Editor’s Blog in conversation with Volvo’s James Shires
A FRIEND of mine – and, as it happens, fellow Harlequins supporter – who runs his own consultancy business, has recently bought a Volvo XC90.
He has, naturally, become the butt of many our jokes about middle class, middle England and middle age. All true, of course (!), but I understand why he has done it.
With three kids, a dog, plus business visits, he needs something practical and smart. And I think he got a good deal into the bargain.
Volvo has been making quiet progress with small businesses and SMEs over the past 12 months. Last year Volvo saw a rise in the number of company cars it sold by almost 20%. Much of this increase has been from SMEs with car fleets of 5-100 business cars.
The reason? Volvo has been out prospecting for new SME business and supporting it with business car demonstrators.
“We know from experience that once a business car manager or company car driver gets behind the wheel of one of our cars for any length of time, then it makes its way onto company car choice lists,” Volvo’s James Shires told me when I met him recently.
James – Volvo’s new national corporate sales operations manager – comes from the dealer operations side with a background in Volvo Car Finance. So he knows his stuff. James has taken over the role following the promotion of John Wallace to a new global fleet role.
