Fall 2017

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

From the Field

The Robots are Coming

By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Robotics are established in manufacturing facilities and are now making their way into our communities and crop fields and your customers’ properties. For instance, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the “Self-Drive” act to speed the deployment of self-driving cars without human controls and bar states from blocking autonomous vehicles. John Deere recently acquired robotics start-up Blue River Technology, maker of “see-and-spray” robots that affix to tractors.
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Rural Equipment Intelligence

Landscape Contractors Expect Revenue Growth into 2018

By Dave Kanicki posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Data & Forecasts

Landscape contractors are expressing positive sentiments about growing revenues and purchasing equipment through the remainder of 2017 and into early 2018, according to Seaport Global Securities’ most recent quarterly survey of landscape contractors.
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Dealership of the Year 2017

Dealership of the Year Program: Growing Stronger

Announcing the 2017 Dealership of the Year Recipients

November 11, 2017 | Posted in Dealer News, Best Practices

The Rural Lifestyle Dealer team extends our appreciation to the Dealership of the Year judging panel made up of Dr. W. David Downey, David L. Kahler, Charles R. Glass. Read their thoughts on the caliber of the dealers.
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Dealership of the Year 2017 — Single-Store Recipient

Big Valley Tractor — Stockton, Calif.

Big Valley Tractor earns recognition by dominating its market, achieving strong revenue per employee and its ‘when do you want it delivered?’ attitude.

By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

The Franzia family has a track record of successfully bringing new products to the market. Back in 1976, Louis and Josie Franzia, established a Bobcat dealership before many in the area even knew what a skid steer was. Their son, Don, joined the business the next year and catapulted sales for the next 40 years. Don and his wife, Nancy, saw a similar opportunity — and a much-needed chance at diversification — by taking on the Kubota line and creating Big Valley Tractor in 1998. The decision proved to be the right one for the dealership. Last year, Big Valley Tractor had a record year for sales and achieved 69% market share. This impressive performance and other business practices helped them earn the 2017 Rural Lifestyle Dealer single-store Dealership of the Year.

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Dealership of the Year 2017 — Multi-Store Recipient

Ewald Kubota — Seguin, Texas

Multi-store Texas dealership focuses on keeping a personal touch with customers and employees as it grows.

By Kim Schmidt posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Next year, Ewald Kubota will celebrate 70 years in business. And while the dealership has experienced a number of changes and challenges in that time — manufacturer changes, the recession of the 1980s and now growth and expansion — owner John Ewald still manages and approaches the dealership like the family business it is. The dealership began as a single location Ford dealership in Seguin, Texas, and today is a 7-store Kubota dealership with locations throughout south-central Texas and one rental location.
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Compensation Collective: Breaking Down the Pay-Grade Across U.S. Equipment Dealerships

The Equipment Dealers Assn.’s bi-annual report on salary, benefits and total compensation for different positions at ag and OPE dealerships provides managers with a benchmark resource.

By James DeGraff posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Data & Forecasts

In 2016, the Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) released a revised Compensation & Benefits Survey questionnaire to include wage data pertaining to office staff, parts, service and sales departments. Included are descriptions for over 30 jobs and bonus structures, data categorized by dealer revenues and more.
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GIE+Expo 2017: Filling Out Lineups, Finetuning Performance

November 11, 2017 | Posted in Manufacturer News, Product Innovations, Event Coverage

Manufacturers had a chance to show off their latest and greatest products to nearly 19,000 registered attendees, including nearly 3,500 dealers and retailers, at the 2017 Green Industry & Equipment (GIE+Expo), held recently in Louisville, Ky. The show had another record-setting year, with registrations up 13% from 2016.
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What Rural Lifestylers Want From You

Agritourism Operation Meets Growing ‘Locavore’ Demand

Meuer Farm hosts as many as 25,000 visitors each year, educating them about locally-grown food and sustainable agriculture.

By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Rural Lifestyle Market

David and Leslie Meuer transitioned from milking 40 dairy cows and farming 150 acres to hosting as many as 25,000 visitors on their agricultural tourism (agritourism) operation near Chilton, Wis. They have successfully tapped into the “locavore” movement — consumers who seek locally grown or produced food — while fulfilling their dream of a sustainable farming operation.
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Fall '17 Edition: Trending Now

November 11, 2017

Stories about how to fix a cluttered retail showroom, cost of doing business comparisons and more.
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Achieving Peak Performance

Improve Customers' Experiences with Menu Pricing

You’re not being locked into a price, but giving your customer a starting point.

By Bob Clements posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Most dealerships today are doing a better job of utilizing standard or flat labor rates for their repair work, but few are taking advantage of menu pricing for their basic services.
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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

From the Field

The Robots are Coming

By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Robotics are established in manufacturing facilities and are now making their way into our communities and crop fields and your customers’ properties. For instance, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the “Self-Drive” act to speed the deployment of self-driving cars without human controls and bar states from blocking autonomous vehicles. John Deere recently acquired robotics start-up Blue River Technology, maker of “see-and-spray” robots that affix to tractors.
Read More

Dealership of the Year 2017 — Single-Store Recipient

Big Valley Tractor — Stockton, Calif.

Big Valley Tractor earns recognition by dominating its market, achieving strong revenue per employee and its ‘when do you want it delivered?’ attitude.

By Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

The Franzia family has a track record of successfully bringing new products to the market. Back in 1976, Louis and Josie Franzia, established a Bobcat dealership before many in the area even knew what a skid steer was. Their son, Don, joined the business the next year and catapulted sales for the next 40 years. Don and his wife, Nancy, saw a similar opportunity — and a much-needed chance at diversification — by taking on the Kubota line and creating Big Valley Tractor in 1998. The decision proved to be the right one for the dealership. Last year, Big Valley Tractor had a record year for sales and achieved 69% market share. This impressive performance and other business practices helped them earn the 2017 Rural Lifestyle Dealer single-store Dealership of the Year.

Read More

Dealership of the Year 2017 — Multi-Store Recipient

Ewald Kubota — Seguin, Texas

Multi-store Texas dealership focuses on keeping a personal touch with customers and employees as it grows.

By Kim Schmidt posted on November 11, 2017 | Posted in Best Practices

Next year, Ewald Kubota will celebrate 70 years in business. And while the dealership has experienced a number of changes and challenges in that time — manufacturer changes, the recession of the 1980s and now growth and expansion — owner John Ewald still manages and approaches the dealership like the family business it is. The dealership began as a single location Ford dealership in Seguin, Texas, and today is a 7-store Kubota dealership with locations throughout south-central Texas and one rental location.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

2017 Fall Digital Edition of Rural Lifestyle Dealer

November 22, 2017

Read flipbook version
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Online Extras
Online Extras
Online Extras: Fall 2017 Issue

November 11, 2017

Web-exclusive content for this issue includes:

Managing the Store: Preparing for the Worst

Videos from the 2017 Dealership of the Year series with Big Valley Tractor and Ewald Kubota

Exstensive new product and video coverage from the 2017 GIE+EXPO

Additional EDA analysis

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