Business Action | February / March 2021
February / March 2021 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue features our Business Activists answering your business questions plus full details of the Business Action North Devon Business Awards 2021 and how you can enter them. And there's news of businesses of every size and sector from the communities across North Devon.
February / March 2021 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue features our Business Activists answering your business questions plus full details of the Business Action North Devon Business Awards 2021 and how you can enter them. And there's news of businesses of every size and sector from the communities across North Devon.
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NEGLIGENCE MOTORING<br />
Driving the future of motoring<br />
A Bideford garageestablished<br />
in1933isadaptingtotherapid<br />
changesinthemotoring<br />
industrytoembracethearrival<br />
ofelectriccars.<br />
Trulyafamilybusiness,<br />
BlightsMotorswasstartedby<br />
JackBlight,ablacksmithin<br />
Monkleigh,whoadaptedfrom<br />
shoeinghorsestoservicingthe<br />
growingnumberofmotorcars<br />
aftertheSecondWorldWar.<br />
Jack’ssons,FredandJeff,joined<br />
thebusinessandnowJeff’sson,<br />
Nick,managesitsService<br />
operation.Formanyyears,<br />
Nick’suncle,Dave,wasgeneral<br />
manager.Jeffstillworksparttimeandhiswife,Theresa,<br />
managesitsSparstore,while<br />
TimBlight,Nick’suncle,runs<br />
theSalesoperation.<br />
Thebusinesshasoccupied<br />
severalsites,butmovedtoits<br />
presentlocationinClovelly<br />
Roadinthe1960s.Today,as<br />
wellasbeingtheNorthDevon<br />
MGmaindealer,Blights<br />
providesnewandusedcarsales<br />
andservicing,BPfuelsalesand<br />
rapidelectriccarcharging<br />
points,andalargeSpar<br />
conveniencestore.<br />
Going electric<br />
Blightshasalwayslookedtothe<br />
futureandwiththemotor<br />
Blights’ large Spar convenience store supports<br />
many local residents<br />
industryundergoing<br />
fundamentalchange,Nickhas<br />
takenafreshlookatthe<br />
businesstobringallpartsofits<br />
operationsuptodate.<br />
Aswellassupplyingnew<br />
petrolMGmodels,Blightsis<br />
steadilydevelopingsalesofthe<br />
marque’selectriccars.To<br />
supportthis,ithasinvested<br />
significantlyinupgradingits<br />
workshopfacilitiesandisnow<br />
anapprovedElectricService<br />
andRepairCentre,soaswellas<br />
servicingandMOTsfor<br />
petrolanddieselcars,it<br />
canserviceanymakeof<br />
electriccar.<br />
Theforecourtalso<br />
offersmotoristsrapid<br />
charging,asmore<br />
switchtoelectric.<br />
Nicksaysinterestin<br />
electriccarsisgrowing<br />
andthatcustomersare<br />
impressedatthevalue<br />
offeredbyMGs,<br />
includingtheirseven-year<br />
warranty.Blightsoffersarange<br />
offinanceoptionsandalso<br />
participatesintheMotability<br />
scheme.<br />
Evenwithlockdowns,sales<br />
haveremainedstrongand<br />
Blightsalmostsoldoutof<br />
vehiclesbytheendof2020.<br />
Serving the community<br />
Providinggoodserviceand<br />
peaceofmindnotonlydrives<br />
Blights’motorsalesand<br />
servicing,butalsoits<br />
store.Recent<br />
investmentofsome<br />
£30,000hasenabled<br />
remodellingofthe<br />
1,200sq.ft.shopto<br />
enhancecustomers’<br />
shoppingexperience.<br />
Thishasincludedan<br />
upgradeofthetill<br />
systemtoprovidemore<br />
detailedanalysisof<br />
salesandtheaddition<br />
ofnewproductranges,<br />
includinghotfoodandquality<br />
preparedfrozenmealsand<br />
wines.Nicksaystheshophas<br />
beenverybusyduring<br />
lockdowns,withcustomersable<br />
tokeepstockedupwithfood<br />
easilywhenrestrictionshave<br />
discouragedtravel.<br />
Focus on the customer<br />
Fromitsbeginningsinthe<br />
horse-drawnera,Blightshas<br />
developedintoabusiness<br />
operatingwiththelatestvehicle<br />
technology,employingateam<br />
of28peopleacrossallits<br />
activities.Keepingupwith<br />
developmentsisessentialand<br />
thishasenabledittokeeppace<br />
withchangesandachievethe<br />
successivetransformations<br />
fromhorsetopetroltoelectric.<br />
Inadditiontoits<br />
engineeringandtechnical<br />
expertise,Blightsmaintainsa<br />
strongfocusoncustomer<br />
experienceandisamemberof<br />
TradingStandards’BuyWith<br />
ConfidenceSchemeandthe<br />
RetailMotorIndustry<br />
Federation.Itaimsforevery<br />
customertoenjoyafantastic<br />
experience,frominitialenquiry<br />
totestdrives,vehicle<br />
purchasingandaftercare.<br />
■ Details01237472282or<br />
blightsmotors.co.uk<br />
Blights supplies new petrol and electric MG<br />
cars as well as a wide range of used vehicles<br />
@businessactionm | <strong>February</strong> / <strong>March</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 11
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