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/534219
6 JULY 2015 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com EPG Media & Specialty Information 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 Senior 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 President, Plano Power Equipment 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 valid- ity 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 commercial product does not imply endorsement by Outdoor Power Equipment or EPG Media & Specialty Information, 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 During the spring, summer and early fall, I love getting out of the house to soak up some sun, break a sweat, and take my mind off my worries for a few hours while enjoy- ing one of my favorite pastimes. Based on my headline and subsequent lead, I bet you're thinking that I'm referring to catching a baseball game. While you'll be hard pressed to find a bigger baseball fan than me — and I certainly love the rare opportunity of going to a game versus watching one on TV — you would be incorrect. No, I'm referring to something that I take great pride and pleasure in doing at least once a week, weather permit- ting: mowing my lawn and doing any additional work to make my yard look its finest. After the long and bitterly cold winters here in the Midwest and taking my mower to an outdoor power equip- ment dealership to be serviced, I always enjoy bringing my mower out of hiber- nation, starting it up, and cutting the grass for the very first time each spring. I continue to enjoy mowing my lawn each and every week, and I do my best to cut a pattern just like a striped field in a Major League Baseball stadium. And when I'm done mowing each time and take a few moments to admire my freshly cut and patterned lawn as I walk my mower back into the garage, I feel like I've just hit a walk-off home run. I absolutely love mowing the lawn and doing yard work, and apparently, I'm not alone. According to an online survey com- missioned by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and conducted by Harris Poll in May 2015, Americans think it is important to have a yard, keep it looking well maintained, and live in an area with nice landscaping. The study, conducted among 2,034 U.S. adults (ages 18 and older), found that 75 percent of Americans feel that it is impor- tant to spend time outside in their yards. Among the survey's other findings regard- ing the sentiments of Americans: 91 percent think it is "important" to live in close proximity to trees, grass or nice landscaping, and 60 percent say that is "very important" to them. 84 percent think it is "important" to have a well-maintained yard, with 48 per- cent saying it is "very important." 71 percent think it is important that their neighbors have well-maintained yards. 83 percent think it is important to have a yard. 90 percent prefer to live in a home surrounded by trees, grass and other living plants. 84 percent agree that the quality of a home's landscape/yard would affect their decision about whether or not to buy it. 47 percent wish they could hire pro- fessional landscape help. 67 percent think professional land- scape help would allow them to have a nicer yard. Only 33 percent who have a yard strongly agree that they have the knowledge and skills to keep their lawn and plants healthy and looking good. "Our members dedicate their lives to helping homeowners keep their yards and outdoor spaces healthy and inviting," said NALP CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE, CMP. "The survey results show how deeply Americans value their yards and spending time outside near their homes." The survey results should also serve as a reminder of the important role that you — as someone who sells and services lawn and garden equipment — play in the lives of your fellow Americans, and in keeping our great nation looking beautiful. Great American pastime UPFRONT Editor Steve Noe | snoe@specialtyim.com OPE