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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/621618
California — exacerbated governmental action and media coverage to the point of demonizing managed landscapes and turfgrass in a way we hadn't seen before. In response, we've been proactive in challenging this perception by promoting the facts and science that underscore the real environmental benefits of a "living landscape." This challenge isn't necessarily a new one, as with the EPA's Water Sense program, we've seen a rise in regulatory efforts to reduce manage landscapes across the nation. But in a polarized political climate, when the state of California began paying residents to rip up their lawns, the battle over the public perceptions of managed landscapes became a very serious issue over the past year, and one we will continue to face in 2016. 3) What are your predictions for the 2016 U.S. presidential race — who will be each party's nominee, who will be elected the next president, and how will the outcome affect the OPE industry? Kris Kiser: How about those Packers? I'm no pundit, but even the "best" political minds in the country are at a loss as to answering the first part of this. And though I wouldn't pretend to confidently handicap such a fluid and unconventional campaign season, there are some trends we're taking serious note of moving forward. What the unpredictability in Washington really underscores is that our job as a trade association has become that much more important. Without the political ability of Congress or the White House to address serious issues, such as the renewable fuel standard and other regulatory matters, it becomes that much more necessary to be proactive in our regulatory efforts and concerns. Regardless of who the next president is, it's safer to assume that trend will continue. 4) What will be the OPE industry's hottest trends in 2016? Kris Kiser: The emerging trend continues to be further introduction and expansion of battery and corded products into the marketplace. This has been dynamic for the industry and offers consumers greater diversity — there's something for everyone. Another trend we've been pleased to see has been the strength of the GIE+EXPO. The 2015 show was the largest and most well attended in its history, and we expect to break those records again in 2016. Incorporating the Dealer Day ahead of the show and expanding our partnership with HNA (Hardscape North America) have been great additions, and the numbers are proving this to be true year after year. Having a place where all parts of the industry — from manufacturers to suppliers and contractors — can come together in one place has helped make GIE+EXPO into a legitimate can't- miss, hot-ticket event for the industry. 5) What is your overall outlook for the OPE industry in 2016? Kris Kiser: The industry looks to be headed for a strong year in 2016. Over the past year, we've experienced solid recovery in the housing market and foreclosures are down as well — great signs for our industry. Weather outlooks also seem to be generally favorable, and the latest numbers we've seen show strong numbers for sales and shipments across the industry. These are all significant, tangible positives and reasons to be cautiously optimistic for the coming year, but there are real hurdles we still need to clear. The attacks on managed landscapes need to be thoroughly addressed and by promoting the right plant for the right place and the importance of "living landscapes," we have both the correct science and right message for the public in meeting this challenge. Ethanol fuels present another evolving issue that is still unresolved and requires a great deal more education and outreach. And thanks to our Look Before You Pump campaign, we have a robust vehicle already in place, educating the public on fuels for non-road products and ensuring that users are matching the right fuel for the right product. JEFF PLOTKA PRESIDENT PRECISION WORK INC. (PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.) & PRESIDENT OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT AND ENGINE SERVICE ASSOC. (OPEESA) (ESSEX, CONN.) 1) What is new and exciting about your company or organization heading into 2016? Jeff Plotka: a. Heading into 2016, Precision Work has an array of great new products coming to market. We have some exciting new homeowner models, but also some new Big Block high- horsepower commercial models as well. Internally, we will be continuing to take advantage of new technologies in both the sales & operations part of our business. b. For the Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association (OPEESA), we are adding new member benefits that have the potential to pay for themselves many times over. Announcements about these products will be coming out in the very near future. 2) What were the OPE industry's top news stories in 2015, and what will they be in 2016? Jeff Plotka: a. In our territory, SNOW was the big news for 2015. We had record snowfalls throughout the bulk of the Northeast. We saw some snow on the ground in parts of our territory until late May. It made for a very interesting selling season. We didn't see our season kick off until about 4-6 weeks later than normal. The upside was that the commercial customers were fortunate to be able to make money all winter and were in a good position to use those profits to upgrade older equipment. b. For OPEESA, the top stories continue to be the weather, water and lack thereof, and consolidations — both on the distributor side and the manufacturer side. The changes in the financial marketplace are also causing some concern, though most do not feel this will have a long-term effect. 3) What are your predictions for the 2016 U.S. presidential race — who will be each party's nominee, who will be elected the next president, and how will the outcome affect the OPE industry? Jeff Plotka: a. 2016 being an election year always has proven to be an interesting year for OPE. The uncertainty of the election, and what a new first-term president will do, seems to make people spend less. b. I sometimes wish I had a crystal ball, so I could predict things like this. We are hopeful that the next president will understand what it is like to run a small business and will also have a grasp on how environmental regulations can greatly impact business. www.outdoorpowerequipment.com OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT JANUARY 2016 11 COVER STORY