Potter has a five-car showroom and four-bay workshop. With total vehicle sales of around 400 new and used cars, the business has a turnover of more than £5.5 million.

    Based in Aberdeen, the John Clark Motor Group is the fourth largest motortrade group in Scotland with 17 motortrade businesses, a turnover of £300 million and 680 staff.

    The group represents BMW, Mini and Audi in Aberdeen and Dundee, Volkswagen in Aberdeen and Fife, Skoda in Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth, Seat in Aberdeen, Land Rover in Edinburgh and Volkswagen vans in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

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    Jim McGill

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