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/443279
Cover Story 16 JANUARY 2015 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com switch in less than 25 seconds. This makes it easier for the owner to change the mower blades and clean the underside of the deck. 2. What were the oPe industry's top stories in 2014, and what do you predict they will be in 2015? Paul Mullet: I think one of the top stories for 2014 is the "Look Before You Pump" campaign initiated by OPEI. Educating the owners of outdoor power equipment about the use of the proper fuel is very important as they begin to see more fuel options at the gas pump. In 2015 and beyond, I think water conservation and restrictions will become more of an issue for our industry. 3. What will be the oPe industry's hottest trends in 2015? Paul Mullet: One of the trends will be more crossover between OPE dealers and powersports dealers. This year, we will see more OPE manufacturers providing UTVs to their dealer base, and we will see more powersports dealers take on OPE equipment to broaden their product offering. 4. What advice do you have for oPe dealers in 2015? Paul Mullet: One of my favorite sayings is: "The measurement of success is the amount of time between knowing and doing." Change is not easy; however, when you know you need to change something, then the sooner you take action, the better off you will be. Some examples for an OPE dealer could be dealing with an underperforming employee or an unprofitable line. 5. What is your overall outlook for the oPe industry in 2015? Paul Mullet: I think the outlook on a whole for 2015 is great! The economy continues to improve and the weather patterns look favorable for another positive growth year. KrIS KISer PreSIDeNt & Ceo oUtDoor PoWer eQUIPMeNt INStItUte (oPeI) (ALeXANDrIA, vA.) 1. What should oPe dealers know about your company's plans for 2015? Kris Kiser: In 2015, OPEI will be strengthening our core competencies, such as expanding standards work and market statistics reporting. We are introducing six new battery and electric categories, and will be working closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). We also are expanding into the true utility vehicle market — another growth area for our industry. OPEI will be keeping a close eye on the regulatory environment around managed landscapes and turfgrass as federal agencies, such as the EPA, seem determined to diminish the value of the managed landscape. Fortunately, OPEI's TurfMutt program helps with these critical issues by showcasing the industry's commitment to best practices and by educating children, their parents, teachers and homeowners on the importance of properly caring for green spaces in their communities, backyards, parks, and school grounds. TurfMutt (www.TurfMutt.com) has recently moved to a new doghouse with Scholastic Education, the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children's media. In 2015, Scholastic will grow the character- based brand and reach more consumers. We expect for TurfMutt's reach and impact to grow exponentially in 2015 with this new partnership. We also are coming off a very successful year with our ethanol education program, "Look Before You Pump." The National Marine Manufacturers Association and the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association formally joined as partners last year. In 2015, we hope to earn the support of the motorcycle industry. We will continue to raise awareness among consumers that they need to fuel their small-engine products with the right fuel. 2. What were the oPe industry's top stories in 2014, and what do you predict they will be in 2015? Kris Kiser: Main topics that made headlines in 2014 included ethanol, water usage and the managed landscape. We expect 2015 to have a similar focus. But, we also believe we'll reach a critical juncture with the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). In its current form, the RFS is unworkable. The mandate can't be met. It's a problem for the biofuels industry, a problem for the oil and gas industry, and a problem for users. It would be a dereliction of duty on the part of Congress to not right that situation. 3. What will be the oPe industry's hottest trends in 2015? Kris Kiser: A major trend has been the introduction of commercial lines of electric- and battery-powered products and the growing importance of the UTV market. OPEI will further develop programming to meet the needs of this evolution, as well as continue to support the established product lines and markets. Another "trend" we're seeing is the growing importance of GIE+EXPO (www. gie-expo.com), the largest gathering of the industry and one of the country's largest trade shows. It has become the place to debut new product offerings. We expect for attendance to continue to rise each year. In 2014, more than 19,000 people from around the world attended GIE+EXPO, representing an 11-percent increase in registration over 2013. 4. What advice do you have for oPe dealers in 2015? Kris Kiser: OPE dealers are on the front lines. They have the ability to make the greatest impact on users of outdoor power equipment. We urge dealers to continue to remind people to fuel their equipment properly, as the ethanol fuel market continues to evolve. Dealers should become familiar with OPEI's "Look Before You Pump" campaign (www.LookBeforeYouPump.com) if they are not already. And dealers should avail themselves of all the materials and messaging that can support them in educating their customers. (Go to www.TinyURL.com/ EthanolEducation for materials.) Also, get to the Dealer Day at GIE+EXPO! This first day of GIE+EXPO is designed just for you, and you can be the first to get a look at new product and strengthen or establish new relationships. 5. What is your overall outlook for the oPe industry in 2015? Kris Kiser: Our outlook for 2015 is positive. Interest rates are low, the housing market is strengthening, and the weather continues to provide many OPE market opportunities. We've experienced a number of snow and late-season weather events, which means our members are selling a lot of chain saws and snow products. In early 2015, we'll expect a strong demand for snow products and, in general, snow removal; the latter helps our landscaping friends enter the spring season in a good cash position.