Industry expert Bob Clements outlines 7 principles for improving cashflow, generating instant income, building a culture of success and more.

Some equipment dealerships are seeing an increase in fencing demand as farms are being split up and sold, and rural lifestylers are setting up homesteads on smaller pieces of acreage. Despite the demand, this product isn't found in every dealership, or even many dealerships, and for good reason: Price. It's often difficult, if not impossible, for dealerships to compete with big box stores. However, some dealerships have found success with this niche product in spite of the "price-match" mentality.

Scag Power Equipment and its parent company, Metalcraft of Mayville, are pleased to announce the acquisition of Giant-Vac. The acquisition of Giant-Vac assets was completed by Metalcraft on November 5, 2012.

In preparation for the annual Dealer Business Trends & Outlook Report for the Winter 2012 edition of Rural Lifestyle Dealer, we're polling selected North American equipment dealerships to get their input about the market.

With few exceptions, the customer base of most equipment dealerships serving the rural lifestyle market is local. Because they need the service that dealerships can offer or they want to establish a relationship with their equipment supplier, most customers prefer to stick with businesses that they know and that are convenient.

The first time a rural lifestyler walks onto the lot of an equipment dealership, oftentimes his or her only other frame of reference comes from a car dealership. There, prices are clearly posted on the window, sometimes in numbers big enough to be seen from the road.