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/55310
FEATURE STORY INDUSTRY FORECASTS Leading minds delve into 2012 The following is the last of a two-part series: leaders to share their thoughts. Specifically, we asked the following thought-provoking questions: 1. What is exciting or new about O your company or organization for 2012? 2. What will be the OPE industry's top trends in 2012? 3. What will be the OPE industry's biggest story in 2012? 4. Who will emerge as the Republican Party representative for the 2012 U.S. presidential election? Who will be elected president? How will the outcome of the presidential election impact the OPE industry? 5. What is your overall outlook for the OPE industry in 2012? OPE received the following written responses, in order, Jan. 6-26, 2012: utdoor Power Equipment recently took the pulse of the OPE industry by asking several of its your company or organization for 2012? WC: Our commitment to launching new, productivity-enhancing products and programs throughout the recession were well received by the industry and a lesson we will remember going forward. In our new self-propelled overseeder, we confirmed that dealers and end users alike value innovation when it creates a better user experience and time (labor) savings. Features such as intuitive hydrostatic controls, "Auto Drop," and a floating cutting head provide that value. The same is true of products we've designed to reduce noise, weight and effort required to complete work. These are tangible benefits that give Billy Goat dealers the preferred equipment to sell. In 2012, we have no less than three new or improved products. Dealers who have made the decision to consolidate their offering under the Billy Goat umbrella will continue to be rewarded. 2. What will be the OPE industry's WILL COATES PRESIDENT BILLY GOAT INDUSTRIES, INC. (LEE'S SUMMIT, MO.) 1. What is exciting or new about top trends in 2012? WC: A trend we see continuing is the larger dealer getting larger. Dealers who embrace the meaning of full service and after-sales support, commit to professionalism and top-shelf merchandising, are mindful of customer convenience, and reinvest in their business will continue to earn new customers at the expense of lower-tier dealers. Online retailing may continue to grow for those end users who choose products strictly on the basis of price, but we believe commercial customers deserve and expect timely and professional service and support. Dealers who embrace the meaning of full service and after-sales support, commit to professionalism and top-shelf merchandising, are mindful of customer convenience, and reinvest in their business will continue to earn new customers at the expense of lower-tier dealers. 16 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com 3. What will be the OPE industry's biggest story in 2012? WC: If it doesn't snow soon, especially among the larger northern SMSAs [standard metropolitan statistical area], I'm afraid that one of the biggest stories — reported or unreported — may well be the ramifications of excess snow-product inventory at the retail and wholesale level. Unfortunately, snowfall is less predictable than grass growth or leaf fall, so manufacturers, distributors and retailers often forget the risk of overproduction and low demand. News reports of peak production of snow product by all the major suppliers dominated the news late last summer and through the fall. Unfortunately, if this inventory doesn't quickly move through the channel, all players could be adversely affected. This was a lesson I remember well from the early-mid '80s and again in the early '90s.