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POWERlines
A Hatton-Brown Publication www.poweret.com
Right To Repair Issues Heat Up DAN SHELL
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he right to repair issue has heated up with several moves by the Biden Administration, which is kicking off a rulemaking effort and also seeking to ratchet up enforcement of existing right to repair rules and regulations. Alongside that action, more than 25 right to repair laws were introduced this spring in states across the nation. This comes as right to repair as a movement also makes an impact outside North America. In June, France began requiring makers of smartphones and laptops and other electronic devices to provide consumers with information on the repairability of their products. Manufacturers must also give their products a “repairability” score, based on a range of criteria, including how easy it is to take the product apart and the availability of spare parts and technical documents. Larger issues can also blend right to repair with recycling and waste management. In the EU, for example, new legislation in effect this year requires that certain consumer electronics need to be repairable for up to 10 years. The legislation, which aims to cut e-waste and encourage durable and repairable design, also aims to make electronics more energy efficient. Legislators acknowledged the need to provide support for small-scale repair shops under the new legislation. Weighing in decidedly on the side of those who want to see more DIY repair options for consumers, the Biden Administration in early July issued an executive order directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to draft regulations that would make it easier for consumers to repair their own products and challenge manufacturer policies concerning authorized service personnel and service equipment availability, among other items. The order is part of a sweeping effort to promote more consumer-friendly policies while limiting corporate consolidation and increasing competition in multiple areas including net neutrality, prescription drugs and even airline refunds, among others. Led by cell phones and of course autos in the consumer sector and farm tractors in the industrial sector, right-to-repair activists have a compelling argument that those who own a piece of equipment should have the right to have it fixed by whomever they want, while product manufacturers say allowing complete access to all areas of increasingly complex operating systems brings on concerns for operator safety, emissions controls and general liability. Supporters of the executive order point to an FTC report from March 2021 that looked at the issue and, among other findings, stated manufacturers were purposefully making it difficult for consumers and independent service centers by limiting access to spare parts, schematics and specialized service tools. Reacting to the order, Equipment Dealers Assn. President and CEO Kim Rominger said the organization remains firmly opposed to right to repair initiatives—and the group has a good track record of heading off legislation in member states. He also noted that an executive order of such magnitude is only the first step in a long and arduous process. “The EDA, our regional affiliates, and coalition partners continue to oppose all ‘Right to Repair’ policy initiatives,” he said, adding, “To date, we have fought back against right to repair bills more than 30 times and we have won each time.” Rominger emphasized that executive orders are not legislation and are only directives to a federal agency (in this case, the FTC). Implementation of an executive order is subject to a rule-making process that can take a considerable amount of time, especially when the rule impacts multiple industries. “If the executive order to the FTC is created based upon false information, the EDA and our coalition partners will have an opportunity to correct that false information. Further, our industry will have the opportunity to comment and potentially challenge the rule,” Rominger said. “So rest assured, the EDA and our coalition partners will be a part of the rulemaking process and we will continue to fight for the best business environment for equipment dealers.” PET
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following the executive order, as this issue goes to press, the Federal Trade Commission voted 5-0 that consumers had a right to repair the products they owned and to also ratchet up enforcement of existing right to repair regulations and guidelines. Contact Dan Shell, ph: 334-834-1170; fax 334-834-4525; e-mail: dan@hattonbrown.com
Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. Street Address: 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Tel: (334) 834-1170 Fax: (334) 834-4525 Publisher/Adv. Sales Manager David H. Ramsey Chief Operating Officer Dianne C. Sullivan Editor-in-Chief n Rich Donnell Managing Editor n Jessica Johnson Senior Editor n Dan Shell Senior Assoc. Editor n David Abbott Associate Editor n Patrick Dunning Contributing Writers Greg German, Sam Stearns Publisher/Editor Emeritus David (DK) Knight Art Director n Cindy Segrest Ad Prod. Coordinator n Patti Campbell Circulation Director n Rhonda Thomas Marketing/Media n Jacqlyn Kirkland Advertising Sales Southern U.S. Randy Reagor Tel: (904) 393-7968 Fax: (334) 834-4525 E-mail: randy@hattonbrown.com Midwest U.S., Eastern Canada John Simmons Tel: (905) 666-0258 Fax: (905) 666-0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com Western U.S. & Canada Susan Windham Tel: (334) 834-1170 Fax: (334) 834-4525 Email: windham.susan4@gmail.com Europe & Scandinavia Murray Brett Tel: +34 96 640 4165 +34 96 640 4048 Email: murray.brett@abasol.net Distributor Library Kathy Sternenberg Tel: (251) 928-4962 ksternenberg@bellsouth.net Classified Advertising Bridget DeVane Tel: (334) 699-7837 (800) 669-5613 bdevane7@hotmail.com Reprint Sales Patti Campbell Tel: (800) 669-5613 patti@hattonbrown.com
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Volume 70
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Number 4
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AUGUST 2021
Our 745th Consecutive Issue
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FEATUREstories
10 NY POWERHOUSE LAWN MOWER ANNUAL 14 18 SOMETHING TO TRY CNY Farm Gets It Done 2021 Guide Is Here
Are You Using Email Marketing?
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VALUEadded Power Suppliers __________________________ 6 Showroom ______________________________ 20 PowerWorks ____________________________ 24 Distributor Library ________________________ 25 PETcetera/Ad Index ______________________ 30 Dealer To Dealer _________________________ 31
COVERphoto Focusing on sales and service means multiple buildings for the single-location CNY Farm Supply in Cortland, NY, just south of Syracuse, beginning on Page 10. (Photo by Jessica Johnson; cover design by Shelley Smith)
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Member Verified Audit Circulation Power Equipment Trade (ISSN 1063-0414) is published 6 times annually (February, April, June, August, October and December) by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscription Information—PET is sent free to qualifying industry professionals in the U.S. All non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $55 annually; $65 in Canada; $95 (Airmail) in all other countries (U.S. funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries—TOLL-FREE 800-669-5613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.poweret.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Power Equipment Trade magazine are accepted and published by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses, or other liability resulting from any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Power Equipment Trade. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reject any advertisement which it deems inappropriate. Copyright ® 2021 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Power Equipment Trade, P.O. Box 2419, Montgomery, Alabama 36102-2419. Other Hatton-Brown Publications: Timber Harvesting n Southern Loggin’ Times n Timber Processing n Panel World n Wood Bioenergy
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POWERsuppliers
Electric Equipment Cuts Into Gas-Powered Share
Using a standard two-battery setup with precharged batteries, consumers can easily mow up to half an acre. That covers a large swath of new residential development lawns. Throw in a “system” battery-powered product like some OEMs do, and the homeowner can also use the same batteries and charger to power a blower and trimmer—rounding out the other two items in the suburban garage power equipment “holy trinity”—and handle most any yard work.
Market Share
Rechargeables are becoming more prominent in dealers’ showrooms.
Electric equipment—battery-powered, specifically— continues to cut even further into the mainstream as evidenced by a recent article in the Washington Post detailing how one city’s public works crew is making the move to 90% electric equipment in the next five years. This, of all places, is in Alabama, where things like rooftop solar installations are actively punished by power companies and regulators. Part of the greater Birmingham area, the city of Mountain Brook has spent $18,000 to convert its maintenance capacity to almost all-electric. Another institutional transformation is at the University of Louisville, where administrators began reducing their maintenance crews’ carbon footprint 10 years ago when it switched to propane-powered mowers. A year ago, the university bought its first battery-powered zero-turn mower to complement the natural gas mowers. In between, the school also made the switch with other types of equipment and now has more than 25 battery-powered units including blowers, saws, string trimmers, hedge trimmers and shop tools. Mountain Brook and U of L’s respective moves toward almost completely eliminating liquid fuel-powered small engines on their maintenance crews reflect multiple features, benefits and 6
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trends: battery-operated equipment is convenient and quiet, with zero emissions. There’s also the ongoing increase in battery power and run times and overall boost in quality that can help lead institutions and commercial users to invest in such products. A recent Consumer Reports article looked at almost four dozen battery-powered lawnmowers and noted that average run time is 30-45 minutes, roughly enough to cut a quarter-acre.
A 2020 report from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), citing Freedonia Group data, claimed “35% of the small engine market is now electrified, with handheld tools leading the way.” The same report looked at a wide variety of equipment categories and estimated market share of electric (battery and corded) equipment vs. gas-powered units. According to CARB, as of 2018 in California, 23% of walk-behind mowers were electric, while 37% of chainsaws, 58% of trimmers and 69% of blowers (including vacs) were either corded or battery operated. Corded handheld and walk mowers have long been an option mostly at lower price points. Led by rechargeable handtool suppliers that have worked to expand applications and attachments over the years into lawn and garden markets, most traditional gas-operated premium equipment manufacturers have added battery-operated products to their lineups the past decade-plus as battery technology advanced and consumer demand grew.
In a tougher application than handheld, rechargeable mowers are taking market share as well.
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POWERsuppliers In talking with dealers who are on the front lines of the rechargeable revolution in their showrooms, several have voiced concern about the impact the ongoing move toward more electric equipment will have on dealer service departments. After all, every few percentage points of the move toward more electric equipment represents thousands upon thousands of gas-operated machines no longer on the market—and no longer showing up in dealer service departments needing carburetor or other fuel system work. While that work will no longer be there, some dealers have pointed out that much of the impact so far is in the handheld sector that tends to represent lower-priced service orders. One dealer mentioned that he’d rather have his technicians working on mowers or riders than handheld equipment anyway. So far there’s no major complaints from dealers but the impact is sure to be felt eventually in service departments. One rechargeable power tools manufacturer making lawn and garden inroads is Stanley Black & Decker, which bought a 20% stake in MTD three years ago and
announced in January 2021 it would be exercising a contractual option to purchase the rest of the company. The company already has lawn and garden products under the DeWalt brand, and MTD’s Cub Cadet this year debuted a lineup that includes a rechargeable ze-
The move toward more electric equipment represents thousands upon thousands of gas-operated machines no longer on the market—and no longer showing up in dealer service departments. ro-turn, lawn tractor and walk-behind mowers—plus a saw, blower, string trimmer and hedge trimmer. In other rechargeable and electric equipment news: The Stihl Group has strongly promoted its dealer-based line of electric products. The company recently noted
that its Stihl Tirol subsidiary (formerly Viking) that produces many Stihl electric products, saw a 26% growth in sales from 2019 to 2020. The operation is expanding even further in 2022 with completion of a new plastics manufacturing and injection moulding facility at the Stihl Tirol plant. In mid July Husqvarna reported its best second-quarter operating profit ever ($307 million). Organic sales growth was 14% with robotic lawnmowers and battery-powered products up 27%. Briggs & Stratton recently announced a minority stake in Accelerated Systems, Inc. (ASI) which develops traction and control systems for vehicles and has in-house design capabilities for electric motors, controllers and battery systems. The agreement includes the option for Briggs & Stratton to acquire additional equity in ASI over the next five years. Briggs & Stratton President and CEO Steve Andrews noted that the acquisition provides capabilities that “will significantly accelerate our electrification strategy.”
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POWERsuppliers Platinum Equity To Acquire Oregon Platinum Equity, American Securities and P2 Capital Partners have announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which Platinum Equity will acquire Oregon Tool. American Securities and P2 Capital have owned the company (previously known as Blount International) since taking it private in 2016. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021. “Oregon Tool has a well-deserved reputation for quality, innovation and engineering that dates back nearly 75 years,” says Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson. “We are committed to building on that legacy and working with the management team to invest in a new generation of growth and expansion. We have a lot of experience helping companies like Oregon Tool take the next step and our financial and operational resources will accelerate their efforts.” Earlier this year, the company rebranded from Blount International to Oregon Tool, an effort that highlights
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its unique heritage and long history of innovation, while also marking an important inflection point in its evolution as an industry leader. Platinum Equity Managing Director David Glatt adds, “In addition to nurturing the company’s existing portfolio, we will pursue an aggressive strategy to expand in adjacent product categories across segments, channels and geographies.” Oregon Tool CEO Paul Tonnesen will continue to lead the company following the transaction.
Mower History The Walker Way
The story of how the Walker family got into the mower business is a story of faith, perseverance and ingenuity. This story has now been captured in a book by Bob Walker entitled The Walker Way, A Family’s Journey Of Loving People, Loss, And Lawn Mowers. Now available in paperback, hard cover, e-book and audio book, The Walker Way tells the story of Walker Manufacturing’s humble beginnings and the les-
sons learned along the way. Bob Walker shares his childhood memories all the way through the mower project and the values that have directed the Walker family all these years. Available for order through the Walker Ware Store and Amazon: Bulk discounts are also available for multiple copies at walkerware.com. Additionally, a special hard cover signed by Bob Walker is available to purchase only at Walker Ware. Visit thewalkerway.com.
Court Reverses E15 Year-Round Sales Policy
In early July, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down a Trump-era rule that allowed for year-round sales of E15, saying the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ex-
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POWERsuppliers ceeded its authority by lifting summertime restrictions on the sale of E15, according to news source Reuters. In June 2019, EPA issued its final rule extending the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility waiver to E15 and found that E15 is substantially similar to E10 certification fuel, allowing its introduction into commerce by fuel manufacturers without the need for a separate E15 waiver. These actions allowed for the sale of E15 fuels year-round. ArgusMedia.com reports that the court said that statutory language was clearly intended for 10% ethanol gasoline. “By its plain terms, then, [the exemption] applies to E10, leaving no room for EPA to exempt E15,” the court wrote. The decision came in a lawsuit filed by the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, an oil refining trade group. Farm and biofuel groups apparently intend to appeal the decision and will work with the Biden Administration to ensure the continuity of E15 sales through the 2021 summer season and beyond. The ruling is unlikely to go into effect immediately because of a court practice to offer time for appeals.
If the ruling is sustained, it would undermine a long-term strategy from biofuel products to grow sales by expanding the availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends. The EPA is reviewing the court ruling.
Stihl Analyst Receives STEP Ahead Award
The Manufacturing Institute (MI)— the workforce development and education partner of the National Assn. of Manufacturers— announced it will recognize Trasa Coffil, Stihl Inc. business process analyst, with a STEP Ahead Award. The STEP Ahead Awards Trasa Coffil honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry from the factory floor to the C-suite. This is the second award for a woman at Stihl—Vice President of Manufacturing
Lorriane Amesbury Holder received the honor in 2020. “I am honored to be recognized by the Manufacturing Institute for this award,” Coffil says. “I am driven by the principles of excellence and Stihl empowers me to make an impact on the manufacturing industry through both my work in the office and mentoring opportunities with young people. It’s a win-win.” Amesbury Holder adds, “Trasa not only exemplifies Stihl excellence through critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork. She also applies those skills to mentoring the next generation of talent through our annual Manufacturing Technology Summer Camp making her an invaluable asset to the Stihl team.” The STEP Women’s Initiative is the nation’s marquee program to close the gender gap in manufacturing. STEP works to foster a 21st-century manufacturing workforce by empowering and inspiring women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research and leadership, as well as by motivating alumnae to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation. The STEP Ahead Awards honor exceptional women 23
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Farms, Homeowners, ATVs NY Dealer Does It All Brothers Eric and Tim Law expand their family business in central New York.
BY JESSICA JOHNSON CORTLAND, NY im Law is the kind of guy the industry currently can’t stop talking about. He’s under 40. He knows
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how to fix a machine, and he loves selling tractors. He and his brother Eric, who’s also under 40, just four years ago took over from their parents as the ownership duo of CNY Farm Supply in Cortland, NY 35 minutes from Syracuse in a
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heavy hobby farm, horse farm, dairy farm area of central New York close to Pennsylvania. And while Law knows he’s somewhat of a unicorn in his chosen profession, he absolutely loves it just the same—especially after a year like 2020, when the business had one of its best ever despite a consistently empty showroom. “We’re young,” he says of himself and his brother. “But we’re just getting started, paying down debt as fast as we can.” The dealership, like many, had a very good year last year, and is seeing things not really changing for 2021— though product availability does continue to plague the sales staff. Law estimates that they were doing okay with most equipment, keeping up with the supply and demand until the summer hit. Then everything went haywire.
Tim Law
CNY Farm is completely sold out of machines ranging in 23 HP to 120 HP, and has been since around June and will not have anything available until October. As a diversification stream, CNY also deals side-by-sides and ATVs, which have also been steady sellers in ’20 and ’21 and have also experienced supply issues. Stihl handheld dominates CNY’s sales because everyone Law explains, “I am getting things like I would in needs something from the line. a normal year, maybe 5% more, but the difference is consumer deIn trying to keep track of what’s mand. People are buying them so frecoming in the future, and what the dequently. Buying them faster than we can mand is, for the first time ever CNY has get them.” bulletin boards near the sales staff desks with lists. On these lists is everything coming in, including the date. So, when people call or come in looking for a certain piece, Law and his guys can go to the boards, see what’s coming next and offer it to them. “Half that stuff already has a name by it,” he says. “There’s product coming in September and October that’s already spoken for. The frustrating part is telling people the same story, over and over. ‘We don’t have anything and it really sucks not being able to show you something.’ People don’t understand why and you have to explain to them it is not a product shortage, people are just buying more stuff.” While it is frustrating to continue to try to serve customers as the demand shoots off the lists, Law sheepishly admits it’s a good time to be in sales. He says firmly they aren’t rude with customers, but it’s simply a demand issue. If someone doesn’t want something that’s okay—they will have a call tomorrow where someone does want that exact piece. But there’s also a very strong upside for Law, he says: “There’s no haggling, there’s no discounts. It’s not that we don’t want to take care of the customer like that; I just don’t need to. It makes it easy to price stuff. We’re not trying to be rude about that, but on the positive side from a business standpoint, yeah, you’re doing just as much business, maybe a little less because of availability on some products, but you’re making more money because everything is being sold at full retail price.” He believes that 2022 will see more of the same higher demand, creating an even longer time before products are going to be available again regularly.
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torcycles and snowmobiles Law says, but toward keeping two years ago the brothers made the decispending local, and sion to condense their offerings. While that people would the toy business was fun to be in for a like to do business while, it quickly became not fun as it is a with a local, family business. The brothchallenging industry to service, he says. ers wear many hats, Explaining, “If you’re not making any but most importantmoney why are you doing it at all? The ly are extremely consumers are hard to work with. That’s hands on and visitheir hobby. When you buy a lawnmowble to their customer, obviously, hopefully everything goes ers and employees. great. But people are prone to know that While CNY has five it might take a day or two to get it ready. in the sales staff, It’s going to happen. On their day off, if both Tim and Eric the motorcycle breaks on that day it’s like The parts & service departments operate in a building double the size sell as well. “Just the world collided on them.” of the showroom. like in any busiHis estimate is that 2023 will be the ness, everyone wants to deal with the The Beehive year the bubble bursts, so-to-speak: owner. My guys sell a lot of equipWith buyer’s remorse hitting some hard, Between 12 and 13 staff the CNY ment, but we sell double,” Tim laughs. more machines being readily in stock service department, supported by six and then the potential for better deals parts personnel and truck drivers who Daily Operations between new and used machines. handle pick up and delivery. Law says But for all the good of the last few CNY sits on 10 acres, with multiple the potential to do more in the service years, the business still gave the Laws buildings—a 100 x 200 building houses department is there, and there’s a poplenty of headaches. Even more so when the sales staff and administration, with tential for a lot of money to be made. Tim thinks about how many family busi10,000 sq. ft. of showroom space and a “It takes all of them to handle all of the nesses aren’t successful. “It’s a lot on our set-up/accessories install area in the calls after we seven sell.” shoulders and sometimes it’s hard to back. The shop and parts building is “baCNY's service department currently sleep. One of the biggest things for us is sically double” Law estimates, housing takes pieces bought elsewhere for rethat Eric and I just click together really the small CNY rental department, and all pair, but it isn’t what Law prefers. Part well,” he says. “We are constantly pushparts and service staff. Of the 30 total of that is short staffing, Law says he’d ing and pushing to grow and lead by exCNY employees, only 10 are in the love to find one or two more technicians ample and work strong together. Everyshowroom building. “It’s a big beehive to turn wrenches and help out, but the thing we’ve done has been for a reason.” up there,” Law says of the shop. Both other part is making sure that servicing And that example is very evident in buildings have large warehouse spaces customers who purchased from him are how the dealership operates. At the time for their respective departments. the priority. It’s hard for anyone to turn of Power Equipment Trade’s visit, Tim Overall the dealership had a $23 milaway business; he admits it’s one of the lion year last year, which Law says biggest things he and Eric struggle with, was in the set-up warehouse hosing off a machine about to go to a farm show. sounds like a whole lot, but doesn’t acbut his staff can barely keep up with count for the significant amount of costs that they do sell. The dealership was a bustling activity that are also factored in. Volume-wise, “How do I slide somebody that center with sales staff straightening handheld equipment and lawn and garproduct and cleaning things up. The bought something from Home Depot or den dominates CNY sales because everymusic was going, and everyone seemed Lowes and not us in front of one of my one from a residential homeowner to a to be in a good mood. It’s hard to imagcustomers that did buy from us. We try 100-plus acre dairy farmer needs those to help them out as best we can, but if ine that the Laws might not get great machines. there’s an emergency, my customers sleep at night on a day like that. But still, Tim shares, he wonders. Do He laughs, though, as he admits, come first. Why didn’t you buy it from PET “It’s takes a lot of $200 weed-whackthey fight through the next few years and us?” he emphasizes. ers to make up for a $100,000 stay with it? Or is the cost of machines, tractor for sure.” CNY is a top and therefore the cost of living going to rise to a level that becomes insurmountdealer for Ferris zero-turn able for a small business like his? mowers, which Law notes with pride “are built right here “As the expenses for everything keep going up—even in our business—and in New York.” it’s not like I can make that much more In addition to Ferris, CNY is money on everything that I sell to offset a dealer for Massey Ferguson, the expenses but also offset what I have Stihl, Ventrac, ROC hay mergto pay to get my employees to come to ers, Kawaskai, Honda (power equipment and power sports), work. You’re going to find a lot of busiLand Pride, CLAAS, New Holnesses that are going to try and do as land, Husqvarna, Toro, much work as they do now with less SnowEx, Sunflower and Meyer. people,” he believes. They used to focus more on A hopeful saving grace for businessThe sales staff have phones and desks immediately to power sports, selling a lot of mo- the left of the front door to the showroom. es like the Laws is the push to move 12
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MOWERpreview EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted these editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements places elsewhere in this issue. All statements and claims are attributable to the companies.
Archer—PMD International is an Australian-owned, Chi-
na-based manufacturing and trading company, offering over 10,000 parts and accessories for the forestry, small engine and lawn & garden markets. Our company brand is Archer; we also private label and produce for OEMs and many large international distributors. The PMD customer network is considerable, with products sold in 83 different countries with over 50 international Archer exclusive distributors. Our Chinese operation is based in Jinhua, Zhejiang, where 130 are employed in our 100% fully owned saw chain factory, office, warehouse, packaging department and showroom. We
proudly invite all visitors when possible to come and see our operations. Although best known for our leading saw chain factory, PMD International has equal product offerings for the lawn & garden market sector. We offer complete high quality product lines of the following categories: spindles, filters, carburetors, starter cords, fuel line, fuel tanks and oil tank parts; cylinders for brushcutters and trimmers, trimmer heads, brushcutters, ignition coils, clutch assemblies; flail blades for lawnmowers and robotic mower parts. In fact we offer complete ranges of non-genuine parts and accessories for all major brands in the lawn and garden and chainsaw industry. Whilst we manufacture saw chain and lawnmower blades, we source over 10,000 parts from proven quality and qualified manufacturers who support us with not only top quality products but also complete warranties. Our suppliers are aware of our strict standards and QC audit requirements. Our valued staff in China are long term, very experienced, with incredible connections and associations which have taken many years to develop— highly necessary if we are to offer only the best support from Chinese suppliers. Our factory is ISO qualified and regularly audited by UL and ISO. We operate our own fully equipped laboratory with qualified engineers and metallurgists to ensure we manufacture and supply only the best quality possible, while always maintaining our competitiveness. This large quality department tests all new products and then continually tests our factory’s raw material input and 14
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product output. This ensures that our products maintain original specifications and quality. Archer is committed to quality, service, price and range.
Aspen—Aspen USA
is now offering its clean-burning fuels locally to professional and residential power equipment operators. Aspen fuels are alkylate-based fuels, which are among the cleanest and most stable gasoline products that can be produced. As clean high-octane gasoline, Aspen provides a much better user-experience and extends the life of 2-cycle and 4-cycle power equipment. Over 30 years ago, Aspen first developed alkylate fuel for small engine equipment with the mission to improve the conditions for equipment operators, who were experiencing various health problems from frequent equipment operation. Aspen’s fuels are ethanol-free and engineered to be virtually free of the other harmful substances that are found in pump gasoline such as sulfur, benzene, toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons. Professionals are among the primary users of Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 as they have the most to benefit from a cleaner high-performance fuel. The cleaner ethanol-free formulation helps minimize engine corrosion and soot buildup for longer-lasting engines and reduced downtime. Dealer service departments can also greatly benefit from Aspen’s advantages for their shop use and ensure that serviced equipment starts up whenever needed. In the U.S., Aspen Fuels are available to dealers through Oscar Wilson Engine & Parts (Midwest), Power Equipment Systems (Western), John E Landis Co. (Northeast and Mid-Atlantic) and Marr Brothers (South Central). Aspen fuels can be purchased in quarts, 1.3 gal. and larger pails and drums, ideal for shop and professional use.
Heftee—For more than 20 years, the Heftee 4000 has been the lift of choice for technicians working on the largest riding mowers and commercial turf equipment. The 4000 safely accommodates equipment up to 84-in. wide and lifts up to 4,000 lbs., to 6 ft., in less than a minute. It’s ideal for shops short on floor space. There is no special installation required and the Heftee 4000 operates on 110 power. Technicians stand comfortably with unrestricted access to service areas, no longer laying on cold concrete floors in awk-
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MOWERpreview ward positions to perform under-equipment jobs—and it’s freestanding for easy relocation within the shop. The Heftee 4000 standard equipment package comes complete with jacks, boom and extension arms for completing virtually any repair job. Heftee’s revolutionary single-mast design gives unrestricted access to the equipment. There are no crossbars or twisting cables, and the jacks, booms, support arms and easily adjustable work platforms all integrate with the lift. Making hard-to-service equipment easy to service is Heftee’s business. Any lift can lift; with Heftee the technician can focus on repairing hard-to-service turf equipment and utility vehicles better, faster, safer.
Masport—Masport is an iconic brand in the New Zealand
marketplace with a 111-year history of producing and supplying quality power equipment to consumers around the world. It is a household name in New Zealand winning the “Most Trusted” lawnmower brand products category of the New Zealand Reader’s Digest consumer judged awards for the past nine years. Masport is a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden power equipment in both New Zealand and Australia with a proud engineering history making its first lawnmower in 1930. It has an extensive range of rotary and cylinder gasoline walk-behind mowers, as well as shredders, edgers and cultivators.
KNK—KNK Power, with production based in Ningbo, Chi-
na, 250 km south of Shanghai, has been manufacturing parts and assembling chainsaws and brush cutters since 2006. Ever since KNK Power has grown to be a one-stop supplier. New products in 2021 include parts and consumables for lithium-ion battery powered garden tools, pruner saw and electric scissor, blades, ¼ in. and 0.043 in. gauge micro-picco chain and bars, brushless motors and controller, Makita compatible battery and chargers, and blades for robotic mowers. Our popular products for 2-stroke engines and parts range from 25 cc, 33 cc, 43 cc, 52 cc, 63 cc to 79 cc (1E32, 1E34, 1E36, 1E40, 1E44, 1E48, 1E53 and 1E58FL); while our 4-stroke offerings include 25 cc, 31 cc, 33 cc, 38 cc, 49 cc, 53 cc (135F, 139F, 139FB, 140FA, 142F and 144F) for smaller engines, and 168 cc, 200 cc, 270 cc, 390 cc and 420 cc for larger 4-stroke engine options.
Parts include piston and cylinders, crankshafts, connecting rods, carburetors, inlet manifolds, fuel tanks and fuel lines, fuel and oil filters, air filters, ignition coils and fly wheels, spark plugs, starters and starting ropes, covering KNK machines, but also are non-original but compatible for other brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, Honda, Echo and Makita. Consumables available include, but are not limited to, bars and chains for gasoline-powered and cordless lithium-ion battery powered chainsaws; trimmer lines for trimmers and brushcutters in round, square, star, twist and dual types. Blades and spindles for robotic mowers, push lawnmowers, and ride on lawnmowers. Additionally, KNK offers a complete range of personal protection equipment (PPE), helmets, face shields, ear muffs, anti-vibration mechanical gloves. The KNK Pro-Safe brand special developed anti-cut saw proof gloves, chaps and clothing, which carry UL and CE approvals in three different protection categories—20M/S, 24M/S and 28M/S.
Masport products are sold in 45 countries around the world, including the U.S. and Canada, where a range of walk-behind mowers and other outdoor power equipment was first introduced in 2012. Power Distributors and Power Source Canada distribute Masport’s range of consumer and professional power equipment to servicing dealers across North America. Masport is a dealer only brand in North America and is ideally suited to this form of distribution as its products are feature rich and of high quality. Masport mowers are available in various cutting widths and can mulch, catch and side discharge. They feature aluminium and steel decks, ball bearing wheels, single lever height adjustment and a unique handle lift system for ease of emptying the collected grass. For the 2021 season, Masport offers an extensive line of consumer and professional walk behind mowers which include Briggs & Stratton and Honda, engine brake and BBC configurations. Masport offers competitively priced, quality, unique products which are not available in the Big Box stores. Contact your regional Power Distributor’s territory manager for more details on the Masport 2021 dealer brand program.
Rotary—The industry’s most complete line of lawnmower replacement parts is available from Rotary including guaranteed quality Copperhead mower blades, air filters, pre-filters, oil filters, belts, tires, starters, spark plugs and internal engine parts. Plus, piston and spindle assemblies, carburetors, ignition kits, batteries, throttle controls, brake and clutch cables, idler pulleys, tune-up kits, wheel and deck accessories and much more! Backed by an exclusive warranty that ensures quality and performance, Rotary offers over 9,500 different power equipment parts for lawnmowers, trimmers, chainsaws, brushcutters, pressure washers, snow blowers, garden tillers and more. Made In The U.S. With American Steel New for 2021 are a variety of Copperhead mower blades, plus POWER EQUIPMENT TRADE
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MOWERpreview the Rotary Six-Pack, a box of six value-priced Copperhead blades that’s ideal for professional landscapers. Rotary manufactures approximately 12 million mower and edger blades annually including heavy duty blades, professional grade mulching blades, flat blades, high and low-lift blades plus edger and de-thatcher blades. Copperhead mower blades by Rotary are engineered to perform better, last longer and cut with powerful force. Available for most any brand, Copperhead blades meet all OEM standards for operation and feature premium-grade American steel, heated treated and tempered for uniform hardness; are precision formed, balanced and sharpened to ensure a cleaner, finer cut with less vibration, and ISO compliance for quality and superior craftsmanship. Filters Engineered For Protection, Performance Rotary offers a wide range of commercial-strength air, fuel and oil filters for mowers—professionally designed to protect engines under extreme operating conditions while ensuring maximum efficiency and peak performance. Made in the U.S., Rotary filters improve airflow, horsepower and overall engine performance. Oil filters feature a special blend of fibers and resin that create a filter media with exceptional
dirt-trapping capacity for maximum protection. A full line of pleated paper filters and foam air filters are made at Rotary’s manufacturing facility in Georgia, which was recently upgraded with state-of-the-art equipment. Rotary’s 2021 master catalog features over 9,500 parts for power equipment including illustrations, cross-referencing and item numbers for every major brand. In addition to a print version, the catalog is available at rotarycorp.com and downloadable in a PDF format. Plus the company website makes it easy to locate parts with comprehensive listings and a convenient keyword search.
Sunbelt—
Sunbelt Outdoor Products is a wholesaler of professional grade turf products with everything from arborist supplies to trimmer products and is celebrating over 60 years in the turf business. With multiple warehouses across the U.S., Sunbelt can help you get the parts you need when you need them. XHT, Predator Brand Tough Mower Blades Sunbelt Outdoor Products Predator and XHT blades are the strongest blades on the market. The secret to their strength and durability is in a patented austempering process, taking it a step further than competitors. Ideal for professionals, these blades require less sharpening, last longer, and are lighter weight than other competing blades. Accelerator Industries Premium Grass Catchers Ideal for professionals working in wet climates or any conditions where it is necessary to bag grass or leaves, the Accelerator Industries line of premium aluminum grass catchers are best in class. The drilled aluminum body provides high airflow that will prevent clogging that commonly happens with other bagging systems. Precision Equipment The Professional’s Choice Precision is an industry leader in broadcast spreaders, lawn rollers, trailer dump carts, lawn sweepers, hose reels, and so much more. The professionals choice for lawn equipment assembles quickly to save time, produces professional results, and are tough enough to hold up to daily use.
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Here's An Idea:
Create An Email Marketing Plan
Finding a cost-efficient way to market your dealership to a wider audience can often be fraught with obstacles. Email marketing could be one solution. BY JACQYLN KIRKLAND
W
hether your dealership is just starting out or is already well established, an effective email marketing plan can help promote and grow your business and increase revenue.
Choosing Email Marketing Software There are several email marketing platform options that offer a free trial or a free version depending on the number of subscribers you have. Examples include Constant Contact, MailChimp and GetResponse. When comparing email marketing platforms keep in mind your technical skill level, as well as your business goals.
Decide What To Write After defining your audience, think about the content for your campaigns. You want to send emails that will engage your subscribers. Remember why people signed up to receive your emails in the first place. Your content list might include details about new products, holiday hours, dealership news, coverage of a special event or a popular post from your dealership’s social media accounts. Remember to choose the content you would like to showcase based on your audience. Providing content your subscribers will find appealing on a regular basis can be difficult. Send new information that is use-
Think about the emails that you delete without even reading. Ask yourself why, and then try to do better. Don’t be afraid to include some personality!
Define Your Audience The next step is to identify who your audience is so that you can effectively communicate with them. Digging deeper to identify smaller groups of people within your audience will enable you to craft more personalized emails, which will help to increase engagement. Email marketing software allows you to create signup forms with customized fields to collect everything from age and gender to subscription preferences. Some of your customers may only be interested in receiving emails for a special sale, or you may have subscribers who prefer biweekly updates instead of weekly ones. Defining your audience allows you to send promotions, called campaigns, that are more relevant to your audiences’ wants and needs. 18
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Establish a goal and then start growing your business by using email marketing.
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ful to them. Inform them first about any new products or sales. Try to keep the content short and to the point. People are bombarded by emails every day, so make it easy for subscribers to scan your content quickly and get the information that they need.
you hit the “Send” button. Sending a test email to friends and coworkers could help with spotting typos and receiving feedback on the design.
Subject Line
Consider automation as a tool when choosing email marketing software. An automation is a series of emails that are sent automatically. These might include emails welcoming new subscribers or a follow-up message after a purchase. Automation allows these important interactions to happen while you are focusing on other matters.
The subject line of an email is the first line of text your subscribers see in their inbox. This text can often determine whether an email is opened, sent to trash or marked as spam. Use phrases that are relevant to your audience. Choose text that will make them stop scrolling and click. Also remember that subject lines should be short and to the point.
Campaign Automation
Measure Performance
Establish Frequency; Schedule
The data generated and collected by email marketing software will help you improve your marketing strategy. The most If you send emails too often, your subscribers might igsignificant data points are opens and clicks because these meanore what you have to say or simply unsubscribe. If you are sure engagement and indicate how well your campaign’s sublooking to stay on track, a conject line and content calendar can be useful to tent resonated with schedule email campaigns and your audience. It’s help to keep your dealership’s also important to Top 2021 Email Marketing Software marketing message consistent. compare your dealDepending on your content, you ership’s open and According To PCmag.com may want to send at least once a click rates to other month to keep your subscribers companies. A good Campaigner Mailchimp engaged. But that shouldn’t be email marketing set in stone. software will proCampaign Monitor Salesforce Pardot vide email key performance indicaConstant Contact Sendinblue Design Your Emails tors (such as open Get Response Twilio SendGrid When choosing an email marrate, click rate, unketing software it is important subscribe rate, Hubspot Zoho Campaigns to consider your technical skill abuse rate and Infusionsoft level. Are you comfortable debounces) based on signing your email from scratch industry and comor would you prefer a pre-made pany size, so you template? Some email marketing software offer an email decan see how your dealership stacks up with the competition. sign guide. Your design should focus on the message and be After reviewing the key performance indicators you can bestraightforward so that people can scan it quickly. gin taking steps to make improvements with tools such as A/B testing. Some email marketing software offer steps on setting Some tips: up an A/B test, so that you can experiment with different verLay out all the elements for your campaign in a hierarchy, sions of the same campaign. putting your most important information at the top Divide text into sections Variables to consider testing: Use legible fonts within the 14-16 point range: No WingSubject line: Low open rates could indicate that your dings! subject lines aren’t appealing to your audience. As a result, Add a call to action, such as “Mention This Email At The people are not opening your campaigns Counter To Receive A 10% Discount” Audience: You might need to narrow down your audience list by sending a campaign to a smaller group based on their needs and wants Test Your Campaigns Send time: You might be sending campaigns too early, Once you have your campaign designed you should resist too often or not often enough the urge to click the “Send” button immediately. Taking a litContent: To improve click rates, consider using more detle time to test your design to make sure it looks good in difscriptive link text instead of simply “Click Here” ferent email clients (Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook, etc.) and devices (desktop, mobile, inbox) will make it more effective. For Website Traffic example, the campaign you designed might not look the same for every subscriber. Some email marketing software If your dealership’s goal is to increase website traffic, conprovides information on which email clients and devices sider an email marketing software that offers the integration of your subscribers mostly use. It is recommended that you test tools like Google Analytics. This tool can help provide a more your campaign using this information. Mailchimp, for examholistic understanding of how your subscribers interact with ple, provides a preview tool so you get a chance to see how your campaigns by tracking any trends in website traffic that your campaign will look across several email clients before might occur after sending a campaign. PET POWER EQUIPMENT TRADE
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SHOWroom
PARTS Rotary Engine Maintenance Kits
including Briggs & Stratton, Kawasaki and Kohler, Rotary maintenance kits feature up to 10 items including an air filter, pre-filter, oil filter, fuel filter, hose clamps, spark plugs and oil. Rotary maintenance kits are a quick and easy way for service techs, lawn care professionals and do-it-yourselfers to keep engines performing at maximum efficiency before, during and after the season. Visit rotarycorp.com
Vanguard 10kWh Battery Pack
Maintenance kits for lawnmowers and other small engines are among more than 300 new items in Rotary’s 2021 catalog. Available in 30 different assortments for many popular brands
Briggs & Stratton has released a 10kWH commercial grade lithium-ion battery pack for its Vanguard engine platform— the largest pack in the line-up, allowing for up to 100 kWh of energy when paralleled with 10 other packs. Featuring a steel, roll cage design, the 10kWh pack provides maximum protection; while the pack’s Battery Management System (BMS) constantly monitors and measures the pack’s temperature, charge and discharge currents and voltages of each individual cell bank to ensure a safer battery option. The 10kWh pack has smart technology, allowing it to track it’s own power and energy utilization and state of health. Customers can use this information to know precisely how much life is left and get the full value out of their battery, while end users can also use the power and energy data to track how their machine is used and find more efficient ways to use it. The patent pending customized battery pack, BMS and charger work seamlessly together to deliver efficient power and performance. The battery pack features two customizable CANbus networks that integrate with legacy systems, and a prequalified and plug-in-ready sharing system can be mounted on- or offboard. Users can count on uncomplicated integration with any equipment and the ability to service all components—allowing it to be repaired instead of replaced. Vanguard batteries come with service and support offered in a three-year commercial limited warranty. Visit vanguardpower.com 20
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POWERsuppliers 9 in manufacturing and motivate them to mentor the next generation through an annual awards gala and alumnae programs. The stories of these women and the leadership they show will help inspire next-generation female leaders in manufacturing and support female talent already within the industry. In the program’s first five years, STEP Ahead Award winners impacted more than 300,000 individuals—from peers in the industry to school-age children. The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisis—the shortage of skilled talent to fill open positions. Manufacturers can close the skills gap by 50% simply by bringing 10% more women into the industry. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. STEP Ahead empowers and inspires women in the manufacturing industry: The goal is to build networks for women to have support in their industry and to elevate the role models that can motivate and mentor the next generation.
BNSE Announces 2021 Recipients
The Bill Nelson Scholarship Endowment (BNSE) is pleased to announce it has awarded four scholarships totaling $8,000 to its 2021 class of recipients. Recipients for the 2021 awards are: Abigail Wehler of Mount Morris, Ill.; Karly Kruse of Litchfield, Ill.; Leslie Lingo of Nashville, Ark.; and Varsha Karthikeyan of Tualatin, Ore. The BNSE is an educational charity designed to advance the academic pursuits of employees and the children of employees who work for member companies of the Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Assn. (OPEAA). Since 2000, the endowment has awarded 65 scholarships totaling more than $137,000 to high school and college students. Scholarship recipients for this year represent Oregon Tool, Husqvarna and Dometic Marine, and were chosen from among 19 applications received. The BNSE is governed by five trustees: Sue Chaney, K-C Sales; Britton Harrold, Husqvarna; Ed Nelson, Rotary Corp.; and Jim Paugh, NGK Spark Plugs. The BNSE Trustees would like to extend their appreciation to all the outstanding scholarship applicants
and their affiliated OPEAA member companies.
Connecticut Dealer Warranty Law Enacted
The Northeast Equipment Dealers Assn., on behalf of its Connecticut equipment dealer members, recently reported that the legislators and Governor of Connecticut have enacted CT SB 264. As a result, this updates the warranty provisions included in the state’s equipment dealer law which improved language that addresses dealer compensation for diagnostic time, labor and parts, reimbursement rates, and rejection of claims based on submission errors.
New Player Powershed To Be On Display At GIE
Solar Alliance Energy Inc. has announced a full patent application has been filed, jointly with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, for Powershed, an innovative solar powered charging station for robotic mowers. Powershed has advanced beyond the prototype stage and the latest design iteration of Powershed has resulted in four system sales in July, driven by an increase of 33% in power generation per unit. In support of the retail and commercial launch of the latest version of Powershed, the Solar Alliance team is scheduled to exhibit and demonstrate Powershed at the GIE+EXPO 2021. Powershed is a solar powered charging station for robotic mowers that simplifies and improves the operation and use of robotic lawnmowers. Powershed is a new product that allows you to cut the cord and place a robotic mower anywhere the sun shines. “The Solar Alliance team has made significant advances with Powershed by increasing the power output of the charging station and decreasing costs,” says CEO Myke Clark. “Our goal has always been to move beyond the prototype stage with a prudent technology development plan and then market Powershed to a broader audience. With the filing of our final patent application, combined with the technology advances we have seen, we are now prepared to begin a broader marketing campaign targeting larger customers and partners.” The current retail price for Powershed is $4,500, although the company expects to achieve a significant cost re-
duction as manufacturing capacity and sales increase. Powershed is designed to meet demand through a scalable production model and will initially be offered through commercial distribution partners and direct sales. The possibility of sub-licensing the product to robotic lawnmower manufacturers exists and will be pursued as demand increases.
GIE 2021 Keynoter Is Four-Star Navy Admiral
Retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral James Stavridis will present the GIE+EXPO keynote “Leadership and a New World Order: The Need for Resilience,” Wednesday, October 20, 2-3 p.m. The longest-serving global combatant commander in recent American military history, Admiral Stavridis will proJames Stavridis vide answers and strategies to address the most pressing global affairs challenges. Admission to the keynote, which is sponsored by John Deere and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), is included with trade show registration. GIE+EXPO partners, OPEI, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), and Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), along with the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (Hardscape North America) have joined together to co-host the keynote. Stavridis led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counter piracy and cyber security. Subsequently, he served as the 12th dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Earlier in his naval career, he was Commander of U.S. Southern Command, with responsibility for all military operations in Latin America. He holds more than 50 medals, including 28 from foreign nations. He is currently an Operating Executive at Carlyle Group. He has published nine books on leadership, the oceans, maritime affairs and Latin America. He is a monthly columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.
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Shelby County Implement • Shelbina, MO 63468 Ph: 573-588-4731 • 573-588-2040 Email: sci63468@hotmail.com Visa and Mastercard Accepted 3524
WISCONSIN ENGINE PARTS NEW–OBSOLETE • BUY–SELL HARD TO FIND PARTS CLOSEOUT PRICES
H&M Industrial Supply (800) 346-4331 2236
Obsolete McCulloch & Obsolete Homelite Parts Bob’s Lawnmower Service 7632 State Hwy. 7 Maryland, NY 12116-3201
607-638-9297 phone or fax
HOMELITE PARTS BUY & SELL NEW, USED & OBSOLETE
8100
Stihl * Homelite * Lawnboy * Briggs & Stratton New * Obsolete * Used Parts THOUSANDS OF PARTS!
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Ask For Ray 502-228-1462 • Fax: 502-228-7737
POULAN WEED EATER PARTS
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ARE YOU HIRING?
PLACE AN AD IN OUR HELP WANTED SECTION TO FIND THE RIGHT EMPLOYEE FOR YOUR COMPANY.
Contact Bridget DeVane • 800-669-5613
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MARVEL SCHEBLER CARBURETORS Carburetors – Repair Kits Floats – Jets H&M Industrial Supply (800) 346-4331 2236
YOU COULD BE READING YOUR AD HERE!! Contact Bridget DeVane 800-669-5613 for more information
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PETcetera The Funnies Of The World Wide Web
PETevents OCTOBER 18-20—Equipment & Engine Training Council Conference, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. Call 888-406-1810; visit eetc.org. OCTOBER 20-22—GIE+EXPO, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. Call 812-949-9200; visit gie-expo.com. OCTOBER 21-23—National Hardware Show, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. Call 203-840-5622; visit nationalhardwareshow.com. NOVEMBER 11-12—2021 International Innovation in AG & OPE Virtual Expo. Call 707-678-8859; visit fweda.com. NOVEMBER 16-18—2021 North American Dealer Conference, Dallas, Tex. Visit nadealerconference.com. JANUARY 26-27, 2022—Midwest Ag Expo, Gordyville USA Arena, North Gifford, Ill. Visit mseda.com/about/midwest-ag-expo. FEBRUARY 5-7, 2022—Outdoor Power Equip. Aftermarket Assn. annual meeting, St. Augustine, Fla. Call 703-549-7608; visit opeaa.org. FEBRUARY 27-March 1, 2022—Combined annual meeting of Midwest-Southeastern Equipment Dealers Assn., MSEDA, United Equipment Dealers Assn. and Deep Southern Equipment Dealers Assn., Marriott Riverfront, Savannah, Ga. Visit mseda.com/about/annual-meeting. Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.
From CSA to PET: 70 Years Strong In 2022! ADlink This issue of Power Equipment Trade is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products. ADVERTISER
PG NO.
PHONE NUMBER
Aspen USA
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Deltran USA
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Green Industry & Equipment Expo
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Heftee Industries
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KNK China Manufacturing
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+86 574 27888266
Masport
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+64 9 571 5888
PMD International
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Prufrex Innovative Power Products
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Rotary
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Sunbelt Outdoor Products
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TD Retail Card Services
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Trilink Saw Chain
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DEALERtodealer
Employee Turnover: A Huge Post-Pandemic Reality GREG GERMAN
Something that has always been a problem has just gotten worse.
Y
ou have all experienced it before. You are working away in your office, simply minding your own business when there is a knock at the door. In walks one of your dependable and proven staff and they ask the question, “Can we talk?” They close the door and that sinking feeling begins to ball up in your stomach as you silently tell yourself, “This is not going to be good.” Over the next few minutes, your fear becomes a reality and your formerly dependable staff member gives you the reasons why they are leaving your employ to seek greener pastures elsewhere. Your mind quickly scrambles and tries to come up with sound reasons why your team member should not leave and why you are their future. But the reality begins to set in that this situation is not salvageable and in a couple of weeks, years of knowledge, customer goodwill, and some of the structural integrity of your business, will be gone. For me, this has been a recent experience that has happened multiple times. Sometimes the employee loss is a simple inconvenience, other times it is a gut punch that has major ramifications for both my business and me. In a recent article by Johnny C. Taylor from July 23, 2021 in the ChiefExcutive.net publication, Taylor states that, “More than 50% of all workers plan to look for a new job in 2021.” In addition, “Turnover costs U.S. companies over $223 Billion in the past five years.” There is no hiding from the fact that turnover of employees is going to hit your business too. It could be that turnover may be as high as 30% per year in many businesses in the future. The fast food industry has dealt with this for years, but now much higher turnover rates may be hit-
ting businesses that traditionally, like the power equipment industry, have been fairly low. Are you prepared? I can almost see your heart rate increasing and the sweat begin to develop on your brow as you ponder that kind of potential chaos in your businesses. HR was not something that most of us concerned ourselves with and our solution to keeping a key employee was to just pay them a little more money than they made before. In doing that, we were simply kicking the can down the road. Yes, financial compensation is important, but to most workers today, that is not necessarily at the top of their list, but is sometimes the easiest answer to give their employer as to why they are leaving. Usually compensation is ranked down the list a few places. Today’s workforce values things differently than our staff members from 20 years ago. So what are some of the “new values” that are becoming more important to the workers of today?
Personal Time The days of staff members wanting to work 45-60 hours per week are quickly becoming extinct in many career choices. Many younger workers place much greater value on having their weekends and evenings available to participate in their hobbies, spend time with friends/ family, and volunteer in their areas of passion. Getting paid overtime has often lost its luster as the value proposition is much higher for workers to enjoy their lives in different pursuits from their parent’s generation.
Flex Time Today’s staff members often don’t buy into the idea of fixed hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They would much rather have a set workload that they can complete at times that are more convenient to them, thus giving them more free time to follow their passions.
Making A Difference Ask most Gen Z, Millennials and Gen Xers and they will tell you that they want their jobs to make a difference in this world. They don’t want to pour their best years into a job that they feel isn’t helping to make life better for themselves and others.
Remote Work The pandemic has proven that many jobs have components in them that may allow for workers to complete all, or at least some, of their work from a remote site. Remote working allows them to live where they want to live and to spend much less time commuting to the brick-and-mortar business. The power equipment business demands that we have competent and hands-on staff members that can help our customers. Knowing that, are you investigating what changes you can make in your business model to keep current staff members that are likely looking at online job opportunities and not giving you the smallest of hints that they are dissatisfied? Each of us have steps that we need to begin taking today to encourage our current staff on why your company has a future for them. Begin a dialogue today with your team members in one-on-one discussions and ask them how you can better add value to their lives through their jobs. Show that you are concerned at that you are willing to investigate with them how you can make tangible changes to their job in order to give them greater personal satisfaction in their conPET tribution to your business.
Greg German is President of German-Bliss Equipment, Inc. in Princeville, Ill., which operates three power equipment dealerships that market products for the lawn and garden, industrial and agricultural sectors. He can be contacted at P.O. Box 440, Princeville, IL 61559; fax 309-3852540; e-mail ggerman@german-bliss.com. The views of Greg German do not necessarily represent those of Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc.
POWER EQUIPMENT TRADE
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