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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/377179
6 SEPTEMBER 2014 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com EPG Media/Specialty Information Media 3300 Fernbrook Lane N, Suite 200 Plymouth, MN 55447 OPE Staff Group Publisher David Voll Associate Publisher John Kmitta Editor Steve Noe Art Director Brian Snook Production Manager Karen Kalinyak DirEct Mail liSt SalES MeritDirect, Jim Scova, (914) 368-1012; e-mail jscova@MeritDirect.com rEPrint SErvicE Joanne Juda, Sr. VP Market Development (630) 399-9864; email jjuda@specialtyim.com EDitOrial aDviSOry BOarD Former Executive Director, EETC (retired) Jim Roche Senior Advisor, Servantage Dixie Sales Jim Starmer Pres., Plano Power Equipment and Whipper Clipper Glen Whitt Director of Sales and Marketing, Central Power Distributors, Inc. John D. Hedges circulatiOn For subscription inquiries and customer service questions, please call (847) 763-9565 or fax (847) 763-9569 business hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST Publisher's Notice: We assume no responsibility for the validity of advertising claims in connection with items appearing in Outdoor Power Equipment. Commercial product names are used for the convenience of the reader. Mention of a commer- cial product does not imply endorsement by Outdoor Power Equipment or Specialty Information Media, or preference over similar products not mentioned. EDitOrial OfficES EPG Media/Specialty Information Media 3300 Fernbrook Lane N, Suite 200 Plymouth, MN 55447 accOunt rEPrESEntativES: EaSt Chris Pelikan Senior Account Manager Phone: (954) 964-8676 cpelikan@epgmediallc.com MiDWESt Peggy Tupper Senior Account Manager Phone: (763) 383-4429 ptupper@epgmediallc.com WESt Leslie Palmer Senior Account Manager Phone: (248) 731-7596 lpalmer@specialtyim.com When I preview the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) each year, I often reserve this space to write about the top reasons to go to the show. However, I'd like to take a dif- ferent approach this year and highlight a few of the many new things to look for at GIE+EXPO 2014, which will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22 (Dealer Day), through Friday, Oct. 24, at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center. Dealer Day keynote lunch: A keynote lunch, sponsored by Stihl Inc. and Gravely, will be held on Wednesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. In a fast-paced, interactive and engaging presentation, Steve McClatchy, author of New York Times bestseller Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example and president of Alleer Training & Consulting, will teach you how to stay motivated and perform at your personal best on a daily basis. Participants will learn how to focus on results and true drivers of performance, regain critical planning and personal time, and dramatically increase work/life engagement. "Combining this luncheon with the opportunities available in the Dealer Resource Pavilion, 750 indoor exhibits and the Outdoor Demonstration Area, dealers will find a full lineup of profit-boosting opportu- nities at GIE+EXPO," said Warren Sellers, show director. Increased utility vehicle presence: In addition to seeing utility vehicles (UTVs) inside the Kentucky Exposition Center, attendees will be given the chance to test- drive UTVs on test tracks in the 19-acre Outdoor Demonstration Area. Returning to GIE+EXPO for a second straight year, Polaris has increased its outdoor booth space by more than 400 percent to accommodate 16,000 square feet of demo track, where attend- ees can test-drive its BRUTUS, GEM and RANGER Work UTV lines, as well as test out its purpose-built, hydraulic and PTO attach- ments for the BRUTUS line. Ariens/Gravely is also adding a demo track to its Outdoor Demonstration Area exhibit. "UTVs have had a presence at GIE+EXPO for years, but this year, exhibitors are really stepping it up and putting the spotlight on them," said Sellers. "We expect the demo tracks to add a lot of synergy to the outdoor area. If you're in the market for a utility vehicle, this is the year to attend." GIE+EXPO attendees will also have the chance to enter the Polaris Work UTV Giveaway, with one winner having the option to select a Polaris BRUTUS, GEM or RANGER Work UTV. All attendees will receive an entry with their show badge. Simply complete the entry and drop it off at the Polaris indoor booth (#7212) by show's end, and you will be eligible to win. Dealer Summit expansion: The Dealer Summit will expand from two to three sessions. Thursday and Friday morn- ings will begin with panel discussions that include a light breakfast. Both are sponsored by the North American Equipment Dealers Association, with each taking place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday's session will feature manufacturers, who will address questions and issues important to dealers. It will be followed by a presentation of new research about land- scapers' buying and attitude trends. Friday's session will focus on dealer best practices. For more information and online registra- tion for GIE+EXPO, the Dealer Day keynote lunch and the Dealer Summit sessions, visit www.gie-expo.com. Speaking of new… We have also redesigned OPE, beginning with this issue, which is fitting because it is the 55th year anniversary of the magazine Bill Quinn founded as Lawn Equipment Journal in September 1959 and renamed Outdoor Power Equipment in September 1969. Please let us know what you think of our new look by dropping me an e-mail at snoe@special tyim.com or posting a comment on our Facebook page at GreenMediaMags. Hope to not only hear from you about the redesign, but I also hope to see you at GIE+EXPO next month. New things to be seen at GIE+EXPO 2014 upfront Editor Steve noe | snoe@specialtyim.com OPE