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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/765117
14 JANUARY 2017 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com COVER STORY | Industry Forecasts STAN CRADER PRESIDENT CRADER DISTRIBUTING CO. (MARBLE HILL, MO.) & BLUE MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT (McKINNEY, TEXAS) 1) What is new with your company and/or any OPE industry associations that you represent? Stan Crader (SC): The biggest news at Crader/Blue Mountain is the introduction by Stihl of two additional series of lithium-ion products to Stihl's lithium-ion system. The new products, combined with Stihl's existing line of lithium- ion products, will put Stihl dealers in position to offer a cordless outdoor power tool to fi t anyone's need or budget. 2) How will the election of Republican Donald Trump as president, along with Republicans maintaining control of Congress in both the House and Senate, impact the OPE industry? SC: The benefi cial effects of a business-friendly government are already being manifested by the confi dence exhibited with the immediate and unprecedented post-election gains in the stock market. The lurking potential for unforeseen and costly regulations which can be devastating to small business, the mainstay of the OPE industry, have resulted in a reluctance to make investments that weren't deemed absolutely necessary. With that barrier removed, all business, and particularly small business, will proceed with the entrepreneurial spirit that made America great. Combine that with a government that is pro- America, which will result in a marked increase in consumer confi dence, and OPE dealers will experience retail sales increases across the board. Based on the post-election interest in new display systems we're offering dealers, I sense the new- felt optimism already gaining momentum. 3) What was the OPE industry's biggest story in 2016, and what do you predict it will be in 2017? SC: Fred Whyte's retirement after working his entire career of more than 44 years with Stihl, and 23 of them as president, is easily the biggest event for OPE in 2016. Fred's single- company career cloaked with his long tenure as president, speaks volumes for both Fred and Stihl. His retirement, and the announcement of his replacement, Bjoern Fischer, highly qualifi ed and having hit the ground running, and spearheading the introduction of Stihl's two new series of lithium-ion products, is easily the biggest news of 2016. INDUSTRY FORECASTS EXPERT PROGNOSTICATION BEYOND THE INAUGURATION Following is the first of a two-part series: Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) recently invited several of the OPE industry's most well-respected leaders to share their thoughts about the state of the industry heading into 2017. Specifically, we asked them the following questions: 1. What is new with your company and/or any OPE industry associations that you represent? 2. How will the election of Republican Donald Trump as president, along with Republicans maintaining control of Congress in both the House and Senate, impact the OPE industry? 3. What was the OPE industry's biggest story in 2016, and what do you predict it will be in 2017? 4. What will be the OPE industry's hottest trends in 2017? 5. What is your overall outlook for the OPE industry in 2017? OPE received the following written responses, in order, Nov. 23-Dec. 6, 2016: PHOTO @ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CARTERDAYNE