4 minute read
Cool stuff
We’re nearly at the start of spring – what a relief to be through winter, right? It would seem that certain companies are sensing the brighter weather too and have been really pushing hard to bring new, more innovative products to market. Let’s see some of the best to have come out recently.
Omega Speedmaster ’57 £8,800
OMEGA has a fine history of creating some of the most sought-after watches. So how do you keep things, well, ticking over? In Omega’s case, that’s to refine its Speedmaster, with the new-for-2022 Speedmaster ’57, bringing a manual-wind chronograph movement as well as a more streamlined design.
The titanium timepiece is also available in eye-catching shades, such as green, burgundy and blue.
Sip Champagnes
From £50 per month
THE element of surprise can be quite a nice thing, can’t it? Combine that with champagne and you could be on to a winner. That’s what Sip Champagnes offers. Each month, it’ll deliver top fizz to your door, accompanied by information and tasting notes.
Packages start from £50 per month for one bottle of bubbly, up to £500 a month for between six and nine bottles. Cheers!
Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro £999
THE world of laptops and tablets is showing no sign of slowing down, despite people using their smartphones for more functions than ever. Samsung is still very much in the game, too, with the new Galaxy Book2 Pro being revealed at the recent Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.
It’s got a basic approach to design but packs a serious punch, courtesy of cutting-edge Intel chips, 64-watt charging capability and an HD webcam that can shoot in 1080p.
APPLE seems to have a near-continuous stream of new products, but its budgetfriendly SE has always been a smartphone worth talking about. This new version has the same classic features as its predecessor and now comes with a faster processor, which makes it quicker than the iPhone 8.
It’s also been given a better camera and improved battery life, as well as a decent range of colours.
Apple iPhone SE £419
Busy start to 2022 for ECA
Eastbourne Car Auctions (ECA) has had a busy start to the new year, with many of its existing vendors committing to long-term remarketing programmes.
Since being established in 1967, ECA has grown in size and volume and currently remarkets approximately 10,000 vehicles a year through its purpose-built facility.
As well as remarketing, ECA stores and undertakes vehicle logistics from a secure storage facility. A fleet of specialist multiload vehicle transporters control auction collections, inter-branch stock movements and nationwide delivery. All vehicles are professionally inspected by trained NAMAgrade inspectors as part of the service.
Along the way, the dedication and hard work of the employees has seen the company gain recognition by the motoring organisation the AA.
ECA was also highly commended at the 2016 Car Dealer Power awards and won the 2018 Herald Business Award.
Clients who have committed to partner with ECA in 2022 and beyond include UK Power Networks, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Eastbourne Motoring Centre, St Leonards Motors, Caffyns, Bartlett Seat, Kap and The Yeomans Group.
Post-Covid, many auction houses moved towards online-only auction programmes, but ECA continues with physical auctions supported by an industry-recognised live online bidding platform.
As part of the post-Covid relaunch, ECA completely revamped its website and buying platform to accommodate the extra demand, with multiple new trade buyers active since relaunch.
The complete range of services now includes:
Timed Sales
Selected vehicles are offered into an online auction for a set period of time, usually 24 or 48 hours.
Warranty
The warranty can be for a car with up to 150,000 miles on the clock or up to 15 years old. The warranty can be sold on to the private buyer, thus giving peace of mind. The warranty can be bought to last months or years.
Vehicle Finance
Eastbourne Car Auctions (ECA) now offers vehicle finance through V12 and NextGear Capital. This enables dealers to purchase and finance vehicles in one easy transaction.
Collection and Delivery
ECA has a fleet of Euro 6-compliant vehicle transporters together with a large team of plated drivers, which enables prompt deliveries to and from anywhere in the UK.
Car Storage Facility
The company now has off-site secure storage for up to 600 vehicles. It currently stores cars for six of its auction partners. Dealership delivery and inter-branch transfer is offered as part of this service.
Vehicle Inspections
Using the National Association of Motor Auctions, every vehicle coming to auction is graded from 1-5.
Your4Court
The app was developed in response to the stocking requirements of dealer groups. Dealerships can continue to promote vehicles on their forecourt for a retail sale, but also offer them for a trade sale opportunity through Your4Court. The app is visible to ECA account customers only, NOT the private buyer.
Vendor feedback
Caffyns are very pleased to have reached an agreement with ECA and look forward to continuing to build on our alreadystrong relationship. Since we have been using ECA, we have benefited from their professional, forward-thinking attitude and have enjoyed a simple, no-fuss approach to our day-to-day business.
Gary Holman, regional director of Caffyns
When appointing a supply partner, SLM look at the core values behind that supplier. We have always been impressed with the way ECA conduct their business. The relationship that we have built with both ECA and their customers has seen impressive results for us, and I feel that a new two-year partnership will only see this relationship grow further.
