Mike Wiles

Mike Wiles

Mike Wiles writes the "Managing the Store" column for Rural Lifestyle Dealer and is a contributing writer for RLD and Farm Equipment magazines. He has been in the retail and wholesale equipment business for over 20 years. He co-owns EDMforsales.com, which develops websites for dealers and hosts asktractormike.com to educate new tractor customers.

ARTICLES

Managing the Store

What May be Costing You Future Business

Here’s a simple, no-cost way to build customer loyalty.
A missing link in your sales process may be costing you future business with rural lifestyle customers, and I have YouTube analytics to prove it. It doesn’t cost a penny to provide, and it will set your dealership apart from your competitors.
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How to Sell

Selling Snow Removal Equipment & Improving Winter Cashflow

Snow removal equipment can offer sales and service revenue year-round based on proper stocking, early promotions and dedicated service teams.
Succeeding in the market requires recognizing the preferred method of snow removal in your area; matching your equipment inventory with future snowfall; and having technicians willing to repair broken machines during cold weather.
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Managing the Store

Making Time to Be Nice

Treat everyone well, whether they’re a potential customer or not.
We’re in an age with lots of negativity, and we’re incredibly busy. Couple the seasonality of the equipment business and resulting fatigue with some difficult customers and it’s easy to have a short fuse. It’s a challenge for everyone, from the owner down, to build relationships at all times … especially with non-customers.
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Managing the Store

Making Time to Be Nice

Treat everyone well, whether they’re a potential customer or not.
We’re in an age with lots of negativity, and we’re incredibly busy. Couple the seasonality of the equipment business and resulting fatigue with some difficult customers and it’s easy to have a short fuse. It’s a challenge for everyone, from the owner down, to build relationships at all times … especially with non-customers.
Read More
Managing the Store

Managing What Your Lot Says About You

Simple changes to displays can boost sales.
Your outside display conveys something to everyone who drives into or past your dealership. It sends a message about who you are and what products you believe in and can have a huge impact on what you sell. Those messages can be detrimental to your image or enhance your image. Here are examples of both.
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Managing the Store

Gaining Customers Through YouTube

Use videos to teach and you’ll build relationships and develop customer loyalty.
I’m a huge fan of using video for marketing. I was hooked the day I went online to find information about how to fix cracks in asphalt driveways. A how-to video popped up in the search and I’d much rather watch someone show me how to do something than read about it. I used the product in the video and applied it just the way I was shown and it helped me fix my problem.
Read More
Managing the Store

Gaining Customers Through YouTube

Use videos to teach and you’ll build relationships and develop customer loyalty.
I’m a huge fan of using video for marketing. I was hooked the day I went online to find information about how to fix cracks in asphalt driveways. A how-to video popped up in the search and I’d much rather watch someone show me how to do something than read about it. I used the product in the video and applied it just the way I was shown and it helped me fix my problem.
Read More
Skid Steer Loaders

How to Sell: Expanding into Construction with Skid Steers

Specialize your approach to sales and service to successfully sell skid steer loaders to the construction market and related segments.
In Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s 2017 Business Trends and Outlook Report, more than 31% of respondents said they planned to add skid steer loader products to their portfolio this year. That decision may not be surprising with many economic indicators showing a strong homebuilding market.
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