Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, Outdoor Power Equipment provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/739479
22 NOVEMBER 2016 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com COVER STORY PUTT PATTEN, OWNER ELLSWORTH CHAINSAW INC. (TRENTON, MAINE) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how has your dealership fared in 2016, and why? 7 Mild winter leaving excessive snow inventory and light spring cleanup leaving excessive spring cleanup inventory. Dry summer that led to poor riding mower and zero-turn mower sales. The bright side is that handheld products and lawnmower sales were good. What valuable lessons did you learn during 2016, and what do you plan to do differently in 2017? I am going to order what I want, not the numbers that my manufacturers want. To me, reorders seem better than getting a small discount and end up dumping it or having it left in inventory and paying interest on it. Try to be smarter. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how optimistic are you about your dealership heading into 2017, and why? 8-9. You have to hold your head up and be positive if you are going to make it in this business. If the weather is on our side, it should be a good year. It has to snow and rain sometime; can't have two bad weather years in a row. RODGER RANKIN, OWNER/OPERATOR RANKIN SALES AND SERVICE (OGALLALA, NEB.) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how has your dealership fared in 2016, and why? 8 Commodity prices have hurt our local customers both in the Farm, Ranch Sector. What valuable lessons did you learn during 2016, and what do you plan to do differently in 2017? Maintain a better idea of stocking with respect to customers' needs. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how optimistic are you about your dealership heading into 2017, and why? 7. Worried about the election and the prices of commodities headed forward. MICHAEL ROACH, OWNER ROCKIN R SMALL ENGINE (PIEDMONT, OKLA.) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how has your dealership fared in 2016, and why? 7 I'm still a new business. Some word of mouth and Internet presence have helped. What valuable lessons did you learn during 2016, and what do you plan to do differently in 2017? I need faster turn times. Might need to do more hours. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how optimistic are you about your dealership heading into 2017, and why? 8. I am a one-man show. Can't afford to hire help, especially at $15 to $20 an hour. DAVID T. RATTIN, OWNER THE OLDE SAW SHOP (KANKAKEE, ILL.) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how has your dealership fared in 2016, and why? 9 Due to word of mouth and good advertisement. And a lot of hard work. Also helping older people with things out of the ordinary. Today, a lady brought a chain saw in because she said she was told this is the place to take it. What valuable lessons did you learn during 2016, and what do you plan to do differently in 2017? The greatest lesson is calling a customer as soon as the job is done. This will be our goal for 2017. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how optimistic are you about your dealership heading into 2017, and why? 9 because of our work and honesty to our customers; just need to fi nd qualifi ed part-time help. GEORGIA GALLANT, OWNER GALLANT AND SON (ADRIAN, MICH.) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how has your dealership fared in 2016, and why? 7 Down due to lack of snow and rain. What valuable lessons did you learn during 2016, and what do you plan to do differently in 2017? Pray for snow. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how optimistic are you about your dealership heading into 2017, and why? 7. Weather. RAY, PRESIDENT BLACKMOUNT EQUIPMENT INC. (NORTH HAVERHILL, N.H.) On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how has your dealership fared in 2016, and why? 5 What valuable lessons did you learn during 2016, and what do you plan to do differently in 2017? [No response provided.] On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, how optimistic are you about your dealership heading into 2017, and why? 7. Hope to sell or transfer. "You have to hold your head up and be positive if you are going to make it in this business." — PUTT PATTEN, ELLSWORTH CHAINSAW INC.