North A

Thursday 12th August, David Prentice Omagh. Day 18

Day 14 brought us to Omagh and once again we were graced by an all female showroom. The girls were so excited to see the Countryman that when Steve reversed the truck out they were jumping about and were in the the car within seconds...with big smiles I may add!! Again this was a really steady dealership and for 4 hours the constant stream of people and enthusiasts amazed me. The event was a tremendous success and the people of Omagh seemed really happy to have seen the Countryman.

Wednesday 11th August, Country Garage Ballymena. Day 17

Now this was a brilliant looking dealership, it was set of the beaten track right in the sticks and could easily doubled as a scene from Dallas. It had immaculate gardens and grand white electric gates that you drove past to get up the driveway to the dealers. This is certainly the most luxurious dealers I have been to on my travels. We got the car in ahead of schedule and it took centre stage in the showroom. Once again the guys in the dealership were really pleasant and were really keen to see the Countryman. The event went really well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and there were a few orders placed as well...H days!!

Tuesday10th August JKC Coleraine. Day 16

The penultimate week of the tour has seen us arrive in Northern Ireland and we have been really excited to sample some of the old Irish charm. Today seen us head North to Coleraine and when we arrived we were certainly afforded a warm welcome and it was a matter of minutes before the banter was flowing. We got set up in the hand over bay so it added to the exclusivity of the event. The event kicked off at 4pm and I can honestly say that from start to finish it was a constant revolving door of people coming to have a wee look.  

Friday 6th august, Stratstone Tyneside. Day 15

Well my fleeting visit to the north east of England comes to an end today and I couldnt of ended it at a nicer dealership. Everyone at this garage was super helpful. We got the car in nice and early and as soon as it was in people started to come to see it. By I dont think we actually got a minute to ourselves once the event started and before we knew it home time had crept up on us. Everyone that had been invited had only positive words to say about the car and what it had to offer,  another good job done!! 

Homeward bound for me :-) 

Thursday 5th August, Fawdingtons ltd, Newcastle. Day 14

Day 14 seen me cross the border and into England and venture down to Newcastle. These guys really put on a show and even had a pig roast sorted as catering. Everyone at this venue was on the ball and I have to say that i was really impressed with this team. There was a really good dynamic going on and everyone was on their A game for this pre view. The night went really well and there were 90+ through the door with 30+ looking for test drives. Well done Fawdingtons and top marks on the catering as well !

Wednesday 4th August, Peter Vardy, Edinburgh. Day 13

Today we had a celebrity turn up and have a look at the countryman, in fact he had already bought one and was just looking at what his purchase will look like close up. The man in question was none other than the ex Glasgow Celtic captain, Jackie Mcnamara. 

The guys at Peter Vardy had already got 16 pre orders in for the Countryman before we had arrived so we knew the response from this event would be good and we were not to be disappointed. The marketing team from Peter Vardy were out in full force and the sales staff were on the ball and knew all about the Countryman. The event went really well and I would say all of the people that came to visit left with a smile including wee jackie!!

Tuesday 3rd August,  Eastern Motor Company, Edinburgh. Day 12

Ok, this has to be the most enthusiastic dealer we have been to, as soon as we got the car off the wagon we were surrounded by the salesmen and women and within seconds they were all trying to clamber in to the countryman....I can only liken the euphoria to when John, Paul, George and Ringo first landed in America. 

As we got set up it soon became apparent just how much everyone loved MINI and how excited that were to have the Countryman in there showroom. We took pride of place in the centre of the room and as the night when on the masses came to have a look and let us know what they though of it.  They were over 80 people that came along to the event and were greeted by helpful staff and catering that was to die for. All in all the event was a great success and there were plenty of test drives booked and lots of happy customers.

Well done to everyone at eastern motors...top class performance!!

Monday 2nd August, Menzies Motors, Stirling Day 11

And so week 3 begins and what a brilliant location to start it...Stirling, home to the Wallace monument. If you listened close enough you could just about hear the faint cries of FREEDOM!! 

It was a typical Scottish summers day...overcast and drizzly but this didn't dampen the excitement as we rolled up to the dealers. The showroom staff were pleased to see us and were raring to go when we got the Countryman in to the showroom. All the feedback was super positive and I left with a feeling that this car will be seen in a few locations where Wallace once strutted his stuff!! 

Friday 30th July, Douglas Park Hamilton. Day 10

Well we have made it to the last day of the 2nd week and the final leg of the west coast of Scotland. We arrived at the dealership ahead of schedule and we were taken aback at the size of this venue...it was massive, not just one building dedicated to MINI but two buildings and a forecourt dedicated to them...it was rather impressive. 

The staff here were really friendly and professional and certainly knew there stuff and most importantly the customers that they had invited. At one point all 4 desks were being utilised by customers who were wanting to get a price on their very own countryman...Happy days!

Thursday 29th July, Harry Fairbairn Glasgow. Day 9

Thursday seen me meet up with MINIs very own charlies angels...yes you heard correct!! I had the pleasure to watch Suzy, Andrea and the lovely Donna strut their stuff around the showroom and I have to say I was impressed. There was a champagne reception on arrival and the countryman was the only car in the showroom so it could only take centre stage. The masses from Glasgows southside were out in force today and were loving every minute of the countryman and the event in general,  Good work MINI girls...Just a quick thought, i wonder if that made me Charlie then?!?! 

Wednesday 28th July, Douglas Park Glasgow. Day 8

Well, we are half way through the second week and I have to say that when we rolled into Douglas Parks garage there was a real buzz about the place!! The MINI guys could not wait to see the countryman up close and to say that they were excited was an understatement. 

We were set up in plenty of time and as soon as we got the countryman in to the showroom onlookers started to gather and have a wee nosey...and all of the feedback was 100% positive!! One person that just happened to pass the Countryman could not believe how good it looked and is considering swapping his BMW to get a Countryman...Love it!! The day went really quickly and at one point everyone was engaged in conversation regarding the event.

Tuesday 27th July Harry Fairbairn Irvine Day 7

Today we got a real treat...one of the loyal customers was a mini collector and he was so excited about the launch that he brought down an original countryman so everybody could see what it was like. The day was a real success and the staff were first class and extremely professional and seemed to know everybody that walked through the door. There were 30 guests invited and 30 turned up with 3 pre orders done on the day.

Monday 26th July Crossflags Dumfries Day 6

Day 6 and the tour had brought us to Dumfries, one of the southern most towns in Scotland in fact as the crow flies its only 30 miles to the English border. The weather wasn't to great today so it put a bit of a dampener on things as this dealerships was one that you really needed to travel a bit of a distance to. 400 people were invited to the event and 40 people turned up.

Friday 23rd July Phoenix Kircaldy Day 5

Well Friday had come around and week 1 of the MINI Countryman has been completed and what a great place to end the first week at!! The staff at this dealership were really up for it and incredibly friendly and seemed to have a real connection with the customers that they invited and this was reflected at the close of play when they had got 4 pre orders for the countryman and were hopeful for at least a few more. Well done all at Phoenix Kircaldy.

Thursday 22nd July Grassicks Perth. Day 4

Day 4 and the sun had decided to make an appearance today, you've just got to love it when that happens! We arrived at Perth and managed to get set up ahead of schedule much to the dealers delight as this meant he could get a good look at the Countryman and see what it was like. 28 people were invited to the preview and i would say that there was 30+ that actually came along  with 3 confirmed orders on the day and the manager hopeful for another 3 at the beginning of next week, so all in all a very successful day.

Wednesday 21st July John Clark Ltd Dundee. Day 3

We arrived at the Dundee dealership in good time and thankfully we managed to miss most of the awful weather that had plagued the country for the past day. When we arrived the space had been cleared for us and we were able to get the Countryman straight into the showroom. As soon as we were in position and set up the interest started and over the course of the day 40 people had come to the event. The manager of the dealership also said that this was the busiest day he had seen in the showroom since he started...good times! 

Monday 19th July Calterdon Ltd Inverness. Day 1

Well day one got of to a cracker!! We arrived at the dealers at 1pm and got our lovely MINI Countryman in for a valet pronto and I must add that the two chaps did a fantastic job as when the car arrived it was absolutely gleaming. We were set up for 3pm and there were already people showing an interest in the Countryman and the trend continued throughout the day with a steady flow of guests coming to have a look. I have to say, hand on heart that I was blown away by the response of the public, they were so positive and excited about the countryman it made the day pass so quickly.

I think that we left Inverness with the attendees eagerly anticipating the launch of the MINI countryman...

Next stop Aberdeen...tbc

Tuesday 20th July John Clark Ltd Aberdeen. Day 2

Another great day!! The sun was shining and this dealership was massive with some great energetic staff. We arrived just before 1pm and already the space for the Countryman had been set a side in a prime location. Everyone at this place seemed really up for it and such was the excitement that we had 10 people from the sales staff eagerly waiting at the truck to be the first to catch a glimpse of our little beauty.

Once again the response from the public was overwhelming, everyone that came to see it seemed to really like it and after this preview there have been 20 Countryman pre ordered...WOW!!!!

Roll on Dundee...