Rural Lifestyle Dealer
2020 Business Trends & Outlook Report: 85% of Dealers Forecasting a Positive 2020
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Short for Contour Deck Tracking System, ContourDTS allows the deck to track to the contour of the lawn, guided by each front wheel.
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- Create a High Performance Dealership with Bob Clements: Service Department Volume 2
- Dealer Safety Strategies Volume 3: Building a Safety Culture
- Dealer Marketing Strategies Volume 6
- Create a High Performance Dealership with Bob Clements: Sales Department Volume 2
This month's digital sponsors:
Resources
Create a High Performance Dealership with Bob Clements
Check out the latest articles from Bob Clements, premier management consultant for outdoor power equipment, agriculture and power sports dealerships:
DMS 2020
ATTEND THE 2020 DEALERSHIP MINDS SUMMIT
The most influential “Dealership Minds” in the industry will gather August 4-5 in Omaha, Neb.
Current Issue
Sod Producer Finds Opportunity in Selling Robotic Mowers
Developing a Team That Generates Growth
Rural Lifestyle Market Still Positive for 2020
Dealer News
- Equipment Dealers Foundation Launches National Workforce Development Campaign
- Heritage Tractor Reopens After Fire
- New Holland Dealer Kingline Equipment Plans 6th Location
- Sod Producer Finds Opportunity in Selling Robotic Mowers
- EDA Releases Annual Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey Questionnaire
Videos
GIE+Expo Tech Walk Around
Alyn Brown of Level Up Development, who is also a technology contributor to Rural Lifestyle Dealer, highlights products that stood out to him at the 2019 GIE+Expo, including equipment from Mean Green, Ariens, Bad Boy and Ferris.
BigDog Mower Co. Celebrates 10 Years
BigDog Mower Co., part of Excel Industries, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The company displayed its Hike walk-behind mower at the recent GIE+Expo and Brad Unruh, director of product strategy, highlights key features, include the electric start and deeper deck.
Delta-Q Technologies' Battery Charging Solutions
Amanda Yeo, marketing manager for Delta-Q Technologies talks about the expansion of battery technology, the company's solutions and the OEMs it supports.
Jason Cameron of DIY Network Talks to RLD
Jason Cameron, host of DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and a professional home improvement contractor, comments about brand loyalty and dealer support as well as the newest equipment on display at the 2019 GIE+Expo. He also talks about the latest landscaping trends.
eBrief Features
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Developing Social Branding & Social IQ
Chad Inman, known on Facebook as “Burnip’s Chad,” defines his own approach to inside rural equipment sales. He’s one of several salespeople at Burnip’s Equipment who have set up dealership/personal branded Facebook pages. -
Learn what OSHA is Focusing on for Workplace Safety
Glorianna Corman, risk management consultant for KPA, outlines what OSHA inspectors are particularly focused on as well as areas that many businesses overlook when it comes to safety. -
How Eis Implement Structures its Internship Program
Eis Implement has been working with a county youth apprenticeship program for about 10 years. See the steps they take to make the most of the program for the students and the dealership. -
Asking for Dealer-Installed Retrofit Kits
Upgrade kits allow dealers to engage their customers and provide an inexpensive way for them to upgrade their existing machines with the latest and greatest technology features. This customer-to-dealer engagement allows the dealer to promote the sale of both the upgrade kit and, hopefully, the future sale of a new machine.
From the Desk of RLD
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4 Reasons to Be Thankful You’re a Rural Equipment Dealer
During this week of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share reasons to be thankful to be in the rural equipment industry. My hope is that these thoughts might give you a boost going into the final weeks of 2019 so you can celebrate a stellar year. -
True or False: A Good Dealership Can Sell Anything
A visit to Wright Brothers Implement Sales and a discussion with second generation owner Myra Powell got me thinking about this line, “A good salesperson can sell anything.” Can that line of thought be extended to “A good dealership can sell anything?” -
It’s Worth Your Time
It's one more thing to add your day, but I promise it will be worth it! Our next Dealer Success Academy — an online, on-demand event — is set for Sept. 11-12, with the sessions starting at 9 a.m. Central on Sept. 11 and running through 9 p.m. Central on Sept. 12. -
Sell Me a Mower: Where Do We Go from Here?
I thought my June 4 blog post, “No One Wants to Sell Me a Mower,” was going to be a simple anecdotal story about my personal experience and how I thought dealers were not marketing to customers like me. I was way off.
Rural Lifestyle Dealer Podcast
Overcoming These 5 Fears of Outside Sales Calls
In this episode of the Rural Lifestyle Dealer podcast, we talk with sales coach Greg Martinelli about the topic of outside sales for the rural equipment market. Martinelli talks through why outside sales should be part of your rural equipment marketing strategy and how to start overcoming those fears.
Top Directory Listings
Yanmar
Yanmar was founded in 1912 and developed the world's first commercially viable small diesel engine in 1933. The diesel engine has continued as our core business ever since, our key tool in the rationalization and modernization of agriculture, fishing and industry.
Stihl Inc
Virginia Beach-based STIHL Inc., produces a full line of high-quality, handheld outdoor power equipment including blowers, trimmers, brushcutters, and multi-task tools, as well as the number one selling brand of chainsaws worldwide. STIHL Inc. manufactures over 260 model variations of handheld outdoor power equipment for sale in the U.S. and around the world.
2020 DOY
Nominate a Dealership Today!
For the 14th consecutive year, Rural Lifestyle Dealer is sponsoring its "Dealership of the Year" awards program to recognize North America's best rural lifestyle equipment dealers. Dealers, manufacturers and others are invited to participate by nominating top dealers from across North America. There is no limit to the number of nominations that an individual can submit. And you can nominate your own dealership. We will not reveal to the dealers who nominated them for this award.
Nominate a dealership here.
Webinar Replay
Setting Off Season Goals
Sara Hey will walk you through what you should be doing right now, in the midst of a slower season, to set each department for success when spring season starts. She will share how dealerships across the country are setting goals for stability, growth, and accountability for each department and what you can do to make the next season your most profitable season yet.
Watch the replay here.
Product Roundups
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National Farm Machinery Show Exhibitor Roundup 2020
Check out the latest offerings from these exhibitors scheduled to be at the 2020 National Farm Machinery Show. -
GIE+EXPO Product Roundup 2019
Check out the 2019 GIE+Expo exhibitor spotlight! -
UTVs & Accessories Product Roundup 2019
Check out the latest UTVs and accessories from the industry's leading suppliers.
Top Store Items
2018 Rural Lifestyle Dealer Business Trends & Outlook (PDF)
This 46-page extensive management report details the numbers, trends and forecasts for the 2018 rural equipment market, and examines what products dealers expect to be the hottest sellers this year, which new products they intend to introduce or expand upon in their product mix, what their major concerns are for 2018 and so much more. You'll find insightful comparisons of U.S. vs. Canadian dealers, large vs. small dealerships and by major manufacturer, and with 6 additional pages in the 2018 report — a 13% increase — there’s more insight to be found than ever.
2017 Rural Lifestyle Dealer Business Trends & Outlook (PDF)
Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s full-length 40-page 2017 Business Trends & Outlook report is now available. This extensive management report details the numbers, trends and forecasts for the 2017 rural equipment market. The report examines what products dealers expect to be the hottest sellers this year, which new products they intend to introduce or expand upon in their product mix, what their major concerns are for 2017 and so much more. The report provides comparisons of U.S. vs. Canadian dealers, large vs. small dealerships and by major manufacturer.
Rural Lifestyle Dealer 1-Year Subscription (U.S.)
The information source for equipment dealers selling to everyone from hobby farmers to estate owners to landscape contractors and municipalities. Rural Lifestyle Dealer is published 4 times per year (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall issues.)