Motor Mecca History Part I
The Graeme Fraser story
From Farming to Retail
Graeme and Toni Fraser bought Motor Mecca in August 2008. At the time, Graeme was looking for more land to buy around Inverell, and the thought of moving into retail had not crossed his mind. It was an off-hand comment from the real estate agent as they drove by Motor Mecca, ‘That business is for sale,’ that was the catalyst for a whole new way of life for Graeme and Toni. As landowners for 20-odd years, launching a retail business was a steep learning curve. With the help of his offsider and loyal Motor Mecca employee Brad, and Graeme’s experience operating small motors on-farm, it didn’t take Graeme long to find his feet in retail.
New Blood, New Products
As with each new owner to come into the Motor Mecca shop, Graeme has also expanded the range of products available at Motor Mecca. Some cheaper models are now included, but Graeme will not compromise completely. Motor Mecca stands for quality, not quantity. A good quality chainsaw is cheap over years, Graeme is quick to point out. Perhaps this is inherited from his Old Man: ‘My Dad has only ever bought one chainsaw. He actually has the original receipt for it!’ Graeme still has the saw, and it still works perfectly, demonstrating the worth of a good piece of equipment. And to assist the lifespan of each item sold, Motor Mecca’s after-sales service sets them apart as a business that not only sells, but also maintains.
Meeting Demand
Graeme has a passion to see new markets opened locally, to provide services for the region that no one else is offering. These services include home butchering supplies, mobility scooters and the caravan and trailer repair shop, which also offers insurance solutions. The evolution of battery-powered garden products continues to gain momentum, and Graeme firmly believes that this is the future of garden equipment. Battery power now has the strength and durability to do the jobs demanded of the equipment; only the user must re-program to remember to charge it! As with all Motor Mecca’s bosses before him, AgQuip plays a huge part in the Motor Mecca calendar year. The market day in Gunnedah is the farmer’s opportunity to get out, research, meet up with others and enjoy some good old-fashioned bartering and retail therapy.
Happy Customers
Graeme takes great delight in seeing the look on people’s faces when they come in to purchase the mower or chainsaw they have been looking forward to for quite some time. Stocking superior, reliable products gives him great satisfaction. Motor Mecca’s tradition of well-trained staff continues under Graeme’s leadership – they attend conferences and company training, keeping fully-equipped with the latest techniques, technologies and information.
Motor Mecca: They sell, service and maintain, will not tolerate rip-offs, and only offer quality and reliability. Sounds like the model of a perfect Inverell business to me.