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POWERlines
A Hatton-Brown Publication www.poweret.com
Let’s Just Belly Laugh JESSICA JOHNSON
O
nce in a while, I find myself using Google for things that are important, like “COVID vaccination rates in Montgomery County” or “Number of University of Alabama players currently on NFL rosters.” And then usually around the middle of the month, every other month, I Google things like “lawnmower memes” to help find the fodder I put on our PETcetera page. In doing that this month, where you can find the fruits of my Google Image search labor on page 38, I tried to branch out. I hit Google with “string trimmer jokes.” And y’all, I belly laughed: The first result was a web site literally dedicated to trimmer related puns. Granted, one was in poor taste, a few were basically a riff on the same punchline, and a few were just hilarious. So, instead of taking a deep dive into an industry hot topic (like how we are still furious the EPA changes to the ethanol mandates are going to stand) I thought I would just absolutely embrace the silliness. After the last 18 months, I find I want a little more silliness in my life. The world seems to be in even more turmoil than I could have ever imagined, which is saying a lot considering how much of a doomsday person I was for the better part of mid-2020. So, let’s belly laugh. Bonus points for taking one of these, along with a picture of your showrooom’s trimmer rack and posting it on social media—tag PET’s page if you do. And if you’re planning to come to the industry’s family reunion, also known as GIE+EXPO in Louisville, feel free to use these as icebreakers. I promise if you say one to me, I’m going to belly laugh.
I proudly showed my son, “Check this out! Bought a new shrub trimmer today!” He shrugged and replied, “That’s great, dad.” I continued... “It’s cutting hedge technology!” ●
● I bought a brand-new top-of-theline string trimmer off a guy on Craigslist for only $20… It was a total Stihl. ● I mixed up my lawnmower and beard trimmer again… My face is fine now, but the lawn is taking forever to finish. ● I think I took the wrong test… This Briggs & Stratton personality thing says I’m a hedge trimmer.
Did you hear about the hedge trimmer who tried out for the baseball team? I don’t think he made the cut. ●
Source: punstoppable.com/trimmer-puns
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
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12 Volume 70
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Number 5
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OCTOBER 2021
Our 746th Consecutive Issue
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Founded in 1952
Renew or subscribe on the web: www.poweret.com
FEATUREstories
12 DEALERSHIP STANDS EXPO ELITE 16 24 WHY NOT TRY 26 TRAINING IS KEY By Its Customers
Learn More About Offerings
Video Marketing On YouTube? A Look At What Some Are Doing
VALUEadded Power Suppliers __________________________ 6 Showroom ______________________________ 28 Five Minutes With ________________________ 30 PowerWorks ____________________________ 32 Distributor Library ________________________ 33 PETcetera/Ad Index ______________________ 38 Dust & Rust _____________________________ 39
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COVERphoto The Power Shop promotes premium power products, along with its store brand in the local community, beginning on Page 12. (Photo by Dan Shell; cover design by Shelley Smith) 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.
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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 Altoz Hires New District Sales Manager Altoz, manufacturer of high-performance zero-turn mowers and of the industry’s first tracked riding and standon zero-turn mower, has announced Rob Mullins has joined the team as District Sales Manager for the Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas regions. A long-time professional in the power equipment industry, Mullins has held positions as a Business Development Manager and Territory Manager and worked extensively with dealers and distributors to grow their businesses. In addition, he has 10 years of experience as a power equipment dealer. “Rob brings to Altoz a wealth of knowledge and experience in the power equipment industry,” says Altoz Sales and Marketing Manager Karl Bjorkman. “We are pleased to have him join our team as the Altoz brand continues to grow.” With over 35 years of experience in the industry, he is excited about the opportunities at Altoz, especially in the slope-mowing arena. He is eager to boost market share and increase sales by establishing new Altoz dealerships and helping established dealerships reach their potential. “I am excited to bring my experience and passion to help grow the Altoz dealer network,” adds Mullins. “There are great opportunities for growth with the tracked mowers. They give dealers the ability to offer commercial customers something that brings real value to their business, can make them even more income and can save on labor.”
Briggs Acquires SimpliPhi Power
Briggs & Stratton has announced it has acquired SimpliPhi Power, a California-based manufacturer of energy storage and management systems which store solar, grid and wind power for future use by residential, commercial and industrial customers. Through this acquisition, Briggs & Stratton will accelerate its growth into the energy storage system market, expanding the business to offer a comprehensive range of products that provide safe, reliable and affordable energy solutions to a broader group of customers in a fast growing market. There is rapidly-growing demand for energy storage systems that provide 6
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Exmark, George Kittle Partner On Blog Both on the field and off, there’s no denying all-pro tight end George Kittle is a hard charger. And while he’s never shied away from hard work, the challenge of maintaining his rural acreage was cutting into his free time. Not any more thanks to a new partnership with Exmark. “I’m now part of team Exmark,” Kittle remarks. “We get the job done. We go hard, but we also like to have a good time.” Exmark Director of Marketing, Jamie Briggs, explains the collaboration with Kittle is a natural fit, particularly for the company’s blog, Backyard Life (https:// backyard.exmark.com/). “We’re creating some fun video content showcasing how I enjoy more outdoor living thanks to Exmark,” Kittle adds. “We have a lot of land to cover and a lot of grass to cut with my Lazer Zs.” Kittle uses three Exmark mowers to maintain his property, including 60- and 96-in. Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn riding mowers, both customized with Exmark original accessories including a sunshade and LED lighting. He also has a Commercial 30 X-Series walk-behind mower, which he says is ideal for trim work and mowing in tight spaces. power in the event of an outage, store excess energy to offset high electricity costs during peak times and supplement power from the utility grid. SimpliPhi Power designs and manufactures efficient, non-toxic and enduring energy storage and management systems that utilize lithium-ion batteries to store power generated by residential solar panels, among other sources. “This acquisition quickly establishes a strong position for Briggs & Stratton in the high-growth energy storage system market,” says Steve Andrews, President and CEO, Briggs & Stratton. “The SimpliPhi Power team brings deep application expertise, strong technical support and proven, successful products to the Briggs & Stratton portfolio of power-agnostic products and technology solutions.” Briggs & Stratton intends to offer SimpliPhi Power products through its own distribution channels in addition to continuing to service SimpliPhi Power’s existing distribution channels. “Combining forces with Briggs & Stratton will provide SimpliPhi Power with new growth opportunities and substantial resources to lead the energy storage system market. Briggs & Stratton’s expansive distribution network,
power application expertise, and commitment to innovation will accelerate our growth and our mission of providing resilient energy storage systems that create universal access to safe, reliable and affordable energy to empower people, communities and enterprises globally,” says Catherine Von Burg, CEO, SimpliPhi Power.
Arrowhead Acquires Red Hawk
Arrowhead Engineered Products has announced its recent acquisition of Red Hawk, a wholesale supplier of high-quality golf car parts and accessories to over 2,200 retail dealers across the U.S. and internationally. The acquisition adds to Arrowhead’s global footprint as the largest aftermarket parts supplier of mission-critical replacement parts for power equipment, powersports, golf, agriculture, industrial and marine end markets. John Mosunic, Arrowhead CEO comments, “We are thrilled to welcome Gillet Boyce and all the Red Hawk employees to the Arrowhead family. Red Hawk is a market leader and has a best-in-class reputation for a superior customer experience with its network
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POWERsuppliers of dealers. This combination positions Arrowhead firmly in the golf cart parts and accessories segment and we look forward to extending Red Hawk products and service model throughout Arrowhead’s global network.”
Deere Purchases Robotics Company
In August, Deere agreed to purchase California-based Bear Flag Robotics, an agricultural technology company specializing in autonomous tractors, for $250 million. Specifically, technologies developed by Bear Flag Robotics allow tractors to operate autonomously. The two companies began collaborating in 2019. The acquisition of Bear Flag Robotics complements Deere’s research and development activities, and broader commitment to providing innovative equipment with advanced connectivity capabilities. It also builds on other major recent company initiatives. Deere’s goal is to better serve customers in the agricultural and forestry sectors with individualized solutions to their needs.
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Yamaha Celebrates U.S. Milestone Yamaha Motor Mfg. Corp. of America (YMMC) and Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, (YMUS) have reached a historic manufacturing milestone, celebrating the production of 4 million vehicles with the assembly of a new 2021 Wolverine RMAX2 1000 side-by-side (SxS) at its state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturing facility in Newnan, Ga. Yamaha celebrated the occasion at the Newnan factory on August 12 to recognize employees and thank them for their dedication to ensuring superior manufacturing processes and producing the highest quality of vehicles. Yamaha’s hub for 4-wheel off-highway vehicle manufacturing, YMMC is where all of the SxS, full-size ATVs, WaveRunners, and golf carts are produced for worldwide distribution. “Over the past 20 years, Yamaha has invested more than $380 million into U.S. manufacturing to create a worldclass facility in Newnan,” says Taka Imanishi, President of YMMC. “Whether it is our ATV or side-by-side vehi-
cles, golf cars or personal watercraft, YMMC strives to maintain the highest quality of production and environmental standards, while giving back to the community through comprehensive corporate social responsibility programs.” Since its founding in 1988, YMMC has made a significant impact within its community. The facility covers 280 acres with more than 1.3 million sq. ft. of manufacturing facilities, giving it a massive physical footprint in Newnan. Between the YMMC facility and YMUS corporate offices in Marietta and Kennesaw, Yamaha now employs over 2,000 people in the state of Georgia alone, encompassing more than half of the 4,000+ individuals the company directly employs in the U.S. “Yamaha continues to add personnel and strengthen operations in Georgia as the side-by-side line expands with popular new models like the Wolverine RMAX 1000,” says Mike Martinez, YMUS vice president of motorsports. “With increasing demand for outdoor recreation of all kinds, we expect to see continued growth of our operations in Georgia and across the country, provid-
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POWERsuppliers ing a positive impact on Yamaha, our customers, and on the communities where we live and work.”
Black & Decker To Acquire MTD
Stanley Black & Decker has announced that it has agreed to acquire the remaining 80% ownership stake in MTD Holdings Inc. (MTD), including
Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt, for $1.6 billion in cash. Stanley Black & Decker acquired a 20% stake in MTD in 2019. “We have worked directly with MTD over the last three years and have been impressed with the quality of the management team, their talented employee sand MTD’s relentless dedication to innovation in the outdoor space,” says James M. Loree, CEO, Stanley Black & Decker. “The combination of businesses
will create a global leader in the $25 billion and growing outdoor category, with strong brands and growth opportunities that align with two market trends driving our business—the consumer reconnection with the home and garden and electrification. We have clearly identified multiple levers to drive growth and margin expansion and are looking forward to welcoming MTD’s 7,500 employees to our Stanley Black & Decker family.” MTD’s Chairman, CEO and President Robert T. Moll says, “My grandfather founded MTD nearly 90 years ago, and I’m as proud of our history as I am excited about our future with Stanley Black & Decker. Both companies are proven leaders in our respective industries with iconic brands, world-class capabilities and a passion for bringing new and innovative products to our consumers. I know we are partnering with an organization that will continue to deliver on our purpose of inspiring people to care for and enjoy the outdoors.”
Michigan To Help Walbro Expand
In mid-September, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to make a formal announcement about Walbro’s multi-million dollar expansion and the funding the state is providing toward it from the Michigan Strategic Fund. Construction has been ongoing at the Walbro facility in Cass City, Mich., which includes a 8,368 sq. ft. addition to the existing footprint at an estimated cost of $11.4 million. The state is providing a $400,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant for the project, which will add 40 advanced manufacturing jobs over two years to the company’s current workforce of about 350. The equipment for the project consists of a new $6,210,000 Coex molding press robotic assembly line, auxiliary equipment, and building improvements. The plan Walbro previously presented to local officials called for $670,000 worth of site work and about $400,000 worth of other preparation work. The plan noted that about $780,000 worth of structural work would be done in September and in mid-October. Then, about $205,000 worth of utility work would be done in November. The plan is to have the project completed in January 2022. 10
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The Power Shop Adapts To New ‘Normal’ Business Dealership stands by customers while building its local brand. BY DAN SHELL
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FORDS PRAIRIE, Wash. amily owned and operated, The Power Shop is a long-established business that continues to adapt to the new “normal” of operating a business under pandemic conditions as the store brand is promoted as a key member of the community and a business that provides premium lawn and garden equipment solutions. Located on the north end of the adjacent towns of Chehalis and Centralia along the fast-growing I-5 corridor less than 30 minutes south of the greater Olympia area, The Power Shop has a good mix of residential lot and rural landowner business requiring a wide range of premium equipment. The business dates back 65 years to its founding. Cedric and Diane Pruitt are the latest owners, since 2005. After years in the construction business and running a gas station in Edmond, Wash., the Pruitts were looking for a change and a new business opportunity. The couple started off well enough, and daughter Rebekah Oliver and her husband Jarrod moved to town to help out in 2007 and eventually take on key roles in the business. The economic downturn led to some lean years in 2008 and 2009 and some of 2010 before business picked back up. The down years also led to a streamlining of product lines that only settled down a few years ago. In 2010, the dealership carried Toro, White Outdoor, Tanaka, Exmark and Ariens. Rebekah remembers she and Jarrod went to GIE+EXPO looking for a new lawn tractor line and settled on Cub Cadet. Soon after, they took on Honda, then later dropped Toro, Tanaka and Ariens. Today, the dealership offers Cub Cadet, Exmark and Honda wheeled equipment, Echo handheld, Generac and BCS. “We were looking for lines that sold and that we thought we could grow with,” Oliver says. “We feel like we have a good mix now.” The dealership operates with nine employees that include the four family members, one parts person, a sales rep, a service manager, two technicians and a set-up and pickup/delivery tech. Rebekah handles HR, payroll, marketing and AR while also overseeing the parts department, managing stockup orders and helping with equipment orders. Jarrod is Sales Manager who oversees all equipment ordering and the service department. Cedric handles warranty processing and has been doing full-time tech work
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From left, Rebekah and Jarrod Oliver and her parents Diane and Cedric Pruitt have led the dealership since the Pruitts acquired it in 2005.
The Power Shop customers get a $10/hr. discount off the posted labor rate of $96/hr.
the past 18 months. Diane handles AP, banking and equipment registrations. Both she and Cedric are looking to step back from full-time roles in the near future.
Operations Oliver says the customer base is roughly 80% residential. “We’re looking to grow the pro and institutional side as well,” she adds. For The Power Shop, the location is close to the city, “But the economics are more rural,” Oliver says. An additional factor in the market is cost-of-living (mainly hous-
ing) issues in the greater Puget Sound region and along I-5. The Power Shop has been an Ideal Computer Systems user since 2006, and Oliver says the business has been happy with the system and has worked with Ideal on some of their software testing. She admits that it’s definitely a way to get more attention from a vendor, but also says it’s a win-win for both. “We’ve been able to help them with their testing, and we’ve also put ourselves out there a bit (in doing it), but I believe it’s helped us with our growth,” Oliver says. The dealership did some radio and
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newspaper advertising early on after the Pruitts acquired the business, but Oliver says she now believes it was too sporadic to make an impact. “One thing I have learned is the importance of consistency and getting your name out there,” Oliver says, adding that newspaper and radio are still the top advertising choices. “We run ads all the time.” The dealership is a Bob Clements International client and big fan of the dealer consultant who’s provided valuable insight and advice on general operations, navigating the pandemic—and the importance of promoting the business as its own brand instead of focusing primarily on product lines.
As for the goal of getting The Power Shop’s name out in the community, the business has been a big booster of local soccer and baseball youth leagues, a corporate sponsor of the Centralia Schools Athletics and several independent school programs—as well as being a sponsor at a popular local speedway. For its online presence, The Power Shop has been working the past several years with Dealers Digital for social media management that includes online marketing and web site administration. In addition, Oliver notes that more suppliers are providing social media resources for their dealers and cites Echo as a big contributor and promoter of so-
cial media activity. “We’ve been an Echo dealer for a long time, and we’ve been getting calls about seeing this or that on social media,” Oliver says. Speaking of web sites, The Power Shop at one point sold parts over the internet for several years but ultimately ended the practice. “Once we took a real close look we found we were really just breaking even and it was taking a lot of my time,” Oliver says. She also decided she had better things to do than try to build relationships around the country. “We decided we wanted to focus our efforts here, keep the money and effort local,” she says, noting that they couldn’t really compete with the dedicated parts houses anyway. As for selling whole goods on the internet, Oliver doesn’t want to get into it for the same reasons but says dealers have to realize there’s a customer segment out there—even local buyers— who are just not going to come in and browse like traditional shoppers. She’s encouraged by manufacturers who are doing more to point online customers to local dealerships that can handle the sale and pickup or delivery. Cub Cadet does a good job connecting dealers with online buyers, Oliver says, adding that’s the kind of thing OEMs should be doing for their dealers anyway: “It comes down to pointing the customer in the right direction to purchase the product and having it go through the dealer so the customer has that local support and contact,” she says.
Service Counter buffers still in place, The Power Shop has seen a big increase demand in the past year. The dealership’s owners are seeking to promote and build The Power Shop’s local brand and reputation as a key lawn and garden premium equipment supplier.
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The Power Shop’s posted labor rate is $96/hr., just raised from $90/hr. starting in 2021. However, for customers who bought their equipment there, the rate is only $86/hr. (a Bob Clements concept). Oliver says the rate is competitive for the area, and the regular customers took the recent rate increase in stride while first time full rate customers sometimes raise an eyebrow. As for service operations, “We’re moving toward the point that if it’s not a line we carry or a product we actually sold, we’re not going to work on it,” Oliver says. The service policy becomes a little more lax in the winter as it does for many dealerships, but Oliver
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says they soon noticed that during the winter of 2020-21, the service department stayed slammed and a couple weeks out—to the point where they didn’t have time to pursue a “winter project” for dealership improvement as they usually have. “We never really slowed down. And at some point we have to draw a line because we can only work on so much equipment,” Oliver says. Another reason for the tight service policy is the dealership likes staying true to its certifications and always looks to use OEM parts. “When we go to work on equipment we want full access and parts lookup,” Oliver says, adding that the dealership’s technicians are all up to spec on their certifications for the product lines and engines they carry, and they’d rather not spend time working on machines they aren’t certified on.
Pandemic Issues Like many dealerships, The Power Shop took an initial hit—only to see business and customer demand skyrocket as customers spent more time at home and had extra stimulus money on hand to spend.
The dealership initially shortened hours and closed the showroom for six weeks while making appointments with only two customers at a time. Meanwhile, “The phone just rang all day long,” Oliver remembers, noting that one day the dealership received 120+ messages. They rearranged the parking lot to create an in-out loop for curbside pickup, added counter buffers and employees wore gloves as the dealership saw a big increase in business from the year prior. One of the challenges of working in such conditions was finding a way to sell equipment—when it’s not yet on the shelf. Oliver says she had ordered heavy going into 2021 and did really well through April before product shortages and order delays became more of an issue. The Power Shop is still using a waiting list for customers who want certain products currently unavailable. Orders come in person, over the phone and sometimes online: Once Oliver can confirm the order and its arrival, the dealership contacts the customer to confirm the order and takes a small deposit. The customer then pays the balance when the product arrives.
Oliver says the dealership and its staff were so busy that it wasn’t until fall 2020 that they were able to realize the huge silver lining in a crazy pandemic year—a roughly 30% increase across all major lines. “And that’s with working through the product shortages,” she notes, adding that once customer demands had leveled off and they weren’t at the counter or on the phone constantly, most of her time has been spent managing the ordering process, finding out what’s available and when and confirming orders. The Power Shop is in the same boat as many other dealerships and businesses in general looking for employees, specifically an extra technician they’ve been needing for about 18 months, Oliver says. Looking ahead, Oliver says overall activity is slowing as usual with drier fall weather. However, product shortages and shipping issues are still factors and will remain so well into 2022, she’s hearing from several vendors. To adapt, she’s ordering heavier and earlier than usual for next spring. “We’re still anticipating a good finish to this year and a great 2022,” OliPET ver says.
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EXPOelite EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted these editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements placed elsewhere in this issue. Please refer to those advertisements for web site and contact information. All statements and claims are attributable to the companies. ARCHER—Archer is a 100% Australian-owned, China-based manufacturing and trading company offering over 10,000 quality parts and accessories for the chain saw and lawn and garden industry. We manufacture saw chain in our modern state-of-the-art factory, where we have a strict QC program and new laboratory that ensures only the highest quality product is manufactured and shipped from our factory. Our factory is ISO endorsed and audited, with selected saw chain UL approved and audited. We pride ourselves on manufacturing high quality saw chain, supplied to pro replacement markets around the world. Chain manufactured includes a complete line of pro and consumer chain with all pitches and gauges; specialty chains such as ripping, skip sequence, and cutterless. We have recently added a new ¼ pitch line of chain to fit the new battery powered chain saws and pruners. Archer has a complete line of guide bars—consumer, semi-pro, and pro to complement the saw chain. We also manufacture the industry’s most complete line of sprockets—over 325 different spur and rim drive models. A large line of accessories rounds out the offering to compliment the bars and saw chain. Our laboratory and QC programs audit all incoming raw material and the process to make the parts to assemble our saw chain. This ensures consistent quality and provides our customers with the confidence that they require for dealing with China today. It also enables us to 100% guarantee all products and shipments. Our factory currently sells to over 80 countries with 51 Archer distributors around the world. We have our own in-house packaging department, which allows us to offer all types of packaging including: retail clamshell, pro distributor, private label, bar coding, and part numbering; catering to all customer requirements. Archer has a large offering of lawn and garden products—including trimmer line, heads, unique brushcutter blades, robotic mower parts and blades, and spare parts for trimmers and brushcutters. We also have many special projects with customers around the world where we use our contacts and Chinese experience to develop these products, some in our industry and some in completely different industries. Archer is located in Jinhua, China and invites all interested people to visit our factory and showroom when it becomes possible again. We offer you risk-free business. Booth 10033 ASPEN—Aspen USA is now offering its clean-burning fuels locally to professional and residential power equipment users. 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. 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. By removing these components, Aspen burns cleaner and is gentle on the metal, plastic and rubber components in power equipment. 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 minimizes the amount of deposits in the combustion chamber, valves and exhaust system 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). Booth 11050 CURTIS INDUSTRIES—Curtis Industries, LLC, the market leading manufacturer of cab enclosures, accessories and attachments for tractors, utility vehicles, golf carts, and now zero-turn mowers, announced its latest cab innovation: a premium air-conditioned cab for the Kubota ZD1211 zero-turn mower. The new cab features a state of the art, lightweight aluminum design, complemented by tinted, hard-coated, scratch resistant polycarbonate windshield and doors. The cab includes our high-performance air conditioning system, which incorporates a belt driven, automotive style compressor. The Curtis premium air-conditioned cab offers users the ultimate in operator comfort with protection from the sun, heat, rain, dust and insects. This premium Curtis cab boasts: l High-performance air conditioning, to keep you cool on the hottest of days l Tinted, hard-coated polycarbonate windshield and doors l Large clear doors and windshield offer exceptional visibility 16
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EXPOelite Lockable, rear pin-hinged doors for easy entry and exit Doors remove easily—without tools l Drop-on cab design, reduces installation time and complexity l A/C system comes pre-charged from our factory l Fits mowers with either 60 in. or 72 in. deck l Easy fuel tank access “With over 50 years of experience designing cabs, our engineering team has left no stone unturned to bring you a true industry first with this new cab,” says George Psyhojos, Curtis, President and CEO. “We are excited to offer the zero-turn market all the comforts and operator protection our tractor and utility vehicle cab customers have grown to depend on. Our customers and dealers have been asking for a zero turn solution for some time, and we are extremely proud to solve for this need. End-user customers are growing more demanding with respect to their comfort while operating all machinery. They want to be safe from the heat and sun while they mow.” A full line of cab accessories is available including: l Optional Pantograph Front Wiper-Washer l Roof Mounted Powerful Work Lights l Overhead Console l Exterior Mirrors See the Curtis premium air-conditioned cab for the Kubota ZD1211 at: curtisindustries.net/product/premium-ac-cab-forkubota-zd1211/. Curtis Cabs are available from your authorized Curtis dealers. Booth 1218 l l
ECHO INC—During GIE+EXPO, be sure to stop by Echo’s booth to check out the company’s new cordless platform, the Echo eFORCE 56 V battery system. While Echo eFORCE won’t be available at the retail level until 2022, you can be the first to demo the 10 new cordless units, when you stop by Echo’s booth during the show. In addition to learning about new products, you’re invited to help Echo celebrate their 50th anniversary during GIE+EXPO. At Echo’s indoor booth, 5112, you can take a trip down memory lane to see the many innovations that Echo has developed over the years to help professional landscapers. A pioneer in the market, Echo invented the world’s first of much equipment used by landscapers every day, including the backpack blower, the mini pro saw and the handheld blower, just to name a few. At Echo’s outdoor booth, 7451D, you can demo everything from chain saws to trimmers, including the PB-9010—the world’s most powerful backpack blower! Get a cool giveaway just by visiting select stations and trying out the best equipment the industry has to offer. And for some dangerous artistry, watch crowd favorite Jason Emmons carve sculptures with a chainsaw. Booth 5112
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EXPOelite HEFTEE INDUSTRIES—For nearly 25 years the Heftee 2000 and 4000 have been the lift of choice for professional power equipment technicians working on the widest range of riding mowers and commercial turf equipment. Heftee lifts are ideal for shops short on floor space; there is no special installation required and the Heftee 2000 and 4000 operate on 110V. Safety is Heftee’s first priority. All our lifts are designed and tested to hold four times their rated capacity, and our safety record is unmatched in the industry. Technicians stand comfortably with unrestricted access to service areas, no longer lying on cold concrete floors in awkward positions to perform under-equipment jobs. The lifts deliver both improved ergonomics and increased technician productivity. Heftee lifts are freestanding for easy relocation within shop. Heftee’s revolutionary singlemast 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 included with the lifts—all integrate with the lift to make it a complete power equipment workstation. The Heftee 4000 safely accommodates equipment up to 87 inches wide and lifts up to 4,000 lbs., to 6 feet, in less than a minute. The Heftee 4000 standard equipment package comes complete with jacks, boom and extension arms for completing virtually any repair job. It was specifically designed for the larger commercial riding mowers and turf equipment. The Heftee 2000 safely handles equipment up to 60 inches wide and lifts up to 2,000 lbs., to 6 feet, in less than a minute. Like it’s bigger brother, the Heftee 2000 standard equipment package includes jacks, boom and extension arms. The Heftee 2000 is ideal for medium to small riding lawn mowers with 60-in. mowing decks and smaller. Making hard-to-service equipment easy to service is Heftee’s business. Any lift can lift. Heftee lifts are equipped with unique features that enhance service. The technician can focus on repairing hard-to-service turf equipment and utility vehicles better, faster, safer. Booth 8198 HUSQVARNA—The Husqvarna 550iBTX is a well-balanced and ergonomic backpack battery blower with impressive force designed for professional use. With its class leading power combined with low noise levels and low vibrations, the 550iBTX allows work to be done in public settings, even in noise restricted areas. The blower is IPX4 rated for water resistance, making it a long-lasting and reliable tool that can be used year-round and in all weather conditions. The harness for the 550iBTX is comfortable, ventilated, and includes load-reducing features like a hip belt and wide shoulder straps. In addition, the 550iBTX has an intuitive user interface and keypad that shows a battery status bar to help plan your work based on the remaining runtime. Leaving no small detail unnoticed, the size of the buttons have been adapted for easy maneuvering even with work gloves on. With an easily accessible Boost Mode, the 550iBTX gives users maximized blow force when needed. No fuel refills, less parts to service, and an electronically controlled drive system means less downtime and low operation costs. The 550iBTX runs on a 40v lithium-ion battery and brushless motor offering high torque to weight ratio for increased efficiency and longer product-life. Booth 11094; 9094 MASPORT MOWERS—Next season there will be major changes in the U.S. market walk behind market due to anti-dumping cases being successfully fought and won by two major industry players against imports from Asia. These results will change the landscape for imported walk-behind lawnmowers and imported engines for locally produced walk-behind lawnmowers as most imports are sourced from there. Masport will continue to be available next season and was first introduced in U.S. in 2012. A household name in New Zealand and a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden power equipment in both New Zealand and Australia with a proud engineering history dating back 111 years, Masport has steadily grown its U.S. dealer base in the past 10 seasons. It has an extensive range of consumer and professional rotary gasoline walk-behind mowers, as well as cylinder mowers, shredders, edgers and cultivators that are also sold in 45 countries around the world. Power Distributors are Masport’s distributor in U.S. and Power Source Canada, for Canada. They distribute Masport’s range of consumer and commercial 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 high quality and feature rich. Masport Mowers are available in various cutting widths and are powered by Briggs & Stratton engines. Masport mowers mulch, catch and side discharge, feature aluminium and steel decks, ball bearing wheels, and single lever height adjustment. At this year’s EXPO, Masport features its commercial walk-behind mower. The Masport Contractor 3N1 professional mower has a very robust 14 gau., 21 in. steel deck, fully professional GT 3 speed transmission, die-cast aluminum wheels fitted with precision bearings, bolt-in heavy-duty axles and large diameter heavy gauge handles. It is available in both engine brake and BBC configuration. Masport offers competitively priced, quality, unique products that are not available in the Big Box Stores. See us at our GIE+EXPO booth 10180 or contact Power Distributors or Power Source Canada for more details on the Masport 2022 dealer program. Booth 10180 18
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EXPOelite STIHL—Join Stihl for exciting new product launch news at GIE+EXPO! Stihl has been defining the future of power equipment for more than 90 years. This year, we’re continuing this legacy of innovation—providing your customers even more options within the extensive Stihl lineup. We are excited to introduce new Stihl innovations providing both sustainable and high-performance product solutions, including expansions to the award-winning professional battery 135 platform, professional chain saws, battery-powered sprayer, and more. l You’re Invited: Exclusive STIHL Dealer Appreciation Event New Product Presentation: Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 2:30 p.m. Back by popular demand, GIE+EXPO is providing exclusive early access for dealers! Dealer-only access to the show floor on Wednesday, October 20 will give you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with exhibitors and preview new products ahead of the crowds. Join us in the Stihl booth (5068), and enjoy refreshments, a special presentation (2:30 p.m.) and a preview of new Stihl products. One lucky attendee will win $5,000! (Must be present to win.) Booth 5068 SUNBELT OUTDOOR PRODUCTS—Sunbelt Outdoor Products is a long-time participant at GIE+EXPO—stop by booth #1134 to see our newest products. Check out all of the premium Sunbelt parts at sunbeltparts.com! Sunbelt Outdoor Products has been busy expanding its already large 60,000+ product offering, and we remain committed to providing an extensive lineup of replacement parts for much of today’s power equipment. Sunbelt offers a large and expanding selection of accessories, tools and equipment for all types of outdoor work. We have added well over 1,000 part numbers in the last year alone and have big plans for the year ahead! Sunbelt Outdoor Products Predator and XHT blades are the strongest blades on the market. Their strength and durability come from a patented austempering process that creates steel that is 30% harder than steel used in competing blades. Ideal for professionals, these blades require less sharpening, last longer and are lighter weight. Sunbelt has recently introduced a tweel for skid steers. These airless radial tires offer significant new benefits including improved shear beam construction engineered to maximize core life. They also have new spoke material which helps provide up to 10 times greater spoke life compared to previous models. With new interlocked hub design, durability is increased in demanding conditions. These skid steer tweels are available in two tread patterns, all terrain and hard surface traction; two sizes of each 10N16.5 and 12N16.5. Sunbelt Outdoor Products is a wholesaler of premium turf products and is ready to help retailers large and small to meet the needs of their customers. Add Sunbelt products to your business! With a nationwide network of warehouses across the U.S., Sunbelt can help you get the parts you need when you need them. Booth 1134
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EXPOelite TD BANK—Yard Card from TD Bank is a powerful consumer and commercial financing payment solution designed to help lawn and garden dealers grow sales, drive repeat purchases and build customer loyalty. In today's marketplace, your customers expect payment options, so offering a financing program is one of the smartest decisions your dealership can make. Here's what Yard Card can do for you: l Sell more with everyday financing offers and a revolving line of credit available to purchase equipment, parts, service and accessories l Close the deal with strong credit limits l Build customer loyalty with ongoing promotions and your store name embossed on every card l Ongoing marketing support and program training l Offer commercial financing to your landscaping and business customers with Yard Card PLUS Need another reason to choose Yard Card? According to TD's 2019 Retail Experience Index, 87% of retail cardholders said financing was essential or important when making a major purchase of $500 or more. As you can see, financing is the perfect fit for power equipment purchases. Plus, Yard Card can also help streamline your sales process with instant online transaction processing and fast funding. And, your cardholders will enjoy TD's unmatched service should they ever need it. Booth 8164 TRILINK SAW CHAIN—TriLink and Stens are excited to be exhibiting at the 2021 GIE+EXPO in booth 10079. In addition to exceptional TriLink branded chain saw chain, bars, sprockets, and accessories, you will also find Stens branded packaged parts at the show, which complement TriLink products in retail spaces. Both TriLink and Stens stand for quality and carry the confidence demanded by consumers. Partnering with corporate buyers, Stens and TriLink will develop a retail solution custom tailored to your business. In the booth you will find intuitive packaging solutions that provide visual cues in both icons and color formatting to easily assist consumers in purchasing the correct parts for equipment. To help consumers make an informed purchase decision, in-store point-of-sale information that guides the purchaser to the correct solution and selection will also be shown. Time is money. Restocking retail spaces with an efficient solution that looks and remains organized is key to an effective parts selection. The Stens and TriLink Retail Team can help identify opportunities for enhancing your retail offering of power equipment and chain saw replacement parts. The well-known Stens and TriLink brands convey quality, reliability, and durability. Private labeling of power equipment and chainsaw parts is an alternative for continuity of your existing product brands. Booth 10079 WALBRO—Walbro recently launched a new B2B/B2C e-commerce site, which allows Walbro partners (original equipment customers and distributors) as well as consumers an easier to navigate parts look-up and parts ordering with an “add to cart” feature of assemblies, repair kits, and component parts. Walbro is bringing this system online in response to reports that by 2025 up to 80% of B2B sales interactions will take place in digital channels. The e-commerce system is built on Walbro’s existing CRM (customer relationship management) software, which is integrated into Walbro’s manufacturing and distribution software. The new e-commerce system will reduce the duplication by customer service of manually having to enter a customer order into Walbro’s system while also reducing errors in the order entry process. With this new e-commerce system, Walbro is expanding its parts look-up and product available to purchase to include power equipment as well as power sports and marine product. The e-commerce system is on Walbro.com under parts & services (https://walbro.force.com/Store). Booth 7196
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Here's An Idea:
Use Video Marketing
The how, and why, video marketing is the way to go for dealers. BY JACQLYN KIRKLAND
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ince the start of the pandemic small businesses have faced unthinkable challenges. While most of the U.S. was under some level of quarantine, people had more time on their hands to learn or discover something new. With the internet at their fingertips, customers took advantage of the accessibility, convenience and the safety of online shopping and for researching their next purchases. With customers’ realities and needs
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changing, many companies had to pivot to more online marketing. YouTube has become an essential marketing tool for a simple reason: It is often easier to connect and engage with potential customers through video than with text. By creating videos that introduce your dealership or explain how to change a lawnmower blade, for example, you can make personal connections with your customers and even reach new audiences.
Is YouTube Effective? YouTube has emerged as one of the most dominant social media platforms. YouTube searches are second only to Google. Users watch more than 1 billion hours of content every single day. One billion hours!
You might be thinking how your dealership can get a share of the market when you are in direct competition with big brands that get millions of views, like a David among Goliaths. But it is worth the effort. The number of small businesses advertising on YouTube has doubled in the past two years, demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness. Since 68% of viewers watch videos to help them make a purchase decision, using YouTube to promote your dealership, products, and reviews can help raise your bottom line. There are three easy steps to creating a YouTube channel. First, to create a YouTube channel for your dealership you will need a business Google account, such as Google My Business, to manage the channel. Then, while logged
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WHITE into your business Google account, visit YouTube and enter your account details. Then you will be able to create a channel for your dealership. And finally, you will be asked to enter a name for your channel. This is often the name of your business.
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YouTube has become an essential marketing tool for a simple reason: It is often easier to connect and engage with potential customers through video than with text.
Customize It Once your channel is set up you will have the option to give it a more professional look and help customers find your dealership online. To do this, you will need to access YouTube Studio by clicking on the button “Customize Channel.” This will take you to the “Channel customization” page. Click on the “Layout” tab to add a channel trailer and a featured video. Think of the channel trailer like a movie trailer. It should hook your viewers and get them to subscribe to your channel. Explosions, car chases and Morgan Freeman voiceovers are optional! Next, click the “Branding” tab to start customizing your channel art, such as the channel icon, banner image and video watermark. Clicking the next tab, “Basic Info,” gives you an opportunity to share details about your dealership, products, etc. Use keywords or phrases people may use when searching for your type of dealership. Be sure to include your contact info as well as links to your dealership’s website and other social media accounts. These links will appear on your banner image and will be highly visible to people who visit your channel. Tips On Channel Art: It’s recommended to use an image that’s at least 98 x 98 pixels and 4MB or less. Use a PNG or GIF (no animations) file. Make sure your picture follows the YouTube Community Guidelines. This image will appear in YouTube search results so be sure to use an image or logo that represents your dealership clearly and effectively. For the banner, use an image that’s at least 2048 x 1152 pixels and 6MB or less. Choose an image that best characterizes your dealership or products. The image can be changed as often as you like.
What To Create Now that you have your dealership’s channel up and running it’s time to decide what types of videos will be the most engaging for your viewers. Here are some ideas for effective marketing videos: How-Tos: Step-by-step videos that
explain how to use a product or address a common problem can be quite effective. These videos help existing customers find answers to their questions and allow potential customers to learn more about your products or services. An example of a how-to video would be basic maintenance of a lawnmower or replacing a spark plug. Products that are available to purchase from your dealership would be featured. Behind The Scenes: Giving customers a behind-the-scenes look into your operations can help humanize your dealership and provide them insight into your dealership. They can get a feel for your work culture, meet the people behind the counter or in the service department and more. Product Demos: Video allows your customers to see your products in action. Demonstrating what a new product can do and all of its features would allow customers to decide if the product is right for their current needs. Testimonials: These videos are statements given by existing customers. Consumers frequently place more trust in the opinions of other customers because they want to know that someone has purchased your product and that it is worth the money.
Channel Strategies Creating great content is only part of an effective video marketing plan. Don’t make the mistake of thinking viewers will find your videos on their own. Promotion of your YouTube content is key. Ways To Grow Your Channel SEO: As mentioned earlier, YouTube is the world’s second most popular search engine and the largest video search engine. With the ability to use search engines comes the requirement for search engine optimization (SEO). Before you begin developing video content, you must plan for SEO. Producing content based on what you know people are looking for will help you attract relevant, targeted traffic to your channel. This option will require additional planning, but will pay off in
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member: Google owns YouTube—and a better chance to appear on YouTube recommendations. Social Media: After posting your YouTube video be sure to share it far and wide to reach more viewers and lead them back to your channel. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn all provide logofor (for sharing only) greatstacked opportunities cross-posting and repurposing video content. Email: Another great option to promote your dealership’s channel is through email. A video can be embedded in an email or use a video thumbnail linked to your channel. (Email marketing was previously featured in Power Equipment Trade’s August 2021 issue) Plan Content: Planning your content and being consistent with your schedule is an important step to grow your channel. If you are consistent, it gives viewers a reason to watch for your next video. How you schedule your content should be determined by what is relevant for your business. For example, does it make sense to create a recurring series where you post on a specific day of the week? Consider Design: A customized thumbnail is a good way to grab people’s attention. Another area of design to consider is the end screen of a video. Adding a “Watch More” slide to the ending can encourage viewers to watch the next video and go deeper into your dealership’s YouTube presence. Include Product Links: Be sure to include links in video descriptions that will lead viewers to product pages on your website.
YouTube Analytics Within YouTube Studio you have access to analytics that will help you better understand video and channel performance. Determine Your Goal: You can’t measure your success without first determining your goal for each video. Examples of goals include increasing brand awareness, views, clicks or social shares. Track Key Metrics: Watch time, traffic sources, demographics and more. PET
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Variety Of Accredited Training Programs Associations and manufacturers offer latest tech training programs. BY PATRICK DUNNING
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he Northeast Equipment Dealers Assn. (NEDA) and Stihl Inc. are evolving vocational tech training programs to increase emphasis on closing the gap on technician shortages at power equipment dealerships nationwide. The NEDA Apprenticeship Program, currently available for Pennsylvania dealers, was established in 2017 and offers an apprenticeship program for agricultural equipment service technicians and a pre-apprenticeship program, targeting high school students interested
in exploring a career as a service department tech. NEDA Field Manager Tim Wentz manages NEDA’s apprenticeship programs and says they have one apprentice and three pre-apprentices currently enrolled.
“A chain saw is only as good as the service that comes with it.” “Both our apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs are fairly new. We are always working to improve both programs,” Wentz says. “That being said we’ve had our greatest success to date with our pre-apprenticeship program. It’s an excellent opportunity for high school students, and others, to explore the career, build hands-on experi-
ence and credentials. We spend a ton of time building the list of skills and competencies required then follow that up with an equal amount of time building and validating competencies.” While in-person training is still popular, online options are growing. In March 2021, Stihl launched its enhanced online learning management system, Stihl iCademy. The curriculum is designed for both dealers and their employees with 350 courses available for vocational training, covering several topics including safety, maintenance and new product features. More than 720 vocational schools across the country are utilizing Stihl iCademy to support their instructional programs and promote the next generation of skilled trade workers. “We believe it is important to offer our network the tools and training re-
The EETC Annual Conference is always popular for vo-tech educators, dealers and shop technicians alike.
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A variety of speakers on a variety of topics present during the EETC conference, helping to create well-rounded educators and technicians.
sources they need to sell and seriCademy website, is part of the vice Stihl products. That’s why Stihl MasterWrench Service prowe offer hundreds of online techgram. Since the curriculum’s nical and sales training courses in launch last year, more than addition to several levels of 690,000 training courses were in-person training options as part completed, a 40% increase from of our Stihl MasterWrench Serthe previous year. Sides estimates vice program,” Jennifer Harr, Stithousands of students completed hl Inc. sales training supervisor, the Bronze certification. commented in the company’s an“Stihl has a very robust bronze nouncement in March 2021. “Our program that helps entry-level stufounder, Andreas Stihl, believed dents and technicians understand that a chain saw is only as good as the varying range of handheld the service that comes with it.” two-stroke equipment and teachVocational school instructors ing correct operation along with While in-person training is still popular with everyone, the inand students are encouraged to the safe use of those products,” dustry is having to adapt its programs a little. That’s where include their Stihl iCademy Sides says. “If a student underStihl’s iCademy comes in. course certification on their restands how the equipment is supsume for future employment opportuSolutions and can be accessed by career posed to operate and that student is able nities at Stihl dealerships or elsewhere. and technical education (CTE) secondto safely operate equipment, that makes Stihl iCademy is a continuation of ary and post-secondary educators. Apthem a better technician when testing and Stihl’s previous online program to test prenticeships are competency based, altroubleshooting equipment. The techniand train future technicians. The relowing apprentices and dealers to focus cian can ensure when the equipment is vamped web browser keeps the dealer, training and on the job training to help returned back to the customer it’s runinstructor and student in mind. New each apprentice master skills. ning to OEM specifications.” online features include screen-size detecThe Equipment & Engine Training Sides adds that for years, Stihl has tion to change the layout based on the Council (EETC) has reviewed and proheld training courses at EETC’s annual type of device being used to complete vided input for NEDA’s apprenticeship conference, tailored to high school and training, improving user experience. programs. Erik Sides, Executive Director, college educators with power equipThe platform’s search function can EETC, says NEDA uses some of EETC’s ment/small-engine programs at their source specific courses, reference matericurriculum that has helped instructors schools. It’s proven to build a teacher’s als, recall information and specialty manprepare students for a career in the power confidence in two-stroke engines. uals. Relevant course recommendations equipment industry. EETC promotes Sti“Some of the GIE Dealer Day classes are displayed based on algorithms and hl iCademy as a resource to educators at are geared for the beginner level, such the user’s course history over time. The high schools and universities. as the electrical training but then we training calendar allows users to sign up Stihl’s renewed emphasis on online have the EFI class that is for experifor in-person training events, and a perlearning through Stihl iCademy is enced technicians,” Sides says. “We sonalized transcript allows the user to equipping a younger audience with the have a couple students attend but it’s manage their training and perform variresources needed to confidently service usually more teachers that come. Either ous training functions directly from the the company’s product line. way, it’s valuable for the educator and transcript. Stihl’s Bronze level service training, technician; both technicians get somePET Tests are hosted by Nocti Business which is incorporated within the Stihl thing out of it.” POWER EQUIPMENT TRADE
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PARTS & ACCESSORIES Parker HT-Series Service Kits
Rotary Battery-Powered Sprayers
The hydraulic transmission service kit from Parker is designed to make routine maintenance simple for Parker HT-Series transmissions. The series includes two kits, one for HTE and one for HTJ transmissions and another for HTG transmissions. A single kit contains all necessary parts to perform the regularly scheduled maintenance on HTE/HTJ and HTG transmissions. Kits include Parker HT-1000 oil, OEM replacement transmission filters, and replacement oil plugs. HT-1000 is Parker engineered oil specifically formulated for hydraulic transmissions and exhibits exceptional sheer stability and viscosity over time, while also providing excellent component wear protection, allowing for extended maintenance intervals up to 1000 hours. Visit discover.parker.com
Battery-powered handheld and backpack sprayers are now available from Rotary. The new Smith 2-gal. sprayer is perfect for a variety of jobs and includes a 7.2 V powered head. The 4-gal. backpack model with 18 V lithium-ion battery provides up to four hours of continuous spraying and features densely padded straps, a durable stainless steel wand and a built-in pressure switch that shuts off the motor to conserve battery life. Both multi-use sprayer kits include battery wall chargers and six nozzles for a wide range of spraying applications. Weed prevention, fertilizing, pest control, water-based sealing and mildew removal has never been easier with Smith’s new battery-operated sprayers from Rotary. Visit rotarycorp.com
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Five Minutes With...
OPEI’s Kris Kiser
It’s been a rollercoaster of a year and a half. Kris Kiser, President of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, gives dealers a five-minute pep talk.
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ET caught up with Kris Kiser, President of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), a veteran congressional aide and lobbyist who joined OPEI in the beginning of
the ethanol fight and has made OPEI a force to be reckoned with ever since. Power Equipment Trade: OPEI is heavily involved in manufacturer relations and mapping equipment trends. Have you noticed any trends during your tenure with the association that dealers need to make sure they pay attention to especially as we move into the post-pandemic years? Kris Kiser: Continued shift into battery/electric, including in larger format equipment like zero-turns. Equipment continues to be more connected and, increasingly, looks like autonomous labor
saving and time saving equipment for commercial contractors. As landscapers expand into different business—tree care, snow and ice management, etc.— dealers should be ready with equipment solutions to support them. PET: Any words of encouragement for dealers that are feeling like their business is going stale now that stimulus money has been spent and other sources of extra money appear to be dwindling? Kiser: Throughout the past year and half, we’ve seen a real reconnection with the outdoors, whether that’s homeowners investing in equipment and doing the work themselves or hiring professional landscape contractors to create and maintain their outdoor spaces. PET: EXPO is back! And it was certainly missed by the industry. What are some of the safety protocols OPEI, as the new show management, has implemented? What do you say for those that say it might be a little early for the largest gathering of the industry? Kiser: Landscape contractor registrations are running ahead of GIE+EXPO 2019, our largest year ever, and we are looking forward to hosting the industry’s family reunion Oct. 20-22 in Louisville. Current protocols from the state of Kentucky include a mask mandate for state facilities, and the situation remains fluid, as Kentucky COVID-19 numbers are decreasing. We have been informed by facility management at the Kentucky Exposition Center that show organizers will not be asked to enforce that mask policy. Show organizers are asking attendees to be vaccinated, and if unable to be vaccinated, to please wear a mask. PET: What do you think the biggest takeaway for dealers who haven’t attended EXPO in the past might get this year? Kiser: EXPO is the industry’s family reunion, and even if you’ve never been to the show, you’re still in the family. PET
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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. JANUARY 24, 2022—Northeast Equip. Dealers Assn. regional meeting, Eden Resort, Lancaster, Pa. Call 800-932-0607; visit ne-equip.com. JANUARY 26, 2022—Northeast Equip. Dealers Assn. regional meeting, Holiday Inn & Suites, Liverpool, NY. Call 800932-0607; visit ne-equip.com. JANUARY 28, 2022—Northeast Equip. Dealers Assn. regional meeting, Holiday Inn Downtown, Concord, NH. Call 800932-0607; visit ne-equip.com. Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.
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We are looking for a few good dealers... Are you one of them? Email jessica@hattonbrown.com
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
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Aspen USA 21 Cannon Bar Works 15 Curtis Industries 10 Deltran USA 29 Echo 7 ENM 29 Heftee Industries 15 Husqvarna Forest & Garden 9 KNK China Manufacturing 31 Masport 8 PMD International 19 Prufrex Innovative Power Products 7 Renault Power Equipment 29 Rotary 23,29,40 Stihl 2 Sunbelt Outdoor Products 11 TD Retail Card Services 5 Trilink Saw Chain 1 Walbro 28
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DUST&rust Readers are encouraged to send relevant historical lawn and garden media items in.
LOOKING BACK: THE FIRST FIVE We will celebrate 70 years of the magazine, first as Chain Saw Age and then eventually Power Equipment Trade, next year in 2022, but this year is the 30th anniversary of Hatton-Brown Publishers acquiring Chain Saw Age and beginning to transition the title to Power Equipment Trade—a transition that was complete by the July-August 1993 show issue. While we have a little birthday party for PET planned later, first a look back at our first five years covering International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo (EXPO), as industry’s biggest and best family reunion also has grown and changed a lot over the last 30 years—including merging with the landscape contracting focused show in 2007 to make GIE+EXPO.
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