Leadership and management must go hand in hand. They are not the same thing. But they are necessarily linked, and complementary. Any effort to separate the two is likely to cause more problems than it solves.

Midwest Machinery of central Minnesota has grown from 2 stores to 9 stores in the last 10 years and last year, they hired 41 new people.

Your rural dealers are your front-line sales force and the key to making and keeping you successful. They're the "boots on the ground"? recommending your products and services to a diverse rural market and Rural Lifestyle Dealer is excited to offer the opportunity to honor the dealers who go above and beyond to represent your brand well.

If you ask an extremely successful salesperson, "What makes you different from the average sales rep?" you will most likely get a less-than-accurate answer, if any answer at all. Frankly, the person may not even know the real answer because most successful salespeople are simply doing what comes naturally.

A national equipment association has reported a prolific con artist targeting dealers in several areas of the U.S., including but not limited to Massachusetts, Florida and most recently in the Louisville, Ky area.

In this day of emails, texts and Facebook messaging, the way your dealership handles phone calls should still be one of its most critical sales strategies.

The relationship between buyers and sellers has changed. In the process, these four tactics have become major turn-offs.

Eric McCready, sales manager for Turf/LPO markets at A&M Green Power, explains the strategy behind separating the sales area for rural lifestyle equipment from the bigger farm equipment at the dealership.

Alan Foy, turf sales representative with A&M Green Power, shares lessons he has learned through his 35 years selling farm and rural lifestyle equipment.

Alan Foy, turf sales representative with A&M Green Power, talks about the typical rural lifestyle customer they see at one of their five locations in Pacific Junction, Iowa.