Family-owned Williams Group has opened its flagship retail centre for BMW, MINI, Jaguar and Land Rover at TraffordCity, uniting the blue-chip automotive brands on one site for the first time.
The launch of the prestigious, new motor offering coincides with the year in which Williams celebrates its 110th anniversary, having been formed in 1909 and evolving into one of the North West of England’s leading providers of prestige automotive brands.
The family-owned business founded in Manchester is underlining its commitment to the city region with this major investment, described by Williams as the biggest undertaking in its history.
The centre forms a major part of Peel Land and Property’s TraffordCity development, directly adjacent to intu Trafford Centre and its unrivalled retail, leisure and family entertainment offering.
The 14.5-acre site was selected by Williams because it met exacting requirements for a prominent location to accommodate a retail centre with landscaped parking and grounds, setting new standards in retail and service for customers.
The site has been transformed to feature a striking three-storey contemporary glass fronted showroom complex, featuring:
- the largest BMW centre in the North West of England showcasing more than 70 BMW cars on three floors, cementing Williams’ status as the longest serving BMW franchisee in the North West of England;
- a purpose-built 10-car showroom for MINI;
- and an 18-car, dual-branded showroom for Jaguar and Land Rover.
Outdoor display areas allow Williams to also showcase hundreds of approved used BMWs, more than 80 approved used MINIs and in excess of 150 approved used Jaguar and Land Rover cars.
Customers enjoy unrivalled facilities and service including luxurious interiors with large lounge areas, Isetta and Barista bars, superior quality fixtures and fittings, VIP personal shopping bays for customers taking delivery of a new vehicle and a covered service drive-in with dedicated lanes where customers are personally greeted by staff with a concierge-style service.
About 240 of Williams’ workforce of more than 800 are relocating to TraffordCity from centres in Upper Brook Street and Birchall Way, Manchester, with 20 new jobs being created.
Located on Barton Dock Road, the centre is within minutes of the M60 and opposite a new Metrolink station opening in 2020, providing customers with great connectivity and easy access to the unrivalled retail, leisure and family entertainment offering at the neighbouring intu Trafford Centre.
Guy Adams, Managing Director of Williams Group, said: “After 110 years of supplying prestige cars to our valued customers throughout the North West of England and further afield, we are thrilled to bring our family values and customer focus to TraffordCity, the biggest undertaking in our history as a business.
“Our world-class facilities provide an outstanding environment, from where colleagues can continue to deliver the difference that is Williams with market-leading levels of customer service and attention.”
Williams BMW Motorcycles will remain at its location on Chester Road, Manchester with Williams Select, the firm’s used car business retailing non-franchise brands, relocating from Upper Brook Street to the vacated site of Williams MINI Manchester on Chester Road.
