Managers across the team gathered for a day of business, celebration and future planning at our highly anticipated 60th anniversary year conference held at the Hilton Ageas Bowl on Friday March 4, 2022.

Chairman and CEO Stephen Snow told the audience: “I am thrilled to commemorate such a special achievement as our 60th anniversary off the back of our strongest financial performance ever, which makes me immensely proud of our achievements.

“Last year was our strongest financial performance ever. What an incredible achievement and proof that even in uncertain times good foundations, great people and teamwork pay off.

“To put this into perspective in a slightly different way, last year as a group we sold a car every 26 minutes, so in theory by the time we are all enjoying our lunch a little later, seven cars would have been sold across the group!” In addition to that we saw staggering results from our Aftersales departments too, where we sold enough hours to travel to the moon and back, in a rocket, 1,242 times.”

As in previous years the event was a combination of analysis, performance and industry insights under the banner of Snows Driving Spirit and the main theme for this year was Fit For The Future with department directors presenting around the key themes of: retention, recruitment, digital landscape, consumer ownership and buying patterns, customer expectations and satisfaction and the automotive future.

Speaker Catherine Faiers, Chief Operating Officer of AutoTrader talked about how Snows ethical and community values closely align with that of AutoTrader and congratulated the company on its Mission60 initiative.

She also examined the huge and ever-evolving role the digital economy plays in the automotive industry, highlighting ‘game changing’ click and collect and video sales and the customer experience which AutoTrader believes we should be striving for - a blended model – where consumers do their research using trusted online information from the digital forecourt, along with the trusted support of the dealer.

Speaker Mark Roden, Director of Operations at Toyota GB gave a fascinating presentation on integrating the digital and personal experience for the future, in preparation for what he said would be the “biggest period of transformation for the industry since the invention of the motor car.”

Mark’s appearance had a special significance at this year’s conference, as Snows’ first investment into the motor industry was with St James Toyota Centre in Southampton.

Other guest speakers were Tim Smith of Chief Revenue Officer of GForces and Phil Stubbs of Keyloop.

Stephen Snow told the audience: “My father Geoff would be incredibly proud to see where the business is today. Sheer willpower, determination and teamwork and the ability to adapt and take risks when needed are what makes up Snows Driving Spirit.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a conference without the hotly-contested awards for Dealership and Manager of the Year and customer service.

The three finalists for this year’s Dealership of the Year were Snows Peugeot Basingstoke, Snows Toyota Southampton and Snows Volvo Winchester. With a delighted Mark Austin and the team from Snows Volvo Winchester taking the crown.

The nominees for this year’s coveted Driving Spirit Manager of the Year award had to wait until the special 60th anniversary party in the evening to find out who had won. And an ecstatic Ben Smith, Aftersales Manager at Snows Volvo Winchester was invited back up to the stage after ‘doing the double’.

The conference Gold sponsors were: Automotive Systems UK, BCA, Bumper, carwow, CitNOW, EMaC, Gallaghers, GEN-3, Intercleanse, Martec, Silverlake Automotive Recycling, and Tunap.

Pictured left to right: Catherine Faiers, Chief Operating Officer - Autotrader, Mark Roden, Director of Operations - Toyota GB, Tim Smith, Chief Revenue Officer - GForces and Phil Stubbs, Vice President - Sales, UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa - Keyloop.

Dealership of the Year - Snows Volvo Winchester

Manager of the Year - Ben Smith, Aftersales Manager, Snows Volvo Winchester