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Platform for the management and construction of sports and golf courses
In 1931, the Thomas business was founded, a simple blacksmith shop then, repairing agricultural vehicles. Today, 86 years later, it is grandsons Frank and Johan who run the business, specialising in the distribution of agricultural and horticultural machinery.
When grandfather Thomas started as a farm blacksmith in 1931, he might not have dreamed that his modest business would grow into what it is today. His work - repairing first-generation agricultural machinery - soon evolved into selling machinery. Initially, he also did contract work, deploying a mobile threshing unit at the farmer's premises, for example. But as mechanisation increased, and partly at the hands of father Frans Thomas, who had been in the business for some time, the contract work was discontinued to focus entirely on the sale and after-sales service of tractors and agricultural vehicles.
When the third and current generation took over in the late 1980s, the two brothers Frank and Johan decided to continue their core business but diversify at the same time. The agricultural sector was doing less well and its future did not look particularly bright. An additional reason for this diversification was that the business now had to support two families. In addition, a ‘Garden & Park‘ department offered a lot of new potential. They also wanted to increase their radius of action. As far as agricultural machinery was concerned, they would continue to focus on local customers, in Flemish Brabant. As for the garden and park sector, they are now active throughout Belgium and Luxembourg.
There is not really a specific division of labour, but the two brothers complement each other nicely. For instance, Frank has a marketing background and Johan is more technically trained, although both have a fascination for large motorised machines. The company, which has always been located on the same site, now covers 10,000 m2, of which 6,000 m2 is covered, and there are about 30 employees on the payroll. Frank prefers not to talk about turnover. “Let's just say we try to sell one tractor/self-propelled tractor per working day,” he evades the question. The type of clientele? “That varies enormously,” says Frank. “From farmer Charel to the bigwigs of our society ;-). Lord and peasant are served here. Since diversifying, we also have a lot of local authorities, garden contractors, people in charge of sports centres and golf courses... among our clientele. A varied audience that we approach very personally and appropriately.”
“A lot has changed in our business, though,” Frank knows. “In grandfather's time, farmers came here to order or pay for something by bicycle, usually after mass. Gradually, time pressure as well as competition increased and we went to the customer ourselves. And today, things cannot go fast enough and everything will evolve and automate even faster and further. When Ford invited its dealers to America in 1964 and painted a picture of what agriculture would look like in the year 2000, people spoke of science fiction. Well, that science fiction of the time is today's reality. Tractors are equipped with GPS for greater efficiency, to drive more accurately, with less overlap in terms of sowing area. The crop is analysed and, depending on this, the degree of fertilisation for the next harvest is determined. Robots are deployed, drones...”
But it may all have become a bit ‘easier’ and less physically demanding, but you still have to know the craft to survive as a farmer today. You also have to have technical knowledge, because after all, you have to be able to operate and maintain all that automation. Farmers certainly don't have it any easier today. They have also been obliged to keep expanding. To increase production. Being self-sufficient is no longer enough.
Frank does not see the future as bleak, but it will not get any easier, he believes. “When we came into the business, farming was gradually deteriorating. All the ‘small ones’ gave up and that process is likely to continue for some time. Only big and strong farms will survive. Those that have the people and resources to keep investing heavily in technological developments. Falling behind is not an option. Companies will have to follow to survive and also adapt their structure to the latest developments. An additional challenge is to find the right personnel, because, as in other industries, we need technicians for the future, who are willing to keep up their training. Moreover, they have to have some affinity with agriculture, otherwise they won't last. It is always looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. It is even so difficult that it slows down companies like ours in our growth. For the non-technical jobs, we notice candidates applying with a bachelor's degree, who are in fact overqualified, which is not healthy in the long run either.’
Whether my job is tougher now than when my father ran the business? Not comparable, according to Frank. “After all, my father had to do everything alone and manually. But I do think our generation is under more pressure. Relationships with suppliers are good but margins are shrinking. Time is money and we are struggling with very short seasons (sometimes only a few weeks) on the one hand and rapid succession of different seasons on the other. Our activities in the workshop are never idle. Fortunately, today's machines are much more powerful and breakdowns are less frequent. On the other hand, they are much more expensive. And then there is availability. Actually, we have to be permanently available. Especially in the high season, we cannot afford not to be available. We just make good arrangements for that. Finally, a final aspect that contrasts sharply with the past is the unimaginable amount of administration that has been added. That takes up an enormous amount of time. But then again, we are also ‘a bit’ bigger than we used to be, right?”
