GIE+EXPO 2012 SPECIAL PREVIEW By Steve Noe
DAWN OF A NEW DAY FOR DEALERS AT GIE+EXPO 2012
O
utdoor power equipment dealers, retailers and distributors will receive VIP treatment from
the moment they arrive at the 2012 Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) and Hardscape North America (HNA), set to be the epicenter of the Green Industry universe Wednesday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 26, at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center. Breaking from the traditional all-
attendee-inclusive, three-day format, GIE+EXPO and HNA will open their doors exclusively to the aforementioned people on the first day, so they can have the opportunity to meet one on one with the nearly 750 indoor exhibitors and preview the products on display before everyone is welcomed to attend
the final two days of the show. Show organizers have even designated Oct. 24 as "Dealer Day." On "Dealer Day," the Dealer Resource
Pavilion will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the indoor exhibits from 3 to 7 p.m. A welcome reception for dealers, retailers, distributors and exhibitors will take place on the show floor from 5 to 7 p.m. with a $5,000 giveaway sponsored by Stihl Inc. at 6:30 p.m. Following the welcome reception, the fun will continue in downtown Louisville — just a few blocks from The Galt House, the dealer headquarters hotel — with legendary band Kansas performing a free concert at 4th
Street Live. The concert will begin
at 9 p.m. As you may have guessed, "Dealer
The Trishas Candy Coburn
Day" will also offer an abundance of educational opportunities. Dealers can provide their service technicians with Power Pro Certification training through three classes sponsored by the Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC) and the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA). The classes will cover "Basics in Electrical Diagnostics," "Basics in Two-stroke Engine Diagnostics," and "Basics in EFI Systems." Each class will be offered three times on "Dealer Day" — 9-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and 1:30-3 p.m. — with all of them taking place in the East Hall. Cost for each class is only $30. While service techs are busy
attending the latter two training sessions that day, dealership owners
Eli Young Band
Kansas
18 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com
