Businessman Tony Edwards had only recently taken delivery of his Mercedes-Benz Citan from Kidderminster Dealer Rygor, when he escaped unscathed from a motorway smash.
“Mine was the last vehicle in a stationary queue of traffic and a car came spinning into the back of me,” recalled the proprietor of home entertainments specialist Jooced. “It was snowing at the time and I didn’t see him coming but it was a very big bang, which left the back of my new van badly damaged.
“Most importantly, though, I was completely unhurt. The brand’s reputation for safety was one of the main reasons I bought my first Mercedes-Benz vehicle, as I also use it from time to time to carry our two young daughters. But I hadn’t expected to put those safety credentials to the test quite so soon!”
Based in the Shropshire beauty spot of Ironbridge, widely recognised as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Jooced installs home automation and cinema, mood lighting and audio visual systems for clients nationwide. The company holds Gold standard Control4 accreditation, a recognised guarantee of quality within its industry.
Now fully repaired and looking as good and new, his Extra-long Citan 109 CDI crew van has just been joined by a second Mercedes-Benz van, a larger Sprinter 214 CDI Medium with high roof, which was also supplied by Rygor. Both vehicles are real head-turners in their metallic black paintwork and Jooced livery.
The Citan has a second, folding row of seats and serves as Mr Edwards’ ‘daily driver’. He specified the vehicle with a Drivers Pack, which includes air conditioning, rear parking sensors, electric folding mirrors and a centre armrest with storage, and an Appearance Pack which adds eye-catching alloy wheels, as well as painted bumpers and door mirrors.
The Sprinter’s Premium Pack, meanwhile, comprises air conditioning, a satellite navigation module, and a Comfort seat with armrest, as well as stylish wheel trims and a chrome grille.
“Given the nature of the clientele, image is very important to a business like ours,” said Mr Edwards, who formed his company in 2008 and has just recruited a fifth engineer to keep pace with demand.
“Mercedes-Benz is a highly prestigious brand and our new vans are certainly very smart, without being flashy or ostentatious. When I turn up at a prospective customer’s property to undertake a survey or provide a quotation, the Citan helps me to convey exactly the right impression of professionalism and quality.”
He continued: “Both vehicles are exceptionally comfortable and highly fuel-efficient, important attributes given that our work takes us all over the country. I was using a Japanese 4x4 before I bought the Citan, and I certainly spend a lot less time at the filling station these days.”
“I use my Citan to carry materials and components, and we do likewise in the Sprinter, which also serves as a mobile workshop. We’ve racked it out and you can stand up in the back, which makes life so much easier compared to our other vans, in which you’re either on your knees or bent double rummaging around for the things you need.”
Jooced’s Mercedes-Benz vans are the subject of Agility finance packages, which give the operator a range of options at the end of the term. Jooced has also signed-up to Mercedes-Benz Service Plans covering routine maintenance of the vehicles, which provide Mr Edwards with the twin benefits of cashflow stability and fixed labour and parts costs.
“Rygor’s Van Sales Executive Craig Hackley is a nice guy and very helpful,” added Mr Edwards. “The finance and maintenance deals he’s arranged are competitively priced and suit us down to the ground.”
Like all Mercedes-Benz vans, Jooced’s Citan and Sprinter are backed by three-year, unlimited mileage warranties and, because they are being maintained with the manufacturer’s official Dealer Network, MobiloVan cover which includes free roadside assistance for up to 30 years.
Craig Hackley commented: “Rygor is committed to a mantra of Setting Standards. This means providing our customers with vehicles which are tailored precisely to meet the individual requirements of their businesses, while also offering flexible, cost-effective finance and maintenance solutions that meet the same objective. It is gratifying that we’ve been able to tick all of these boxes for Jooced.”
www.jooced.co.uk