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Rural Lifestyle Dealer

RLD Fall 2015

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Fall 2015

Volume: 9
Edition: 4
Dealership of the Year 2015

Multi-Store Award: PrairieCoast Equipment, Kamloops, B.C.
Single-Store Award: Kelly Tractor and Equipment, Longview, Texas
  • Table of Contents

    Table of Contents

    2015 Compact Tractor Sales Approaching 2007 Levels

    If historic trends hold, North American compact tractor sales (<40 horsepower) should finish 2015 up nearly 4.4% compared to total sales in 2014, or at about 129,000 units. This would bring annual sales to a level not seen since 2007, when, according to the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the industry reached unit sales of 128,904 small tractors.
    November 14, 2015 | Posted in Data & Forecasts, Rural Lifestyle Market
    If historic trends hold, North American compact tractor sales (<40 horsepower) should finish 2015 up nearly 4.4% compared to total sales in 2014, or at about 129,000 units. This would bring annual sales to a level not seen since 2007, when, according to the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the industry reached unit sales of 128,904 small tractors.
    Read More

    Value of Used Garden Tractors Rise, Smaller Tractors Hold Steady

    According to data compiled by Greg Peterson, known as Machinery Pete, the values of used garden tractors continued to rise over the past year, and he expects this trend to hold or move up slightly during the last quarter of 2015.
    November 14, 2015 | Posted in Rural Lifestyle Market
    According to data compiled by Greg Peterson, known as Machinery Pete, the values of used garden tractors continued to rise over the past year, and he expects this trend to hold or move up slightly during the last quarter of 2015.
    Read More
    RLD DOY 2015

    Recognizing Excellence: 2015 Dealership of the Year Award Program

    Announcing Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s 2015 Dealership of the Year Awards
    November 14, 2015 | Posted in Dealer News

    Two strong dealerships emerged in the 2015 competition and Rural Lifestyle Dealer recognizes two categories of dealerships this year. PrairieCoast Equipment, a John Deere dealership in Alberta and British Columbia, receives the multi-store award and Kelly Tractor & Equipment, a Mahindra and New Holland dealership in Longview, Texas, receives the single-store award.

    Kelly Tractor & Equipment PrairieCoast Equipment


    Read More
    DOY_Kelly_Tractor_DK_0915.jpg

    Dealership of the Year 2015: Kelly Tractor & Equipment Longview, Texas

    Game-changing decisions on equipment lines and advertising helped Kelly Tractor earn Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s top award for single-store dealerships.
    By Dave Kanicki posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Dealer News
    “We were likely to have starved to death,” says Mike Kelly, recalling his first year owning a farm equipment dealership. It was 1985, in the midst of the farm crisis. It was a time when more dealers were getting out of the business than were getting into it.
    Read More
    015_DOY_Prairie_Coast_KS_0915_2.jpg

    Dealership of the Year 2015: PrairieCoast Equipment Kamloops, B.C.

    Performance, innovation and strong year-to-year growth earn PrairieCoast Equipment Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s top award for multi-store dealerships.
    By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Dealer News, Best Practices
    PrairieCoast Equipment began in 2009 with the merger of 4 John Deere dealerships in Alberta and British Columbia. The dealership opened a new rural lifestyle store in Kamloops, B.C., in 2013, bringing new awareness to an area it had served for more than 40 years.
    Read More
    Alex_Gomez.jpg
    What Rural Lifestylers Want from You

    Finding Opportunities in the Small Farming Trend

    Consumer demand is growing for locally produced food and USDA is increasing funding for small and beginning farmers.
    By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Niche Markets, Rural Lifestyle Market
    Small farms and "micro-farms" are a trend that seems to encompass everything from patio "farming" to the small acreage producer. Here's why you need to pay attention to small farmers in your market who need equipment to grow their crops and their businesses.
    Read More
    Achieving Peak Performance

    6 Positions You Need in Your Service Department

    Create the level of performance your customers expect and the level of profitability you deserve.
    By Bob Clements posted on May 2, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices
    A dealership’s service department is the backbone of the organization. No other department in the dealership, be it parts, wholegoods or rental, will have more impact — positive or negative — on a customer. That’s why I am so passionate about making sure they are profitable for the dealership and deliver a “wow” experience for customers.
    Read More
    ProSeries_Skid_in_Ranger_UTV2.jpg
    How to Sell

    Stock on Hand Leads to Sprayer Success

    By Mike Wiles posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Best Practices, Niche Markets
    It may seem odd to discuss how to sell a product for which the selling season has ended. However, if you want to enter the sprayer business or if you’d like to step up your efforts, the time to start is now by ordering product for the 2016 season. Sprayers sell when weeds grow and most customers won’t wait for an order to be placed when purchasing. They want to take them home and put them to use.
    Read More
    GIE Expo

    Product Innovations Unveiled at GIE+Expo

    The 2015 Green Industry & Equipment Expo, or GIE+Expo, held in Louisville, Ky., was the largest yet, topping even last year’s record-setting show. Dealer registrations are were up 11% over 2014 and total registrations are estimated to have increased 16%. The show gained 193 new exhibitors for a total of over 850 indoor and outdoor exhibits.
    November 14, 2015 | Posted in Product Innovations
    The 2015 Green Industry & Equipment Expo, or GIE+Expo, held in Louisville, Ky., was the largest yet, topping even last year’s record-setting show. Dealer registrations are were up 11% over 2014 and total registrations are estimated to have increased 16%. The show gained 193 new exhibitors for a total of over 850 indoor and outdoor exhibits.
    Read More
    Dingo

    Market Opportunities: Partnering with Contractors

    Increase sales to the growing light construction market by promoting enhanced production and labor savings.
    By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Niche Markets
    Forecasts are showing the construction recovery is on solid footing. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Commerce shows overall construction spending through the summer was up 9.3% compared with the same timeframe in 2014. Residential construction was up more than 13% this summer compared with last year.
    Read More
    Industry Q&A

    Biggest Improvement in Your Service or Parts Department

    We asked dealers: "What is the biggest improvement you have made in your service or parts departments and what impact has it had on your dealership?"
    November 14, 2015 | Posted in Best Practices
    We asked dealers: "What is the biggest improvement you have made in your service or parts departments and what impact has it had on your dealership?"
    Read More
    Managing the Store

    You’re Fired!

    Deal with employee problems directly and privately to preserve morale and earn respect as a leader.
    By Mike Wiles posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Best Practices
    I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not good at firing someone. When I worked at a dealership, the employees all knew when someone was “getting the axe.” About a week before it happened, I went from being upbeat and outgoing to somber and reserved. It was very easy to tell something big was coming down. If you’re an empathetic type, you think about the impact your actions will have on the person and family.
    Read More
  • Featured Articles

    Featured Articles

    015_DOY_Prairie_Coast_KS_0915_2.jpg

    Dealership of the Year 2015: PrairieCoast Equipment Kamloops, B.C.

    Performance, innovation and strong year-to-year growth earn PrairieCoast Equipment Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s top award for multi-store dealerships.
    By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Dealer News, Best Practices
    PrairieCoast Equipment began in 2009 with the merger of 4 John Deere dealerships in Alberta and British Columbia. The dealership opened a new rural lifestyle store in Kamloops, B.C., in 2013, bringing new awareness to an area it had served for more than 40 years.
    Read More
    GIE Expo

    Product Innovations Unveiled at GIE+Expo

    The 2015 Green Industry & Equipment Expo, or GIE+Expo, held in Louisville, Ky., was the largest yet, topping even last year’s record-setting show. Dealer registrations are were up 11% over 2014 and total registrations are estimated to have increased 16%. The show gained 193 new exhibitors for a total of over 850 indoor and outdoor exhibits.
    November 14, 2015 | Posted in Product Innovations
    The 2015 Green Industry & Equipment Expo, or GIE+Expo, held in Louisville, Ky., was the largest yet, topping even last year’s record-setting show. Dealer registrations are were up 11% over 2014 and total registrations are estimated to have increased 16%. The show gained 193 new exhibitors for a total of over 850 indoor and outdoor exhibits.
    Read More
    DOY_Kelly_Tractor_DK_0915.jpg

    Dealership of the Year 2015: Kelly Tractor & Equipment Longview, Texas

    Game-changing decisions on equipment lines and advertising helped Kelly Tractor earn Rural Lifestyle Dealer’s top award for single-store dealerships.
    By Dave Kanicki posted on November 14, 2015 | Posted in Dealer News
    “We were likely to have starved to death,” says Mike Kelly, recalling his first year owning a farm equipment dealership. It was 1985, in the midst of the farm crisis. It was a time when more dealers were getting out of the business than were getting into it.
    Read More
  • Digital Edition

    Digital Edition

  • Online Extras

    Online Extras

    Achieving Peak Performance

    6 Positions You Need in Your Service Department

    Create the level of performance your customers expect and the level of profitability you deserve.
    By Bob Clements posted on May 2, 2016 | Posted in Best Practices
    A dealership’s service department is the backbone of the organization. No other department in the dealership, be it parts, wholegoods or rental, will have more impact — positive or negative — on a customer. That’s why I am so passionate about making sure they are profitable for the dealership and deliver a “wow” experience for customers.
    Read More
  • Products in Action

    Products in Action

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