NEXT April sees Dicksons of Inverness celebrate a decade in the Carsegate industrial estate. “The friendly power in motoring - that’s our logo,” says Jim Gibson, the company’s financial director, “and we really try to live up to it.”

Dicksons is well-known for selling Nissan and Hyundai cars but it also has a trade centre section selling cars from £1500 up and a full range of workshop facilities for all makes of motors.
As well as carrying out MOT testing, the workshop specialises in brake and clutch repairs and there is a discount for cars over three years old. Currently News & Views readers are being offered £10 off their MOT with a coupon (see this page). They also specialise in tyres and have a full range at good value prices.

Courtesy cars are available for those who would be inconvenienced while theirs are under repair, and for those who opt to wait for some minor job there is a comfortable waiting area.
“Franchise garages are often viewed as being expensive,” says Mr Gibson, “but we offer a quality service at a competitive price.”

The name of Dicksons originally came from a Perth firm who had a branch off Harbour Road in Inverness in the early 1980s. In 1989 Dicksons of Forres was set up after a management buyout and it was three years later the smart new custom-built premises were built for sister company, Dicksons of Inverness, in Carsegate Road, selling the Nissan range.
These were expanded in February 2001 when the Hyundai dealership was added.

Clearly Dicksons is a flourishing and developing business which no doubt has plans to expand even further in future.
The Forres and Inverness companies are run quite separately, but share the same directors, including Chairman Alistair Scrimgeour. Inverness Sales Managers are Garry Bailey (for Nissan) and Jim Mackenzie (Hyundai).
Altogether there are 32 staff at the Carse including Julie Inglis at Reception and Douglas Wilmot, Service Manager.
“We have a lot of loyal customers,” says Jim Gibson. “And we like to see ourselves as a family-type business.”