Pictured above: Star performers… Andrew Loft, Parts Manager at Mercedes-Benz of Oxford, right, represented the Inchcape Mercedes-Benz South Midlands Market Area at the awards. Also shown are the Inchcape Group's other winners - Rebecca Sides, Fleet Sales Person of the Year, and Shaun Liu, Mercedes Benz Apprentice of the Year

Mercedes-Benz of Oxford has truly played its part in a top three placing of Inchcape Mercedes-Benz in the manufacturer's annual Retailer of the Year awards.

As one of three retailers in the Inchcape Mercedes-Benz South Midlands Market Area, Mercedes-Benz of Oxford contributed to the Market Area being voted as having one of the top three Parts teams in the whole of the Mercedes-Benz UK retail network.

The Inchcape Mercedes-Benz South Midlands Market Area was pitted against the network's other 31 market areas in the Parts Team of the Year category - a much coveted accolade in the awards that cover 14 different categories and commend excellence across all elements of Mercedes-Benz retailer businesses.

The recognition is a fitting reflection of the hard work that the vastly experienced Mercedes-Benz of Oxford Parts team and its counterparts at Mercedes-Benz of Coventry and Mercedes-Benz of Stratford-upon-Avon have undertaken to ensure best practice and that their customers benefit from unprecedented levels of service.

Hosted by television presenter and motoring celebrity Vicki Butler-Henderson, the awards referenced the reasons why the Inchcape Mercedes-Benz South Midlands Market Area had been chosen as one of the top three Parts teams. It was praised for driving up both its private and trade sales through good marketing, attention to detail and the quality of service provided.  This resulted in trade sales increasing by 18 per cent and Accessory sales growing by over 34 per cent.

Andrew Middleton, Divisional After Sales Director for Inchcape, was delighted with the result.

"We've put a great deal into enhancing our Parts operation with a very proactive approach and it's great to see all our efforts being rewarded with this recognition," said Andrew.

"The growth of our Parts operation is down to a number of factors, such as re-evaluating our every process, regular contact with our customers and ensuring that they have the relevant information available, superb and well marketed offers, and even mystery shopping our teams."

Andrew continued: "Of course, having a fantastic product helps as well, with all Mercedes-Benz genuine parts being guaranteed for two years and often being much more affordable than many imagine, which is underlined by our increasing number of trade partners who are choosing original parts rather than inferior pattern copies."