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.
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FEATURE STORY By Steve Noe GIE+EXPO 2011 RECAP Following is an in-depth look at many of the major happenings at the 2011 Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO), which took place at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center Oct. 27-29. ARI premieres new FootSteps ARI introduced FootSteps, the latest version of its award-winning lead management solution, packed with new features and functionality designed to further help OPE dealers, OEMs and distributors sell more parts, accessories and service — faster. "It's integrated with PartSmart, the industry's leading parts lookup software, to turn one-time buyers into customers for life," said Cheryl Pabich, director of marketing at ARI. "FootSteps gives users the opportu- nity to capture customer information at the time of service — before or during the lookup process — from an Illustrated Parts Lookup, Model or Pick List screen." FootSteps is an easy-to-use, affordable program that allows users to ex- ecute a consistent, professional communication strategy with prospects and customers to keep products top-of-mind. "Today's Web-savvy buyers expect an almost immediate response to their inquiry," said Pabich. "In many cases, a prompt, professional response can make the difference be- tween a closed sale and a lost opportunity. FootSteps helps users exceed buyers' expectations by delivering an immediate response while simulta- neously automating the lead distribution process — getting every lead into the hands of an available and qualified salesperson." FootSteps streamlines processes to give users a bird's eye view of their lead management performance and results, and provides the visibility they need to drive more sales. Unique in its ability to consolidate leads from mul- tiple sources, FootSteps enables users to track, manage, and report lead man- agement functions — all from one solution with end-to-end automation. Ariens delivers comfort with new Gravely mower With an inviting, plush, leather, reclining chair on the New Products Arena stage, Ariens Company rolled out something equally comfortable — the Gravely Pro-Turn 460 commercial zero-turn mower. Part of the Gravely Pro-Turn 400 XDZ Series, the Pro-Turn 460 features the indus- try's first air-suspension seat, along with a new effortless deck lift. "Comfort has just gone commercial," proclaimed John Horn, vice president of sales — Ariens Wholegoods. The newest addition to Gravely's line of Pro-Turn commercial mow- ers, the Pro-Turn 400 features the aforementioned air-suspension seat with added seat isolation to provide a smooth, comfortable ride for all- day operation. The air pressure can be adjusted with the touch of a button and the comfort foam feels more like an office chair than a standard mower seat. The seat rides smoothly over rough terrain, allowing faster mowing speeds and increased productivity. A rubber isolated foot plat- form also minimizes vibration for a more comfortable ride. The seven-gauge fabricated and welded X-Factor Deck features an all-new deck lift system. Minimal force is required to raise and lower the deck, reducing operator fatigue, especially for operators who manually float the deck over the terrain. Combined with the dial-adjust height-of- cut system, the Pro-Turn 400 makes changing cutting height simple and easy to learn. The dial system is faster than pin height-of-cut selectors on other decks. Fully adjustable control handles allow the operator to fine-tune the settings for an optimum ergonomic position. The arms accommodate any size operator and flip open, making entering and exiting the cockpit more accessible. The ability to customize the mower for different users provides all-around comfort. The Pro-Turn 400 models are available with a 52-, 60-, 66- or 72-inch deck, as well as a variety of engine options (gas, diesel, EFI, propane) from 24.5 to 31 hp. Each gas and diesel mower has a 13.4-gallon fuel capacity. In addition to the Pro-Turn 400, Ariens Company introduced the Gravely Pro-Walk 61 mower with a 23-hp. Kawasaki engine and 61-inch cutting width (see November 2011 OPE, page 22). The company an- nounced the availability of a rear-discharge deck option on the Gravely Pro-Master 260 (see page 29 in this issue of OPE) and several upgrades to its ZT line, including an improved height-of-cut selector, deck washout port and sliding seat adjustment. Gravely's ZT mowers are available in a 34-, 42- and 50-inch deck sizes and are ideal for residential properties. The ZT upgrades provide more efficient and productive performance, while enhancing usability and operator comfort. Ariens also expanded its Chore Products line with two new products: the Gravely Thatch-O-Matic power rake with tine reels, as well as the Gravely Trailette tow-behind lawn sweeper with a 36-inch sweeping width, 10-cubic-foot capacity and solid-bottomed basket. In addition, Ariens Company completely updated its 2011-2012 Sno- Thro lineup, integrating more operator-friendly features, upgrading all models to a cast-iron gear case, and backing the products with a five-year warranty. B3C introduces gasoline test kit B3C Fuel Solutions presented the first complete fuel diagnostic kit that quickly identifies fuel-related problems. The new Mechanic In A Bottle Gasoline Test Kit is designed to give you and your customers a complete understanding of fuel quality and an education about the effects of ethanol. Ariens Company's John Horn presents Gravely's new Pro-Turn 460 on the New Products Arena stage. (Photo by Steve Noe) 10 The kit includes the following seven easy fuel tests that can be per- formed to identify ethanol fuel-related problems, quickly diagnose re- pairs, and end warranty disputes: OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com