Mazergroup Ltd. has added another member to its family.

The Brandon-based New Holland dealership complex has taken on the former Kelsey Farm Equipment Ltd. organization in Swan River. The merger, which had been in the works for about six months, became effective Dec. 1.

Mazergroup president and CEO Bob Mazer says it was a business move that works for both parties, considering the ever-changing realities of the implement sales business.

"The industry has gone to complexes like ours," he said. "That's to find synergies because there's less customers every year. There's actually less producers every year. Instead of closing locations, joining together and finding internal synergies is a better answer."

"Farms are getting bigger and machines are getting bigger, the demands of a dealership are getting bigger," adds Kelsey's owner and general manager, Glenn Horyshen. "If you stay still, then you're falling backwards. You have to be progressive or get out of the industry. I'm not interested at all in getting out of the industry."

With the move, Mazergroup now boasts locations in 13 communities across Manitoba.

The merger is likely to enhance the services available for all customers of Mazergroup, Mazer said.

"Each time you add a location, the services to our customers all over has somewhat of a net benefit because there's that much extra inventory, there's that many more extra inventory of parts and service expertise and so on that goes with those extra locations," he said.

Because his location will now also sell a line of construction machinery, Horyshen points to northern Manitoba as a new potential market for Mazergroup.

Horyshen will stay on as the Swan River location's sales manager and team leader. The location will not see any staffing reductions related to the merger and will eventually see a new business manager and GIS specialist hired, Mazer said.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition December 2, 2010 A3