Posted in Automotive
20th April 2023
Minoli is delighted to share news and images of Rygor Commercial’s latest technically advanced dealership in Reading. Having relocated from Rose Kiln Lane to the site at Worton Grange, this Mercedes-Benz Van sales and aftersales dealership features tiles from Minoli’s specialist automotive series to the specification of the Mercedes-Benz Retail Experience MAR20X Corporate Identity.
Officially launched to customers on 21 January this year, the impressive facilities are part of a £2 million investment that not only offers customers a first-class retail experience within a modern, purpose-built and well-equipped dealership, but also provides an exceptional working environment for the Rygor team.
Having achieved certification as a ‘Great Place To Work™’ in September 2022 based on employee feedback, the new facility will no doubt further strengthen the Group’s credentials to recruit and retain the best workforce in their field. With enhanced working spaces, washrooms and a well-equipped staff break-out area, Rygor Commercials has taken its commitment to employee satisfaction even further, by installing a wellness suite for the team at site, which goes alongside the company’s accolade as a UK Best Workplace for Wellbeing, 2023.
The Mercedes-Benz Retail Experience MAR20X is a brand image initiative, which has marked the start of a new chapter of its global retail presence. The adaptation of today’s retail network targets a transformation into a new competitive Sales and Aftersales landscape covering architecture, media, processes and dealership roles, that are designed to focus on the customer and enable Mercedes-Benz Van to make the most of its retail potential. The aim is to ensure a uniform brand experience and the highest level of quality across all products, services and sales channels.
Mercedes-Benz dealerships play a central role in making it possible for the brand promise to be experienced beyond the online world. The physical manifestation of Corporate Identity elements, brand architecture and interior fittings, precisely conveys those values which are associated with their latest products, as purposefully demonstrated at the new Rygor Commercials Reading site.
The outside of the new dealership has an impressive and dramatic facade, clad in dark panelling which prominently features the Mercedes-Benz and Rygor Commercials branding. The customer experience has been carefully thought through in this exterior setting with ample parking, room for vehicle manoeuvres and covered van service arrival and handover bays.
Inside, the state-of-the-art showroom and customer service areas include a new digital display wall with integrated consultation desk, a barista-style refreshments zone with contemporary barstools and more casual café seating. The welcome area provides a central and open client reception counter from which to welcome customers, whilst additional product and service consultation areas offer views of the pristine workshops and used van display through expansive, full-height glazing.
Another visually striking feature is the flooring, expertly laid with premium porcelain tiles from Minoli’s specialist automotive series. Where large surfaces are tiled and need to stand up to both pedestrian and four-wheeled traffic, the watchwords are quality, consistency, durability and ease of maintenance. Technological advancements in the production of the latest porcelain tiles have seen the emergence of new ranges that can bear greater loads, are more resistant to chemicals, have improved anti-slip properties and excellent colour stability over time.
Within the customer-facing areas, two distinct zones have been distinguished, both featuring high-performance porcelain tiles with crisp rectified edges, but with very different surface designs. In the vehicle display area, the Minoli Graphite-Grey floor tile in matt stone-effect and an expansive 60/120 format, creates the perfect stage on which to showcase the current Mercedes-Benz van range.
The client reception, consultation and hospitality areas have a lighter, warmer and welcoming floor finish, that of the Minoli wood-effect ETC Series. The linear layout of these perfectly proportioned 22.5/90 planks seemingly extends the space with the gorgeous graining and knots found in natural timber.
Having started trading in the 1960’s as a family haulage business in the Mendips, Rygor Group originally became an authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer in the 1980’s and gained full Dealer status shortly afterwards. Now established as an award-winning leader in the industry, Rygor Commercials has 11 authorised Mercedes-Benz Van and Truck branches located across the UK, committed to selling and maintaining commercial vehicles.
Within this stunning new 44,000 sq. ft facility, Rygor Commercials will be able to offer an outstanding customer experience, as well as the full range of new and used Mercedes-Benz vans, including the eSprinter Panel Van, the eVito Panel Van, the eVito Tourer and the eCitan, all designed to help keep businesses moving into a fully connected, low-carbon future.
The design and architecture for the dealership was overseen by Taylor Design Architects, whose forward-thinking approach creates designs which reflect the unique demands of the premium automotive sector.
Minoli’s has a specialist automotive team headed up by Managing Director, Jonathon Minoli, who would be delighted to explore how we may be of service to new clients in the sector. Please contact him directly by email to jonathon@minoli.co.uk to arrange a time to discuss suitable ranges and specifications for showroom, workshop and customer hospitality areas.