Drummond & Etheridge

The Drummond & Etheridge business is built on a reputation of “talking straight” with customers and providing quality service long after the initial sale.

It’s a simple, honest approach, which has seen Drummond & Etheridge grow steadily during the past 75-plus years.

Today, the family owned and operated company has a presence in North, Mid and South Canterbury – selling tractors, farm machinery, vehicles, recreational motorbikes, turf & golf equipment, lawnmowers and a range of lifestyle-related merchandise.

The business has reached a critical size, where it is has the infrastructure to deliver even higher levels of customer service, through investment in state-of-the-art servicing technology and parts support, leveraging attractive finance packages for customers, and attracting quality brands to its stable of franchises.

How it all started

Young Arthur Etheridge started his mechanics apprenticeship in 1928 at the age of 14. He quickly became respected in his trade and was employed by Ashburton’s Furnace and Drummond, where he became top technician. When the Furnace and Drummond partnership dissolved, Drummond offered Arthur a partnership – and Drummond & Etheridge was formed. It was 1933 and Arthur was 19 years old.

In 1962, Arthur’s son Peter started in the business and soon found his niche was selling tractors – which he still does today.

The Etheridge family has the business in its blood and, these days, the next generation is at the helm. Son Mark is managing director, while one of Peter’s daughters, Suzanne, manages the merchandising division of the business.

Drummond & Etheridge and the John Deere brand have been synonymous in Mid Canterbury since the company took on the franchise in 1975. In 2004, it extended its business north, with the purchase of a second John Deere franchise in Templeton. Three years later, the south beckoned and the company purchased the Holden and Nissan dealerships in South Canterbury.

Mid Canterbury remains “home” and, in 2010, Drummond & Etheridge built a $7m showroom – to showcase its line up of quality brands and to provide a centrally-located, highly-spec service facility for its South Island-wide customer base. There are plans to upgrade the Templeton showroom in the medium term.

Timeline

Drummond & Etheridge Timeline 1933 - 2010
1933 Drummond and Etheridge partnership was formed 1935 Drummond and Etheridge was made a Limited company and acquired the local agency for Morris & Terraplane cars 1936 Mr E. A. Scott was invited to become a working partner 1937 ‘Servrite’ was built on Main Street and was the official A.A service station 1939 During the war period, the Service Station was closed due to worker enlistments 1949 Obtained agency for Nuffield Tractors 1951 New Holland franchise acquired 1953 Consolidated on Tancred Street and purchased more land and workshop 1956 Mr Bob Drummond retired, Mr Arthur Etheridge became managing director 1968 More adjacent land purchased in 1968 on Moore Street 1970 Arthur Etheridge retired and Bert Drummond became managing director	1971 St James Picture theatre purchased and demolished 1975 Obtained John Deere and Austin car franchises 1976 Purchased office block 1976 Bert Drummond passed away and Ian Drummond became managing director 1977 Obtained Honda Cars 1978 Obtained Landrover and Triumph franchises 1984 Obtained Nissan franchise 1987 John Keith and Ian Kedzlie were appointed directors 1989 Purchased Combine Shed from Baileys and the old National Bank. Started a Combine and Tractor wrecking yard 1989 Ian Drummond retired and Peter Etheridge became managing director 1990 Obtained Toyota franchise 1995 Released Toyota franchise 1997 John Keith passed away 2001 Mark Etheridge was appointed managing director, and obtained Polaris franchise	2002 Ian Kedzlie retired. Kooima and La Forge franchises obtained 2003 Mark Etheridge and Ashley Gordon purchased Drummond and Etheridge 2003 Ashley Gordon was appointed as a director and passed away that same year. 2004 Purchased John Deere franchise in Christchurch 2006 Announcement to build purpose built John Deere premises on East Street, obtained Husaberg franchise 2007 Purchased Nissan and Holden franchises in Timaru 2009 Obtained Agrowplow franchise 2010 Transferred John Deere Sales, Parts and Service to East Street