Norfolk firms split over dealership row

By Steve Cox
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
6:44 PM

Two of the best-known Norfolk boating businesses have fallen out in a dealership row.

Norfolk Yacht Agency (NYA) has said it will no longer sell Broom Boats after the boat-builder appointed a rival dealer, Norfolk Boat Sales, of Hoveton, to sell the smaller boats in its range.

NYA and Broom occupy neighbouring sites in Brundall and have had a long association which began under the Broom family and continued when the business was taken over by a team led by Mark Garner about 18 months ago.

Part of the strategy under new ownership has been for Broom to extend its range to smaller boats and it appointed Norfolk Boat Sales to handle those, partly because NYA sells boats built by Norfolk rival Haines Marine.

The decision has disappointed NYA owner James Fraser, whose business was the first to invest in a stock boat from Broom’s new owners, a £700,000 Broom 455, which was delivered to NYA in August and currently doesn’t have a buyer.

Mr Fraser said: “This has been a difficult decision but the catalyst for it was the appointment of another agent on our doorstep to sell Broom boats of up to 40 feet. They took that decision knowing we did not agree with it – and despite our investment with the firm which was at the time significant in their restart of production.

“Our company remains strong and profitable. We had hoped for a successful and long relationship with the new Broom management and its production team. Our future will now focus on our core activities – buying and selling used boats, brokerage and our UK dealership for the Haines range of motor cruisers. We will be increasing our commitment to that firm which is also developing a number of new models.”

Mr Garner, managing director of Broom, said he was disappointed by NYA’s move but the decision to choose an alternative dealer for its new smaller boats, had been taken because NYA already represented another brand in the small boat market.

“Broom is introducing two new smaller boats (30ft and 35ft) in 2012 and wished to get commitment and representation of these boats within the dealer network”, said Mr Garner.

“As NYA represented another brand in the smaller boat market, Broom chose to introduce an alternative east region dealer for these boats. NYA were opposed to this decision and decided to leave the dealer network.”

NYA, which has branches in Brundall and Horning, was bought by James Fraser in 2003 and has steadily increased its business since then. In its last financial year, NYA sold nearly 300 boats with a total value of about £10 million.