Ron Smith & Co Crowned STIHL’s Number One Dealership!

This year is a landmark one for STIHL as the world-renowned manufacturer celebrates its 100th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the company introduced a special series of awards recognising the outstanding achievements of its Approved Dealers across Great Britain.

We are incredibly proud to announce that Ron Smith & Co received the highest honour of them all, winning the prestigious STIHL 100 Year Award.

That wasn’t our only success. We also secured the Leading Garden Machinery Dealer Award, while our Commercial Field Sales Manager, Darren Beynon, was named amongst the top three finalists in the Star of the Dealership Award.

Together, these accolades recognise Ron Smith & Co’s commitment to excellence and make 2026 a year we will never forget.

A Landmark Year for STIHL

The awards formed part of the STIHL 100 Dealer Conference, held at STIHL GB’s headquarters, Contra House. Bringing together Approved Dealers from across the country, the event celebrated 100 years since Andreas Stihl founded the business in 1926.

Over the past century, STIHL has become one of the world’s most respected manufacturers of outdoor power equipment. It is a name synonymous with engineering excellence, reliability and innovation, continually developing products that make people’s lives easier when working in nature.

From pioneering the first portable chainsaw to developing today’s advanced battery-powered technology, STIHL has consistently invested in research and development to improve the way professionals and homeowners work outdoors.

The company’s reputation speaks for itself. STIHL has been the world’s best-selling petrol chainsaw brand since 1971, and its commitment to quality remains as strong today as it was a century ago.

STIHL’s centenary honours not only its remarkable history but also its determination to keep developing innovative products for generations to come.

Recognising the Best Across the Dealer Network

The STIHL 100 Dealer Conference was about more than celebrating an anniversary. It also recognised the outstanding businesses and individuals who continue to uphold STIHL’s exceptionally high standards.

Hosted by broadcaster, writer and garden designer Joe Swift, the STIHL Dealer Awards showcased the very best within the nationwide dealer network.

As STIHL GB Managing Director Kay Green noted, the conference acknowledged the vital role its Approved Dealers play in providing customers with trusted advice, expert support and professional after-sales service.

Those principles perfectly align with everything we strive to achieve.

Ron Smith & Co Receives the Ultimate Recognition

The STIHL 100 Year Award was presented to Ron Smith & Co in recognition of our all-round excellence and continued commitment to maintaining the highest standards across every area of the business.

Unlike many awards that focus on a single achievement, this accolade considers overall dealer performance throughout the STIHL 100 campaign.

Judging considered several key areas, including retail standards, online presence, marketing initiatives, staff training and overall sales growth.

Receiving this award reflects the fact that excellence is never the result of one department alone. It is achieved when every part of a business works together to deliver an outstanding customer experience.

As part of the presentation, our Managing Director, Mark Smith, was also presented with a limited-edition STIHL MS 500i Centennial Edition chainsaw, specially launched to commemorate STIHL’s 100th anniversary.

Winning the STIHL 100 Year Award is an honour that everyone at Ron Smith & Co is immensely proud to share.

Also Named Leading Garden Machinery Dealer

Adding to an unforgettable evening, we also received the Leading Garden Machinery Dealer Award.

This award recognises dealerships that demonstrate exceptional performance in STIHL garden machinery sales while delivering outstanding service before, during and after every purchase.

Judging considered strong STIHL garden machinery sales alongside excellent customer satisfaction, expert product advice, consistent after-sales support and highly visible promotion of STIHL products both in-store and online.

It also acknowledged successful participation in STIHL’s Local Dealer Marketing Programme.

Winning this award reinforces something our customers already know. Buying a machine is only part of the story. Benefiting from expert guidance, ongoing servicing and long-term support is equally important.

Celebrating Individual Excellence

Great businesses are built by great people.

We are therefore delighted that our Commercial Field Sales Manager, Darren Beynon, was recognised as one of the top three finalists in the Star of the Dealership Award.

This recognition reflects Darren’s knowledge, professionalism and commitment to supporting customers throughout their purchasing journey.

His achievement also highlights the depth of expertise across the Ron Smith & Co team, where every member of staff plays an important role in delivering the high standards our customers expect.

A Partnership Built on Shared Values

Our relationship with STIHL has always been based on shared principles. Those shared values have helped shape the way we do business for many years.

Like STIHL, we believe that investing in people, maintaining the highest standards and continually improving the customer experience are all essential for long-term success.

That commitment extends beyond our showroom displays.

Our team undertakes ongoing STIHL product training to ensure we remain fully up to date with the latest technology, product developments and best practices. This enables us to provide informed advice tailored to every customer’s individual requirements.

Whether someone is buying their very first hedge trimmer or investing in professional forestry equipment, they deserve knowledgeable guidance from people who genuinely understand the products.

That is exactly what our customers receive every day.

Thank You to Our Customers

While these awards recognise our business, they would never have been possible without the continued support of our customers.

Many of you have trusted Ron Smith & Co for years, returning whenever you need a new machine, servicing, genuine spare parts or expert advice.

Your loyalty motivates us to keep improving, expanding our range and maintaining the high standards that these awards celebrate.

Therefore, we would like to thank everyone who has chosen Ron Smith & Co over the years.

These achievements belong to you as much as they do to us.

Discover Britain’s Number One STIHL Dealer

If you’re investing in STIHL equipment, it makes sense to buy from the dealership recognised as the very best.

Our dedicated STIHL Shop brings together one of the UK’s most comprehensive selections of STIHL garden machinery, forestry equipment, batteries, accessories, clothing and genuine spare parts. Whether you’re maintaining a small garden, managing a large estate or working professionally every day, you’ll find exactly the right equipment for your needs, right here.

Just as importantly, you’ll receive expert advice from a friendly team whose knowledge is continually strengthened through ongoing STIHL training. We take the time to understand your requirements, recommend the right machine and continue supporting you long after your purchase through servicing, maintenance and after-sales care.

Being named STIHL’s 100 Year Dealer and Leading Garden Machinery Dealer reflects exactly what we aim to deliver every single day.

We are incredibly proud of this recognition, but even more proud of the trust our customers place in us every day. We look forward to welcoming you to our STIHL Shop and helping you choose the ideal machine, backed by the expert advice and after-sales support that earned us these awards.

More About STIHL

If you’d like to learn more about STIHL’s remarkable 100-year history, innovations and the people behind one of the world’s most respected outdoor power equipment brands, you can also explore some fascinating stories on the official STIHL website here.