Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) recently surveyed many of the
OPE industry's top executives about the state of the industry
heading into 2016. In particular, we asked the following questions:
1) What is new and exciting about your company or organization
heading into 2016?
2) What were the OPE industry's top news stories in 2015, and
what will they be 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?
4) What will be the OPE industry's hottest trends in 2016?
5) What is your overall outlook for the OPE industry in 2016?
OPE received the following written responses, in order, Dec. 21,
2015-Jan. 8, 2016:
ERIK SIDES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EQUIPMENT & ENGINE
TRAINING COUNCIL (EETC)
(YORK, S.C.)
1) What is new and exciting about your company or organization
heading into 2016?
Erik Sides: EETC has recently launched a new accreditation
program geared toward high schools and junior high schools.
"First Step to Power" is designed to pique the interest of our youth
in the small engine and power equipment industry. The program
provides a great framework for a course in small engine theory
and basic fundamentals. The program requires both classroom
sessions and hands-on engine disassembly and reassembly, along
with making the proper adjustment and running the engine
to ensure it's functioning properly. Successful completion of
an EETC-administered knowledge test results in the student
receiving an Apprentice Certification in Small Engine Theory and
Fundamentals. The school program can be accredited for either
two- or four-cycle engines, or both. This apprentice certification is
the "first step" to the power equipment industry and will hopefully
provide the industry with a potential pool of future technicians.
2) What were the OPE industry's top news stories in 2015, and what
will they be in 2016?
Erik Sides: Consolidation at the distributor level, introduction
of new technologies, the economy, and weather.
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?
Erik Sides: I would say "polarizing" is the word in general
no matter where you are politically. I think Hillary will be the
Democrats' nominee, and "at the moment," it's between Trump and
Cruz for the Republicans' nominee, with Trump on top for now. I
will not speculate on who will win, as a lot can change between
now and election time. The outcome of this election, however,
will affect the industry and the economy greatly, depending on the
16 FEBRUARY 2016 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com
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