Discussion:
Richard Close Briggs Equipment CEO on way out

I have been hearing whispers that the Briggs equipment CEO mr Close is on his way out of the business, wouldn't be surprised if he was going to nacco to convince them to buy briggs, he's got history. Any one else hear he's leaving. Is this a good or bad thing for Briggs ?
  • Posted 25 Sep 2015 00:45
  • By FakeEngineer
  • joined 16 Mar'15 - 9 messages
  • Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Showing items 1 - 20 of 26 results.
Sean, i have dealt with Briggs at a very high level as a customer, even had lunch with Mr.Close in Cannock on a couple of occasions when he was in charge.
He always came across as a bloke who was passionate and cared about what he did and supported his teams with whatever they needed, again with a lot of key people who really went out of their way to win business for themselves, also the pride and passion the guys i dealt with was fantastic. If we were to judge fork trucks suppliers on effort alone, Briggs would be no'1 in my opinion, however business is not just about effort, it is about cost bases too.
  • Posted 10 Jun 2016 07:30
  • By BurtKwok
  • joined 1 Apr'12 - 49 messages
  • West Yorks, United Kingdom
Also need to start looking after engineers cause with out them there is no business, having said that Briggs were very good at that when I was there
  • Posted 4 Jun 2016 07:29
  • By FakeEngineer
  • joined 16 Mar'15 - 9 messages
  • Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Bring back Harvey's
Also need to start looking after the customers because without them their is no business!
  • Posted 4 Jun 2016 07:21
  • Modified 4 Jun 2016 07:49 by poster
  • By sean3
  • joined 14 May'11 - 46 messages
  • lancashire, United Kingdom
Also need to start looking after the customers because without them their is no business
  • Posted 4 Jun 2016 07:20
  • Modified 4 Jun 2016 07:49 by poster
  • By sean3
  • joined 14 May'11 - 46 messages
  • lancashire, United Kingdom
@BurtKwok
Well stated and easy to understand - except for those folks that don't really want to work but want to collect a pay check.
  • Posted 3 Jun 2016 21:45
  • By johnr_j
  • joined 3 Jun'06 - 1,452 messages
  • Georgia, United States
I agree.
  • Posted 3 Jun 2016 20:35
  • By triumphrider
  • joined 31 Jan'11 - 304 messages
  • Texas, United States
Hold on a minute.
We live in a capitalist society, which bit of business just decides to make forktrucks for fun?
Last time i looked at any business, it is ALWAYS about the money, otherwise what is the point?
Who is going to run a business at a loss?
You can only look at equipment as assets and how much money they can make for you, either as sales and service or rentals.
You cannot have one without the other.
Some folks need a reality check and need to really ask themselves how can i contribute to my companies success?
Only through combined effort can all progress.
In other words, if you don't start ****, get off the pot..!
  • Posted 3 Jun 2016 07:33
  • By BurtKwok
  • joined 1 Apr'12 - 49 messages
  • West Yorks, United Kingdom
Amen!
  • Posted 14 Apr 2016 22:35
  • By cb_analyst
  • joined 20 Dec'14 - 5 messages
  • Surrey, United Kingdom
So I hear. Step up another accountant that only sees flt 's in glossy trade brochures and customers as potentially increased revenue
  • Posted 7 Apr 2016 01:21
  • By FakeEngineer
  • joined 16 Mar'15 - 9 messages
  • Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
New MD named, Peter Jones
  • Posted 6 Apr 2016 20:41
  • By heightlift
  • joined 19 Sep'12 - 139 messages
  • North, United Kingdom
Still no CEO ????
  • Posted 12 Feb 2016 06:14
  • By Darkarcher
  • joined 1 May'12 - 25 messages
  • Wales, United Kingdom
Guys I think you may be missing the point here,the CEO will be chosen by the Sammons Enterprises Inc Board,whom I believe are ethical and trustworthy. I think we need to trust them to get it right.
  • Posted 12 Jan 2016 01:16
  • By guyforks511
  • joined 5 Apr'12 - 2 messages
  • Birmingham, United Kingdom
A new broom always leaves it's mark but usually for it's own benefit
  • Posted 4 Jan 2016 02:59
  • By Roibeard
  • joined 2 Mar'10 - 335 messages
  • Dublin, Ireland
Patience my son, however the new broom might sweep clean.....speak soon!
  • Posted 2 Jan 2016 19:48
  • By wanderer
  • joined 20 May'12 - 19 messages
  • west midlands, United Kingdom
Still no sign of new CEO at Briggs UK ? I'm starting to feel a little twitch.After all it is 2016 tomorrow ! What the **** is going on ?
  • Posted 1 Jan 2016 04:49
  • By Darkarcher
  • joined 1 May'12 - 25 messages
  • Wales, United Kingdom
Not sure about selling at a loss I have seen a price of 30,000 lb truck at over 230000 us dollars.never mind selling at a loss at these prices they are on a different planet
  • Posted 29 Nov 2015 04:58
  • Modified 29 Nov 2015 05:00 by poster
  • By exalt
  • joined 30 Sep'14 - 433 messages
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Agreed! Sales is a difficult one. Lots of good sales people have been victims of circumstance , due to manufactures 'giving away trucks' at what must be a loss ! Not sure how long losses can be sustained for !
But many customers see through the deals, and opt for quality service of the independent dealers
  • Posted 28 Nov 2015 20:34
  • By bert_s
  • joined 24 Apr'15 - 11 messages
  • Helmand, Afghanistan
Lots of negativity on Briggs here.
There have been a lot of changes in Briggs in the last two years alone, and i would agree some of the characters i met over three years ago weren't up to the task, too many people involved (and i'm looking at this from a customer / buyer perspective)
Which is a shame really, a lot of Briggs sales guys i've met in the last 12 months have been pretty decent blokes, i even met Mr.Close himself once, and i saw commitment support the Yale Hyster brands here in the UK and i can say they work pretty hard in trying to get sales.
Sales guys do not always have an easy time, some of the sales guys i've dealt with not just from Briggs but other suppliers are under tremendous pressure and you can see why there is a high turnover rate, i'd say don't criticise before you've had a go yourself, they all have targets to achieve or there will be engineers going up the road and whether you like sales people or not, good ones are worth their weight in gold and deserve the rewards, as they are only as good as their last sale.
They are no different to any of the players in the UK market, Linde, Crown, Junghenirich, they all have their problems.
One thing i found with the Yale Hyster product is that it is an excellent product and robust and the service side is probably the best out there in the UK, they are certainly people who go the extra mile, i know that they have the engineers interests at heart, it might not be easy to spot, but some of the things i've seen is enough to convince me. Equipment is a little on the expensive side compared to Linde for example, and trying to get that past the finance director is a bit of an ask.
I'd say in another 12/24 months Briggs will be in a better position, to restructure their cost to make their kit more competitive, just have to keep the faith and plough on.
  • Posted 27 Nov 2015 08:05
  • By BurtKwok
  • joined 1 Apr'12 - 49 messages
  • West Yorks, United Kingdom
M3 must be the most useless system ever devised ! Labour intensive its only marginally better than ink and paper. I think there must be something seriously wrong for Mr Close to leave and for the new guy who won't be joining after all. I think it's about time that all the directors went on a customer relations training course.
A ship with out a captain you surely run aground !
  • Posted 27 Nov 2015 07:57
  • By Darkarcher
  • joined 1 May'12 - 25 messages
  • Wales, United Kingdom
Middle managers will always be the same, pi$$ on everyone beneath them, and kiss every a$$ above them !

Still seems to be alot more chiefs than indians.

All seems a bit un necessary for a company that sells , hires and repairs forklifts.

And at the heart of all the chaos , everyone seems to be battling the big ole beast 'M3' aka 'the system '
  • Posted 27 Nov 2015 06:06
  • By bert_s
  • joined 24 Apr'15 - 11 messages
  • Helmand, Afghanistan

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