The Board of Directors of Husqvarna AB (STO:HUSQB) has decided to appoint Kai Wärn as President and CEO of Husqvarna Group effective as of July 1, 2013. Hans Linnarson, who was appointed President and CEO in 2011, will continue to work for the Group until he retires early 2014.

You can receive each issue of Rural Lifestyle Dealer simply by confirming your involvement in the rural lifestyle equipment industry. The process takes just a few minutes to assure that you'll receive issues for the next year.

Kawasaki Increases Emphasis on 4-Cycle Engine Business, Exits Handheld Power Products Segment

The arrival of spring means storms, and storms mean generator and power equipment sales. But you can't make those sales and be a go-to resource for your rural lifestyle customers if that same storm knocks you out of business.

The answer most often lies in managerial relationships. A recent national study by Dale Carnegie Training placed the number of "fully engaged" employees at 29%, and "disengaged" employees at 26% meaning nearly three-quarters of employees are not fully engaged (aka productive).

Country Clipper Names New National Sales Manager

Charter Software Inc., a leading provider of business management system software for outdoor power, agricultural, and construction equipment dealers, is pleased to announce the availability of the ASPEN EZ-Link Interface for Toro, Exmark and Lawnboy dealers.

That's a hypothetical question a manufacturer posed to dealers during a recent conversation. His point: Many dealerships' 8 a.m.-5 p.m. business hours don't work for people with jobs. That means they will drive by your dealership with its "closed"? sign straight to a major retailer, one with lights blazing and cash registers beeping.

For the seventh consecutive year, Deere & Company has been included on Ethisphere Institute's "World's Most Ethical Companies" list. The research-based Ethisphere Institute is dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

How does your dealership attract and retain its customers? Here's how readers responded to the question in Rural Lifestyle Dealer's 2013 Dealer Business Trends & Outlook survey.