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Georgian Motors site was used for vehicle storage
and valeting during the recession of the late 1980’s
and early 1990’s but it was earmarked for
the new Wellsway BMW development.
In 1993, Westward’s satellite
dealership, Saxon Garage in Bradford-on-Avon, was
acquired after the sudden death of the owner and
also, in the same year, St.Martins Nissan in Box
was purchased.
When trading became more favourable
after the recession, work began on developing the
new Wellsway BMW site. The dealership represented
a considerable investment in the future of modern
vehicle retailing, and was opened in February 1996.
The resulting site was considered a benchmark within
the BMW Dealer Network. Wellsway has since gone
from strength to strength.
1996 also saw Roman Volvo become
Roman Toyota. A change of representation plans within
the Volvo franchise resulted in no requirement for
a Bath based dealership, hence the successful switch
to the Toyota franchise.
During & Wellsway May 1998,
the company incorporated Millmead Mitsubishi, also
on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath and close to the
new Wellsway. The Millmead site has since been refurbished
and has benefited from the addition of the emerging
Skoda franchise
Meanwhile in Frome, Frome Garages
continued to enjoy success and when a Vauxhall sponsored
analysis of the surrounding area was completed,
the company emerged as the preferred candidate for
the takeover of the neighbouring Vauxhall dealership
GK Group which was completed in July 1998. The incorporation
of GK Group then facilitated the same process again
in 1999 whereby the company purchased Chippenham
Vauxhall dealership Cyril. H. Thomas. The three
Vauxhall dealerships have since been united under
the name of “Platinum.”
Also, during 1999, a similar analysis by the Renault
franchise resulted in the company taking over Buckland’s
Garage in Chippenham to complete a trio of Renault
sites. Buckland’s Garage was renamed as Westward
and now trades as Platinum Renault.
August 1999 also saw the launch
of Renrod Financial Solutions (now Platinum Financial
Solutions), a dedicated finance office committed
to offering expertise in the latest finance packages
available, including to those with past credit problems.
The millennium year saw a new
set of challenges for the group as the company consolidated
its position after the expansion programme of 1998
and 1999 by embracing new ideas such as information
technology and the internet whilst retaining the
original values that made the company successful
in the first place.
More recently, the MINI franchise
has been added alongside BMW at Wellsway, which
has proved tremendously popular. The company has
also developed a mobile cosmetic body repair service
called The Hitman.
In November 2001, the company
acquired the former Northfield Toyota site in Warminster,
which was subsequently renamed as Roman to form
a sister dealership to the site in Bath.
2004 saw a time of great change
and challenge for the group with the culminationof
the “Meridian Project” - a state of
the art motor park development in Trowbridge to
house the Vauxhall, Toyota, Renault and Nissan franchises.
The development re-housed three existing businesses
(Roman Toyota in Warminster, Saxon Garage in Bradford
on Avon and Platinum Vauxhall in Trowbridge) and
added a second Nissan dealership to the group. Platinum
Vauxhall in Chippenham and Roman Toyota in Bath
also received major refurbishments to bring them
to the cutting edge of automotive retailing.
The year of 2004 also saw a rationalization
in terms of the trading names operated by Renrod
Ltd. As of October 1st those branches not already
carrying the name were united under the single trading
title of Platinum.
The purpose of the name change
was to achieve a common trading title across the
group of dealerships wherever possible and to deliver
all the advantages and synergies that such an approach
can provide in terms of communication, identity
and economies of scale.
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On
the 20th December 2004, the company was
proud to open the “Platinum”
Motor Park in Trowbridge, housing the Vauxhall,
Toyota, Renault and Nissan franchises. Known
as the “Meridian Project”, the
development took approximately 9 months
to build and features the latest standards
in automotive retailing.
January
2008 saw the group expand again, this time
with the acquisition of the Causeway Saab
business in Chippenham. The company plans
a programme of growth and improvement of
the existing business, working closely with
the dealership team and the Saab franchise.
Where necessary, investment in terms of
facilities and training will be provided
to enable the delivery of consistently high
standards of customer care in a modern and
pleasant environment.
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In the late summer of 2008, the
group relocated the Skoda franchise to operate alongside
Renault on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath, making
way for the brand separation of the MINI franchise
from BMW. The new Wellsway MINI opened in November
2008, with the dealership retaining the Mitsubishi
franchise in the form of Approved Repairer and supplier
of parts.
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The
spring of 2009 saw the company merge its
Platinum Renault operation in Chippenham
with the Causeway Saab business, which became
Platinum Saab in the process, with the dealership
continuing to offer the Saab franchise with
the addition of Renault Approved Repairs
using genuine parts and accessories. Customers
requiring new Renaults are offered the two
Platinum Renault sites in nearby Trowbridge
and Bath. Also, in October 2009, the company
was delighted to announce the addition of
the Hyundai franchise in Chippenham, sharing
facilities with Saab and Renault.
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Throughout the companies’
continued expansion, plans are constantly in place
to ensure that the high quality and efficient services
provided to customers are maintained and improved,
still backed by teams of highly skilled and committed
staff. The employment of specialists in the fields
of information technology, finance, used car purchasing,
personnel, aftersales and bodyshop ensures this
process of continuous improvement is sustained,
based upon staff expertise. Under the holding company
of Renrod Holdings Ltd, Renrod Ltd trading as branches
of “Platinum” and Wellsway are investing
in the future. |
