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/41812
FEATURE STORY When contractors look at their fleet today, they commonly look at the equip- ment in their yard and try to find ways for it to generate new revenue. The best way to increase machine utilization and gain a sig- nificant competitive advantage is to put an attachment on the end of a machine. If they can find an attachment that sets them apart from all of their competitors, they will get the work. Also, many rental companies are offering Photo courtesy of TurfEx Photo courtesy of Terex Construction Americas Photo courtesy of Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution EQUIPMENT TRENDS 2011 O utdoor Power Equipment magazine's sister publication Landscape and Irrigation recently asked a wide range of equipment manufactur- ers and suppliers to share their insights about the equipment market, and how the trends they are seeing will impact the equip- ment decisions made by your commercial customers. The observations of the respon- dents are as follows: What trends are you seeing in terms of equipment sales to the landscape and irrigation markets? We are seeing an increase in equipment inquiries, which is most likely being driven by the lack of used equipment in the mar- ketplace. — Chris Osswald, president, Innovative Equipment Snow contractors are continually being asked to raise the bar in service and per- formance while running efficient opera- tions. Our new products present new 28 approaches to specific job or lot applica- tions that make snow removal more effi- cient and effective than the standard plow approach. — Mike Holihan, director of marketing for Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution More than ever, landscape and irrigation professionals are interested in making the most of their existing equipment. Rather than buying dedicated pieces of equipment to spread, dethatch, or do other tasks, they're looking for attachments that can be used on the mowers and utility vehicles they already own. — Bruce Carmichael, national sales manager for TurfEx We see contractors looking for products that will help them increase their gross sales. That means they may either have to expand what jobs they can do, or just try to be more efficient and the best in their field. — John A. Bentley, general manager, Earth & Turf Products, LLC OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com special rental purchasing agreements that provide contractors with another purchasing option. Because the volume of work is low, contractors are hesitant to buy equipment of any kind, including attachments. They may want to consider talking with their rental dealer to develop an agreement that lets fu- ture jobs pay for the attachment instead of it coming directly from their capital all at once. Smaller host machines are being used more frequently: Many contractors are turn- ing to smaller skid steers, mini-excavators and compact loaders in place of larger host machines. — Doug Amerman, director of marketing and business development for Paladin Construction Group Contractors require high horsepower and high lift capacity loaders to handle the demanding tasks they face. Landscapers and irrigation contractors are attracted to large- frame vertical lift units to meet their partic- ular jobsite needs. An exception to this rule is if the landscaper has snow removal con- tracts in the winter, which may push them into a mid-sized unit to clean narrower sidewalks and pathways. — Jamie Wright, product manager, Terex Construction Americas Our customers are taking their time in making a purchasing decision. The best way to describe it is that they are being cautious, and rightfully so. Purchasing a commercial mower is a significant purchase, and the re- turn on investment, as well as the efficiency of that piece of equipment, needs to be carefully considered to make sure the deci- sion is correct. — Rebecca E. Butler, director of sales and marketing, Dixie Chopper