Car dealership to close due to ‘difficult trading conditions’ as they offer to help PAY customers to use another branch

A POPULAR car dealership is set to close next month - meaning customers will have to travel by ferry to service their vehicles.

Snows Car Centre, located in Newport, Isle of Wight, will close on February 5, 2025.

With just a few weeks to go before they shut their doors for good, Snows is encouraging its customers to head to their nearest branch situated in Portsmouth - even offering to help pay the travel expenses for trip over to the mainland.

As reported by the , Snows wrote a letter to customers claiming their Forest Road site closed due to "difficult trading conditions in the automotive industry and a significant increase in running costs."

Dianna MacKinnon, the company’s Head of Business, added that the branch's operations were no longer feasible.

To ensure their customers experience a smooth transition to their Portsmouth branch, they are even offering assistance.

This includes covering the cost of transport as well as a 20 per cent discount on labour for future service or repair jobs.

A Snows customer said: "Snows are trying to encourage island customers to go to Portsmouth.

"I've decided to find another garage, but obviously, if there's a problem with the car, it will probably mean a trip over.

"For me, it's a bit inconvenient but for others, it may be more than that.

"It's been such a sudden thing, there's been no opportunity for anyone to plan anything."

In a statement, Snows said: "Due to difficult trading conditions in the automotive industry and a significant increase in running costs, we have reached a point where continuing to operate an outlet on the island is no longer feasible."

"It is with regret that we will close Snows Isle of Wight on 5 February 2025.

“We are in consultation with affected staff members, and where possible will seek to find them alternative opportunities within the company.

"We remain committed to supporting our island customers from our mainland dealerships in Portsmouth and Southampton and thank our island customers for their loyalty over the years."

This comes after a bike dealership closed down suddenly last week after facing “ongoing financial challenges”.

A branch of Blade Motorcycles, located on Elgin Drive in Swindon, abruptly closed its doors, stating it had become “unfeasible to continue”.

The motorcycle shop, owned by the Heritage Automotive Group, was established in 1995.

The dealership represents eight motorcycle brands, including Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki, Triumph, and Yamaha.

It also served a large proportion of marques, servicing and selling bikes from many of the brands mentioned above.

The Swindon site was also the closest to another Blade Motorcycles dealership, with the Abingdon branch just 25 miles away.