Crescent takes over Rob Willsher Motorcycles

CRESCENT has expanded its dealership network in to Southampton, where it now owns Rob Willsher of Bursledon, and the rights to sell new Suzuki motorcycles across the entire Solent area of the South coast.

The move makes Crescent one of the largest outlets for new Suzukis in the UK " when the Willsher business is combined with existing dealerships in Bournemouth and Verwood, Crescent will retail approximately 900 new Suzuki motorcycles a year.

Crescent Director Martyn James said: "Southampton is a key area for expansion of our business, so we entered negotiations with Willsher's and Crescent now owns and operates the dealership.

"We really like the family feel that Willsher's has developed and its relationship with the motorcycle fraternity in Southampton. That fits well with Crescent and as a result we have retained Tom Guilmant as the dealer proprietor to reassure existing and new customers.

"The dealership will continue to trade as Rob Willsher under the Crescent banner and we have exciting plans for the future, including relocating to new purpose-made premises with updated workshop and showroom facilities."

The Rob Willsher dealership can trace its roots back to the turn of the century when the current site was a stable. It went through many transformations before it started retailing Suzuki motorcycles in 1974. Crescent started trading in 1949 and has been one of Suzuki's most successful solus dealerships since 1963. The catchment area for the new three-dealership Crescent Motorcycle Co Ltd now ranges along England's South coast from Dorchester in the West to Bognor Regis in the east and on to Winchester/Salisbury to the North.